Apply to become a Walking Instructor

To find out more about the role, please contact the Safer Travel Team at walkingtraining@surreycc.gov.uk

The 'Feet First: Walking Training' course provides trainees in Year 3 with vital road safety skills to better enable them to safely walk to and from school with an adult and prepare them for future independent travel'

A Walking Instructor will be able to lead a small group of 7 to 8 year old pupils in the playground and on the road, outside the school gates, to provide them with necessary road safety skills and knowledge. Delivering an informative, robust and entertaining programme of learning that highlights the necessary road safety skills, providing Year 3 pupils with the foundation to feel safe and comfortable as a pedestrian navigating Surrey's roads.

This is a term time position which is flexible but has no guaranteed hours.

The course will cover the following topics:

• The Green Cross Code: stop, look, listen and think
• Road signs and pedestrian crossings including School Crossing Patrol, puffin, pelican, zebra crossings and islands
• Recognising safer places to cross
• Recognising where it is unsafe to cross such as driveways, junctions and bends
• How to cross between parked cars including knowing what to look and listen for when a car is about to move
• The benefits of active travel on health, wellbeing, and the environment.

Full training will be provided.

Full training with be provided and there will be ongoing support and further training throughout the year'

The training will consist of two full days in-person training and will be held at Surrey County Council offices in Woking. Covering everything from:

• Course content
• How to lead a group of primary aged pupils
• First Aid training
• Safeguarding training
• How to use the online booking system
• How to manage expenses and use Surrey CC software

The Walking Instructors will walk the route and carry out a dynamic risk assessment prior to the first session. After a brief introduction to the class, the practical training will begin. Each session will last approximately 30-40 minutes.

The number of sessions you have, depends on the number of trainees that register. We will allocate the correct number of Instructors after registration has closed. There could be a maximum of 9 sessions in a morning, with 2-3 sessions taking place simultaneously.

All training will be completed by lunchtime.

For each course there will be a ratio of no more than four pupils to one instructor. If pupils with additional needs attend the training course a school support staff member will be required to accompany them.

When a child is registered, we ask for as much information as possible about any additional needs. This helps us ensure that appropriate support is in place and that very child has the best possible experience. If a child has a 1:1 Learning Support Assistant (LSA), the school will provide a member of staff to accompany them during the practical training session.

Yes, there will be an opportunity for Walking Instructors to attend further training each year.

Feet First training is delivered in primary schools across Surrey. We aim to allocate Walking Instructors to schools close to their location whenever possible. However, we cannot guarantee which schools will request training.

When allocating work to a Walking Instructor, we consider several factors to ensure the process is fair and efficient:

• Distance – which Walking Instructors are closest to the school.
• Availability – which Walking Instructors are available on the required dates.
• Previous Involvement – whether a Walking Instructor has worked with the school before.
• Preferred Travel Radius – the maximum distance a WI is comfortable travelling.

We aim to minimise unnecessary travel wherever possible; however, there may be occasions when we ask if you are willing to travel slightly further.

Yes, we will provide all Walking Instructors with branded uniforms, including: polo shirts, fleeces, coats, High Vis tabards, lanyards for ID cards and a bag. Other resources can be requested if required to complete the role.

During practical training sessions, the Walking Instructor will follow learning objectives set by the Head Office Team. However, an ideal Feet First Walking Instructor must be passionate about equipping children with the skills they need to stay safe as pedestrians, while championing the wider benefits of active travel.

Candidates should have experience working with primary school–aged children and feel confident leading and managing a small group of 7- to 8-year-olds independently, in the local area surrounding the school. The walking route will be planned by the Head Office Team.

The role requires a good level of physical fitness, as instructors are on their feet all morning, delivering training outdoors in all weather conditions. Depending on the location of the school, the route can be hilly. Walking Instructors are also required to carry a backpack. This is filled with merch and/or pupil medication and can often be heavy.

First aid and safeguarding training would be beneficial; however, full training will be provided as part of the role.

A good level of IT literacy is required, as you will need to use our booking site to view your schedule, access the register, view the route, and submit expense and pay claims.

This is a flexible position, with no set hours. Work is term-time only and fits around the school day; however, work cannot be guaranteed. Walking Instructors must generally be available on-site between 9.30am and 12.30pm to deliver the training session.

Yes, all travel expenses within the designated mile radius from your home to the school will be covered as well as any other work-related expenses incurred.