More than 1,200 primary school children have been involved in innovative road safety sessions thanks to a partnership between Torbay Council, Vision Zero South West and Taleblazers CIC.

The programme is now being extended this winter to ensure every primary school in Torbay gets the chance to take part.

In the last academic year Taleblazers visited 11 primary schools to deliver the sessions to more than 500 children in Years 5 and 6, aged nine to 11.

The programme has been running since July 2023 when Taleblazers, part of the Torbay Arts in Schools Network, was commissioned by Torbay Council to design and deliver a road safety lesson to ten local primary schools.

The initial project was such a success that the region's road safety partnership Vision Zero South West agreed to continue funding the sessions into the 2024/25 academic year.

The funding has now been extended into the current academic year to ensure sure all primary schools in Torbay have been offered the session, with some receiving a second visit.

Torbay Council is delighted to highlight this programme during Road Safety Week (16-22 November 2025). The vital project is part of ongoing work to help make Torbay’s roads safer for everyone.

In total, more than 1,200 children at 21 schools have taken part in the sessions so far.

Cllr Adam Billings, Torbay Council's Cabinet member for Pride in Place and Parking, said: "Road safety, especially for children, is of paramount importance to us and everyone in Torbay.

"Road Safety Week is a good time to thank Taleblazers for the important work they are carrying out in our schools. It is fantastic that the programme has been extended to make sure it reaches every primary school in Torbay.

"The lessons have been well received by the children involved and are playing an important part in improving their road safety knowledge and skills at an age when they are becoming more independent."

The content of the road safety lesson involves the children in a discussion about what distractions and hazards they might meet when travelling to school on often busy roads, and how they can improve their journeys to keep safe.

The half-day interactive lesson is delivered using conversation, drawing and drama, ending with a performance using road safety scenario cards.

Children in this age group are starting to make their own journeys to school independently and the sessions focus on helping them make their own risk assessments and positive safety decisions.

Richard Blagden of Taleblazers said: “The children have really enjoyed learning in these great workshops. They’ve worked independently and within their teams brilliantly, encouraging each other with the activities, joining in with discussions, coming up with their own ideas.

"The team were delighted to continue the road safety project across more of Torbay’s school network, and to receive such inspiring, enthralled responses from the children and schools.

"We still have a few schools left to visit, so if we haven't been to you yet please get in touch and we’ll be happy to arrange a visit."

Taleblazers has received great feedback from schools. The children said they loved getting involved, using their drama skills in the performances and mapping out their journeys around their schools.

Teachers felt the workshop was at the right educational level for the classes and fun, and the children learned, or consolidated their learning, about road safety. Teachers were pleased with the content and how the children took the messages on board.

The lessons are part of the work by Torbay Council to improve road safety. The Council also supports the Learn2Live programme, aimed at 16 to 19-year-olds in full-time education, helping them understand the risks and responsibilities of being on the road.

This year six new school 20mph zones have been introduced in Torquay and Paignton and consultation was carried out during the summer for six more. This work is part of the Council’s Road Safety Initiatives Programme, which continues to roll out 20mph limits in carefully selected locations. 

Schools can request a visit by Taleblazers for a road safety session by emailing admin@taleblazers.org.uk.

The full list of schools which have benefitted from the specially designed road safety lesson:

In 2023/24:

• Barton Hill Academy
• Brixham Church of England Primary School
• Cockington Primary School
• Collaton St Mary Church of England Primary School
• Ellacombe Academy
• Kings Ash Academy
• Oldway Primary School
• Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Primary School
• Watcombe Primary School
• White Rock Primary School

In 2024/25:

• All Saints Babbacombe CofE Primary School
• Eden Park Primary School Academy
• Furzeham Primary & Nursery School
• Hayes School
• Ilsham Church of England Academy
• Sacred Heart RC Nursery and Primary School
• Sherwell Valley Primary School
• Shiphay Learning Academy
• St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School
• Upton St James Church of England Primary School
• Warberry C of E Academy

Notes for editors

• There is more information about school travel and safety on the Torbay Council website: School travel and safety - Torbay Council
• Taleblazers is a Community Interest Company based at Parkfield House, Paignton. Its mission is to connect people with nature, storytelling, folklore and heritage. Key areas of work are alternative education, school workshops, and in the community. Taleblazers – Changing lives by connecting people with nature
• Vision Zero South West is a partnership involving organisations in Devon and Cornwall including the emergency services, NHS and councils sharing one goal – to eliminate death and serious injury from our roads. Vision Zero | A collaborative road safety community project