Welcome!

We're glad that you're helping children to get to school safely, healthily, and happily. As a buddy, you play an important role. You're a familiar face along the route, and you help make sure that children arrive at school safely and on time. You also play a part in reducing traffic congestion around schools, making it safer for everyone.

There is always a (voluntary) coordinator who has access to the administrator portal. This person is your point of contact if you need any routing changes, if something unexpected happens, or if an issue in the group needs to be reported or documented.

During trips, you don’t need to act as a traffic controller or teacher. Instead, you guide the group, make children aware of their surroundings, and manage the walk in the app. After the first time, you’ll find that everything comes naturally. The details of your role and its responsibilities are explained below.

1. The Role of the Buddy

1.1 Guidance
As a buddy, you guide a group of children along the route to school. You:

• Arrive on time and always start at the first meeting point.
• Pass each meeting point and welcome the children waiting there.
• Check children off in the app as they join the group.
• Pay attention to safety and traffic behaviour along the way.
• Keep in touch via the group chat (for example, for cancellations or delays).
• Report special circumstances if needed (e.g., a dangerous situation along the route).
• Make children aware of their surroundings. Examples:
  • “We’re stopping here because…”
  • “We’re walking here and not there because…”
  • “We’re about to cross, so first we…”
  • “This sign means that we…”

1.2 Responsibilities and Boundaries
As a buddy, you guide the group, but parents/guardians always remain ultimately responsible, not the walking buddies or the school.

It’s important not to take unnecessary risks or try to solve situations alone. If in doubt, contact the parent, or post in the group chat if it’s not urgent.

Important:

• When you sign up as a buddy, we count on your presence for the entire route.
• You depart from the first meeting point and continue to the school.
• If a child is not at the stop: first try contacting the parent by clicking on the icon of the child who should be there.
• If there is an extra child at the stop who is not registered, first check with one of the parents whether the child is meant to join. If confirmed, update the group chat so everyone is informed. If the group is already at maximum capacity, the child cannot join without a parent stepping in to help or resolve the situation.
• Never leave children behind alone or allow them to go independently unless this has been agreed upon in advance.

2. Guiding the trip

2.1 Before Departure:

• Open the app in advance to check which children are registered.
• Be at the first meeting point at the agreed time.
• Keep an eye on the app and group chat for any changes or cancellations.
• As children arrive at the stop, check them off in the app.
• If a child doesn’t show up, contact the parent or guardian (phone number is in the app).

Parents must be reachable during the walk, in case contact is needed. If children are late, coordinate quickly so the group is not delayed. A few minutes is fine, but longer delays mean other children at the next stop will be waiting too long.

2.2 During the trip:

You guide the group calmly and clearly. Children learn along the way by doing, and you help with this by pointing out and explaining situations.

• Draw attention to traffic signs, crossings, and safe behaviour. Make learning fun! For example:
  • Sing “left-right-left” before crossing.
  • Step only on the white stripes of the zebra crossing.
  • Stop and discuss a traffic sign.
• Encourage children to think for themselves: “Why are we stopping here?” “What do you do differently here than when you’re cycling?”
• Make sure everyone stays on the sidewalk or cycling path.
• Don't go too fast and keep the group together.
• Pay attention to busy spots and take the time to cross safely.

2.3 Upon Arrival at School:

• Bring the group to the designated spot on or near the school playground.
• Check once more that the group is complete.
• Check off the final (school) stop in the app, this sends parents a summary of the trip and a confirmation that their children have arrived at school.
• If anything noteworthy happened along the way, let us or the parents know.

Your role ends at the school. You don’t need to accompany the children inside unless otherwise agreed.

2.4 Tips and Questions:

• Keep things simple and relaxed.
• Unsure about something? Send a message in the app group or contact the coordinator.
• Concerned about a child’s safety or u? Discuss it with the coordinator and, if agreed, with the parent/guardian.
• Have suggestions or ideas? Let us know! We’re always looking to improve the program together with you.

3. Agreement with the Role and Guidelines

By using the sCOOL2walk and/or sCOOL2bike app and signing up as a buddy, you confirm, as part of the general terms and conditions, that you have read, understood, and agree to your role and responsibilities as described above.
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The general programterms and conditions of the program can be found here.