Back to school means more cars on the road and young people out

Acting Principal for Horsham Primary School Jim O'Brien said it's not just doing 40km that the school is focused on for student safety.

"With the COVID-19 we have many of the same processes that we had last year," Mr O'Brien said.

"With preps we could only allow five parents or carers in because of numbers allowed in the classroom at any one time.

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"That first day of prep it's an important part for parents and carers to come in and help their child get settled before they have to go."

The Rasmussen campus has a bigger space which meant up to 10 parents or carers could be in the space and remain COVID-19 safe.

Now that pupils are back, Mr O'Brien said people need to be aware of lots of cars being back on the road.

"We've got the 40km signs up around the schools at all times. So it's about being very aware of new students coming into the school, and there is another school close by so there are a lot of cars around at the moment," he said.

"Let's be nice and patient. Let the students know to use the crossing and parents will walk young students who haven't been to the school yet.

"Follow the directions of the crossing supervisor. If students are walking to school by themselves, they should walk straight to school."

Horsham Police Leading Senior Constable Linda McLennan said police will be around schools at the start and end of the school day to make sure people are doing the right thing.

"We have tasked Highway patrol and uniformed officers to have a visible presence in school zones. They'll be looking at pedestrian and vehicle traffic in school speed zones.

"Be courteous and tolerant given there will be new parents of children commencing school for the first time. They may not be aware of parking requirements and so on around the school. We ask people to be tolerant around that.

"Children may have been given new bikes at Christmas, so we might have some new bike riders, we want to impress upon parents that children have the appropriate helmets and aware the safest place for them to ride is on a shared bike path or footpath as children under 12 are allowed to by law.

"People need to be cautious and mindful that school has returned and some areas will be reactivated in terms of school speed zones," Constable McLennan added.

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