Local police officers visit for important Clever Never Goes assembly
Pupils at Scartho Gateway Academy were treated to a special visit before the half term from two local police officers, PC Hannah and PC ‘Tiny’, who delivered an engaging and informative assembly all about staying safe, especially around strangers, Halloween, and Bonfire Night.
The session focused on the national campaign "Clever Never Goes", which teaches children the crucial message that they should never go anywhere with anyone unless it has been agreed with their trusted adult. Rather than focusing only on the idea of "strangers", the campaign encourages children to think carefully and make safe choices, even when approached by someone they know.
The officers used a fun and interactive traffic light/smiley face system to present different real-life scenarios. The children had to decide whether it was safe to go, not go, or if they weren’t sure. This helped children to think critically and develop their understanding of what a “safe” situation looks like.
The assembly made it clear that the word “agree” is key and PC Hannah and PC Tiny made sure that every child understood what it means to agree something with their trusted adult. A great discussion followed when the children were asked: “Is it okay to go somewhere with someone you do know?” The children decided that even if you know someone, you still need to get permission from your parent or carer.
Children talked about places they might go, such as the park, swimming pool, or on public transport, and demonstrated excellent understanding of how to stay safe in those environments. They were reminded to never run off alone and to always stay with their adult.
The officers also discussed practical ways for children to respond if someone they don’t know attempts to persuade them to go somewhere — including saying no firmly, running away, and shouting for help. They were reminded to seek out a trusted adult like a parent, carer, teacher or police officer.
The officers then shared safety tips for Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations. With many children wearing dark costumes and trick-or-treating at night, the pupils were encouraged to:
- Stay with an adult
- Wear something reflective or carry a light
- Be cautious near roads and know how to cross safely
- Never go inside a stranger’s house when trick-or-treating
On the topic of Bonfire Night, the children learned about the importance of barriers around bonfires and fireworks, and how to use sparklers safely. A brilliant tip was shared: use a carrot to hold the sparkler, so that small hands stay further away from the heat and the metal doesn’t get hot. Tiny also reminded children that if a sparkler is dropped, never pick it up, you must let it cool or ask an adult to pour water on it. Once finished, sparklers should be placed into a bucket of water or sand.
PC Hannah said: "Thank you for being such wonderful listeners and for taking part in our assembly today."
Principal Melanie Portlock commented: “We are so grateful to PC Hannah and PC Tiny for delivering such an important message in such an engaging way. The children were engaged throughout and left the assembly feeling more informed about how to keep themselves safe. It’s especially valuable as we head into a busy season of festivities. We look forward to working with our local police officers again soon.”
