A construction team is building strong links with Newington Community Primary in Ramsgate.
Members of SER Contractor who are working on the nearby community centre in St Margaret’s Avenue visited the school for a special day looking at varying aspects of how their work can help inform the children.
The builders decided to contact Newington to share vital safety information as lots of the pupils use the playground and areas around the community centre.
A busy programme included an assembly with the whole school discussing what a construction site is, the dangers in and around the area, and the personal protection equipment worn.
Children were able to try on some of the PPE gear including hi-vis jackets, hard hats and safety goggles. They also had the opportunity to get hands-on with equipment including barriers, cones, signs and safety tape.
To reinforce their new knowledge, a ‘spot the hazard’ challenge invited pupils to demonstrate what they had learnt about the do’s and don’ts on the construction site.
An art competition was launched with each child working through the day in class groups to create the most striking and informative poster.
Once all the entries have been completed, the school will select some for the construction company to display around the site on walls and fences.
Every pupil signed the SER safety pledge confirming they will take great care around building sites, with each child also receiving an SER pencil as a memento for taking part in the day.
Assistant Head Teacher Gemma Clements said: “It was a great day and so relevant to our children. It was a brilliant opportunity to promote safety in our local community.
“We also took this opportunity to talk with our children about anti-social behaviour and how to look after our local environment.”
Head Teacher Hannah Tudor added: “Many thanks go to the SER team. They were excellent with the children, encouraging them to think about the many different aspects of safety around the construction work they are doing and that many of our pupils see every day of the week as the improvement works to the community centre take shape.”
SER Contractor highlights the project at Newington on its website. It states: “The project involves the construction of a new extension and refurbishment of the existing community centre, breathing new life into a much-loved local facility.
“As part of our commitment to sustainability and community benefit, we’ll also be installing an air source heat pump, fitting solar panels, and creating a bio-diverse green roof.
“This project reflects SER’s continued drive to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient buildings that support both people and planet. We’re excited to be working alongside Thanet Council and can’t wait to see this space transformed for the community.”
