Harwich kids learn building site safety

Youngsters at Mayflower Primary School in Dovercourt, Harwich, have learned a valuable lesson about playing safe – thanks to a special visit from Taylor Wimpey East Anglia.

Pupils were taught about the hazards of playing on or around building sites during an assembly hosted by safety expert John McCarthy, on behalf of the leading housebuilder’s nearby Peninsula development.

The children were shown a video highlighting the many different ways they could be hurt if they were tempted to stray on to the site – by falling scaffolding, bricks or pipes, by sharp metal or glass hidden in sand, or by moving vehicles.

And the serious message was rounded off with a series of fun games before the school was presented with a gift of high-visibility vests to improve youngsters’ safety while out on school excursions.

The children were also encouraged to design posters highlighting the important health and safety messages they had learned, with Shannon Lenyk (Year 6), Amy Roberts (Year 5) and Emily Cooper-Keeble (Year 6) each winning book tokens for their colourful designs.

Following the visit, headteacher Steve Springett said it had been of great benefit to the pupils.

He said: “Not all of our children will have been fully aware of the dangers of straying too close to a building site, but John’s visit has certainly changed that. He got the message across in a number of ways which really grabbed their interest and now that they know the risks, the children all realise that keeping away from building sites is the right thing to do.”

John, from safety consultancy RG Wilbrey, added that he was delighted to be able to spread such an important safety message to the children.

“Children are naturally curious about the things going on around them and building sites probably look like fun places to play, but I think the Mayflower pupils now understand that they’re anything but,” he said.

“I’m pleased to have been able to spread such a valuable message to so many youngsters.”

Taylor Wimpey’s Peninsula development comprises a mixture of two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom houses, with prices for the homes currently available starting at £167,995.

The Peninsula Sales Centre is located off Heron Way, Dovercourt, and is open Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm and Monday from 1.30pm to 5pm.