Hadfield youngsters start their own School Watch

PCSOs Martine Molden and Rick Bowman of the Hadfield and Tintwistle Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team with youngsters at the sch

Youngsters at St. Andrews C of E Junior School have been working with the Hadfield and Tintwistle Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team to set up their own School Watch.

Two classes of Year 6 pupils have been writing letters and designing posters, with the assistance of PCSOs Martine Molden and Rick Bowman, to ask nearby residents to help keep an eye out on their school.

The 10 and 11 year olds have then been out delivering the letters, despite the rain, and speaking to local people about the initiative.

Like Neighbourhood Watch, the pupils hope they will encourage residents to watch out for their school and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.

The letters and posters talk about how proud the youngsters are of their school, and how it affects them if it becomes damaged.

PCSO Martine Molden of the Hadfield and Tintwistle Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "The youngsters have all been very enthusiastic and helpful. We hope that the project will help to build on good links between the school, wider community and ourselves while helping to keep the school premises and local area a safe and pleasant place to live."

Letter writing is also something that the youngsters learn and practise as part of the national curriculum.

Headteacher Andrew Cartledge said: "This project really captured the imagination of the children, writing to local residents meant that they were writing for a purpose.

"We are fortunate that our local community is so supportive of the school and that with the help of the PCSO's we have been able to build on this community spirit."

For more information on the Hadfield Safer Neighbourhood team call 0345 123 33 33, email glossop.neighbourhoods@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk or log on to the website: www.derbyshire.police.uk.