A NATIONWIDE scheme aimed at teaching young children to ride bikes has been successful at a dale primary school.
Children from key stage one at Ramshaw Primary School have been taking advantage of the joint initiative between British Cycling and HSBC UK.
Called Ready-Set-Ride, the scheme is billed as a fun and easy way to help children from as young as 18 months to eight learn to ride a bike.
Karen Stewart, teaching assistant at Ramshaw, said: “We had some concerns over motor skills and when we learnt about the HSBC initiative we thought we should look into it.”
Mrs Stewart said: “We approached Mrs Flatters, the school’s PE co-ordinator and she provided the money to purchase ten balance bikes, helmets and other items such as road cones.”
The scheme uses online teaching materials and guidance provided by HSBC and is all about introducing pedalling to playtime. Getting youngsters to ride a bike is completed in simple steps.
The youngsters start in the classroom and learn all about their bikes before moving on to using balance bikes in the playground. Pupils have only been on the scheme since Easter and the progress is astounding teachers. Teaching assistant Jill Cumming said: “We are amazed at the progress. Some of the children have moved on to pedal cycles.” Mrs Stewart added: “One thing we have learnt is that if a child has their own bike they do not need a balance bike. Parents just need to take the stabilisers and pedals off the child bike.”
