South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue works closely with primary and secondary schools across the county, offering a wide range of educational programmes. 

Educating young people about fire safety is a crucial part of our ongoing work to reduce house fires, hoax calls and arson, and we now teach fire safety education in all Key Stage areas of a child's development.

SYFR's educational programme for foundation level pupils provides an initial introduction to firefighters and their work. Children are shown the Frances The Firefly DVD, a short animation film which covers a number of issues around fire safety.

 Year 2 – Play It Safe

 'Play it Safe' is a fun-packed animation designed by SYFR to help deliver safety messages to young children. In the DVD film Bleeper (a smoke alarm) and his best friend 'Battery' help younger children learn about fire safety in a simple and fun format. Bleeper - a smoke alarm with a bright red nose – is SYFR's fire safety mascot.  

The animation contains messages on smoke alarms, fire safety in the home, escape plans, fire drills, bonfire safety and road safety. Books have also been produced to help support the programme.  

The DVD is taken into all primary and infant schools throughout South Yorkshire and shown alongside a fun-packed presentation by community safety staff.

Year 4

A brand new package is currently being developed for Year 4 pupils focusing on the need for homes to have an emergency escape plan, correctly fitted smoke alarms and a bed time routine. Pupils are also introduced to the dangers from smoke and how to spot safety hazards

Year 6 – Crucial Crew

Crucial Crew is a multi-agency approach to providing Year 6 children with the knowledge and skills that they may need to cope with the dangers around them, through practical experience in the form of short scenarios.

Since April 2005 the event has taken place at the Lifewise Centre in Rotherham. Lifewise is a purpose built facility providing a dynamic and professional set in which to base Crucial Crew, offering specific facilities and a safe environment. This extensive facility also enables the opportunity for new, relevant and specifically local issues to be addressed in the scenarios performed.

Each year the children and Young People's Unit of South Yorkshire Police invite all South Yorkshire schools with year six pupils to attend at the event.

The Children are Taught:

• To make a fire plan at home
• How to make a 999 call
• The importance of smoke alarms
• Self preservation during a fire
• General fire safety in the home
• The foolishness of hoax calls 

Year 8 – Heat of the Moment 

The 'Heat of the Moment' DVD depicts the consequence of making hoax calls and arson, aimed at young teenagers. The DVD follows the format of a soap-opera – and explores the risks of fire-related antisocial behaviour to reinforce the message that the pupils have reached the age of criminal responsibility.

Year 10/11- Learn and Live

Pupils are shown a hard-hitting series of DVD clips 'Learn and Live', which illustrate the shocking and tragic consequences of road traffic collisions. The programme is aimed at 15 – 17 year olds to make them aware of their need to stay safe not only as new drivers but also as passengers.

The presentation includes hard hitting video clips of road traffic collisions and addresses the issues around speeding, young drivers, drink and drug driving, seat belts and mobile phones.

Embedded Firefighter

SYFR's pioneering 'Embedded Firefighter' initiative sees a firefighter spend around 6 hours a week at a local school, assisting with lessons and assemblies. The programme aims to use firefighters as positive role models, and educate pupils about fire safety and the dangers of arson.

Among the schools who have adopted the initiative are Loft Toft Primary in Doncaster, Willowgarth High School in Barnsley and Maltby Comprehensive in Rotherham. The initiative is one of a number of youth engagement programmes that have contributed to a continued fall in deliberately started fires across South Yorkshire.

Fire Watch Crew

Long Toft Primary School in Stainforth, Doncaster is among the schools that have adopted the Fire Watch Crew programme.

Firefighters work closely with the pupils, teaching them how to spot safety hazards around the school and the local community. The youngsters are then encouraged to pass on the advice to friends and relatives.

Reading Volunteer Project

The Reading Volunteer Project run by Sheffield City Council supports primary schools in fostering a lifelong love of reading within pupils by providing additional one-to-one support in reading for children who most need it.

Adult volunteers are recruited from Sheffield City Council and the general public. They come from all walks of life, all sections of the community and across all ages.

Volunteers are given training and guidance by a trained School Link Coordinator, which prepares and supports them fully for their work with a child.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue support the scheme by having trained personnel who visit schools and help deliver one-to-one support to those children who need it most.