Fire-Setting

Why safety education before age 7 really matters

By the time a child enters Key Stage 2, many core behaviours and beliefs about safety are already formed. Whether it’s how to cross a road, play safely in the garden, or react to danger—they’ve already picked up a lot. Some of it is good. Some of it could be putting them at risk.

That’s why SkillZONE doesn’t just wait for Year 6.

We believe early safety learning is critical, especially as data shows that:

Most accidents involving under-7s happen in or around the home
Young children are less able to assess risk or articulate fear
Habits around matches, sockets, animals, roads, and strangers are often learnt through observation, not direct teaching

Getting it right early isn’t about fear. It’s about confidence, awareness, and memory.

What Early Years and KS1 options does SkillZONE offer?

While our core offer is built for Years 3–6, we’ve tailored provision for:

Reception & KS1 school visits (by request or custom days)
Early Years open events twice per year (nurseries, pre-schools, parents)
Targeted sessions in partnership with local authorities and safeguarding teams

These sessions are shorter, more focused, and adapted to suit younger attention spans. They still include real-world environments like:

A safe version of the house scenario
Road safety zone
Park environment
Fire safety props and smoke alarms
Interaction with volunteers and uniforms (positive contact with authority)

To book one, educators simply email SkillZONE directly to discuss their group needs and date options.

How do we balance realism and accessibility?

The line between “impactful” and “overwhelming” is a fine one—especially for EY and KS1 learners. That’s why our team adapts every early years visit based on:

Age
Group size
SEN/SEND needs
Behavioural or trauma background

We reduce lighting, remove strong sounds, and slow down the pace where needed. Our trained volunteers use visual prompts, open questions, and simple repetition to embed key messages—without inducing fear.

And when it’s needed, we also create bespoke walkthroughs with 1:1 support for schools with EHCP-heavy cohorts or specialist units.

What are the key safety themes for early learners?

For young children, it’s not about “crime” or “grooming.” It’s about:

Who keeps you safe?
What should you do if something feels wrong?
What do danger and safety look like?

Common early topics include:

Fire safety (don’t touch matches, stop-drop-roll, smoke alarms)
Stranger awareness (who is a safe adult?)
Crossing roads and visibility
Not going off alone
Asking for help (safe adults, 999)
Garden safety (barbecues, fire pits, ponds)
Online basics (in KS1 NetZone visits: recognising when something’s not right)

We use scenarios and visual prompts—not lectures. One of our volunteers might show a firework, ask “Is this safe to touch?”, or walk students through a safe way to cross the road using a real traffic setup.

How do we support EY teachers and support staff?

Everything starts with a conversation.

We don’t send out blanket packs or overcomplicate the process. Instead, our bookings team listens to:

The class’s current PSHE focus
Any trauma-sensitive needs
Behavioural support structures in place
Whether the school is SEMH or SEND-focused
What the teacher wants pupils to walk away with

From there, we build a visit around the group—not the other way around.

We also welcome TAs, SENCOs, and 1:1 support staff to participate actively. Staff are invited to ask questions, observe delivery, and even co-lead if they want.

What do schools say about our early learning approach?

We’ve had consistent praise for how we engage young learners, even from schools with complex needs:

“The children haven’t stopped talking about it. I have some quite tricky children and they were all engaged and catered for brilliantly.”
— Woodside School

“They really loved it and were buzzing all afternoon!”
— Northway Infants

“The children enjoyed identifying all the hazards in the house. Having been to SkillZONE previously, I would suggest it was the next best thing to actually being there.”
— Virtual session feedback, 2021

Teachers report increased knowledge, confidence, and conversations long after the visit. Some go home and ask parents about fire safety. Others talk to siblings about 999 calls and road crossings. The messages stick.

What about home-educated learners?

SkillZONE is proud to run dedicated sessions for home educators twice per year.

These sessions offer:

Full access to the village
Flexible grouping
Slower pace for discussion
Free or subsidised access (based on availability)

Parents are welcome to join their children throughout the visit, and we provide safety resources they can continue using at home. Home educators can request bookings via our website or by emailing the team.

Can community groups and nurseries get involved?

Yes—SkillZONE is open to:

Nursery groups and EYFS clusters
Cubs, Scouts, and Rainbows
Youth clubs and holiday schemes
Community centres and mutual aid groups

Groups that hire the space can often request early years-focused walkthroughs or joint sessions with parents. The only requirement is a conversation—tell us your group’s age, goals, and context, and we’ll do the rest.

Do early sessions have measurable impact?

Yes. Here’s what we see:

Increased correct answers in quizzes and verbal Q&A
Behavioural changes reported by staff and parents
High rebooking rates from early years teams
Clear engagement from pupils (especially those with SEMH/SEND)

In some sessions, we’ve had pupils with low speech or developmental needs participate verbally for the first time. In others, young children have shown greater confidence identifying risks in their own homes.

Even virtual early years sessions during lockdown were described as:

“Interactive, enjoyable, and exactly the kind of thing children remember.”

So what’s next?

In the next year, we’re looking to expand:

Our Early Years open day model
Partnerships with Family Hubs and Children’s Centres
The development of an early years digital resource pack
A tailored strand of our Party or Ponder resource for KS1+

We also plan to integrate more sensory-safe resources and alternative communication options to support non-verbal or speech-delayed children.

Final thought

Young children don’t need lectures—they need experiences. And that’s exactly what SkillZONE offers. We help children feel the difference between safe and unsafe. That memory—of a buzzing fire alarm, or a volunteer showing them how to cross the road—can last a lifetime.

Whether you’re an EYFS teacher, nursery manager, parent, or SENCO—we’re ready to support your young learners on their journey to staying safe.

Enquire now at: https://skillzone.glosfire.gov.uk

Fire-setting is dangerous and often stems from curiosity, boredom, or underlying issues. Without guidance, it can lead to serious consequences for young people and their communities. That’s why early support and strong role models are key to preventing this behaviour.

Who We Support

We work with children and young people (CYP) who:

Are showing signs of fire curiosity
Have started to play with or misuse fire
May benefit from positive role models and guided intervention.

Early Intervention – 1:1 Support

Our one-to-one sessions are tailored to each young person’s needs and take place in a location where they feel most comfortable:

At home
In school
At SkillZONE, our interactive safety education centre

Sessions focus on:

Exploring the reasons behind fire-setting behaviour
Teaching safe, responsible choices
Building trust and self-awareness

These interventions are not about punishment — they’re about supporting change and giving CYP the tools to make better decisions.

‘Fired Up!’ – A 3-Day Confidence & Team Building Course

‘Fired Up!’ is a powerful and engaging three-day course designed to support young people in making safer choices, developing essential life skills, and building positive relationships — all within a safe, structured, and supportive environment.

Delivered by trained professionals from the fire service, this programme is aimed at children and young people who may be at risk of fire-setting, or simply need a boost in confidence, communication, or teamworking skills.

What Young People Will Experience

Throughout the course, participants will take part in a range of hands-on, practical, and interactive activities, including:

Team-building challenges to develop communication, trust, and problem-solving skills
Confidence-building sessions that encourage self-belief and resilience
Fire safety education delivered by experienced fire service staff
A visit to a working fire station, where they’ll meet operational firefighters and learn about their vital role in the community
Hands-on experience with our dedicated educational fire appliance a safe and realistic understanding of fire service tools and techniques
Road safety awareness, including pedestrian safety, responsible behaviour near roads, and the dangers of distraction
An introduction to basic first aid, helping young people understand how to assist in minor emergencies and care for others

Real Skills, Real Impact

The ‘Fired Up!’ course is designed to help young people understand the real-world consequences of risky behaviour while giving them the skills, confidence, and motivation to make positive choices in the future.

Along the way, they’ll engage with trusted, uniformed role models — professionals from the fire service who are committed to inspiring young people and showing them a different path forward.

What Learners Say

Some of the feedback we’ve received from past participants:

“I’m so glad we got to do this course because I’ve been able to bond with people I would probably have never talked to.”

“I have learnt skills that will help me to help my friends and family.”

“I had so much fun!”

Making a Positive Difference

Through early intervention, targeted support, and engaging educational programmes like Fired Up! And 1:1 interventions, we are helping to prevent fire-setting behaviour and empower young people to make safer, more positive choices.

By working with trained fire service professionals in trusted environments, young people build skills for life — gaining confidence, responsibility, and a greater respect for themselves and their communities.

Together, we can spark change and guide the next generation toward a safer future.

Safety Learning Designed for Every Age: SkillZONE and the Early Years