12/11/21 

Safety is so important to us that we use many common phrases with the word safe or safety in them. You may have heard the words: ‘safety first’ when considering a course of action; or ‘safety in numbers’, implying that things may turn out better if there are a lot of people and ‘safety net’ which refers to a net used underneath a high wire at the circus, but also means having something you can fall back on if things go wrong. You also know the phrase ‘your secret is safe with me’, ‘better to be safe than sorry’ and ‘have a safe trip’. 

The reason for these phrases is that safety and staying safe have always been an important part of people’s lives. We want to be safe from unpleasant things happening to us or what we own. And so every year, we make sure that safety is a value of the month, because we want everyone to be safe and stay safe and this requires everyone to be careful for themselves and for those around them. 

Have a think about your day and the ways you can stay safe. If it’s dark when you wake up you put the light on so you don’t bump into anything. When you leave the house you lock the door, so you stay safe from anyone who might want to get in. If you ride to school by bike you check that the brakes work and wear a helmet and lights if its dark. If you walk you remember your road safety when using the pavement and crossing the road. When you get to school you take care playing in the playground, and keep your eyes open for other people. When you are in school you follow the rules about not running and when in class you keep each other safe by doing what the teacher tells you, especially if the lesson involves equipment that could be dangerous. 

You also have to take care to follow the e-safety rules when using your computer, laptop or phone. You never give your number to someone you don’t know online, and always check with a grown up if you are not sure. And when you finish the day and go home, you follow all the same rules as when you came to school. The good news is that most of the things we do to stay safe are good habits, we get into a routine (hopefully like brushing our teeth and brushing our hair!). After a while we just do them, and hardly have to think about it.

We needn’t worry. There are grown ups in the school whose job is to help us stay safe. If you play your part, then everyone stays ‘safe and sound’. Have a safe day today!

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