School Wardens in Action

School wardens don't use any equipment to mange children waiting to cross a road. They simply raise one or both arms, barrier arms, to indicate to children that they should wait, and give clear instructions on when to cross.

Some schools also provide flags for small children to hold up while crossing the road. Talk with your school community officer if you're thinking about doing this.

1. School wardens at pedestrian and uncontrolled crossings

At a pedestrian or uncontrolled crossing, wardens:

• stand facing each other on opposite sides of the road
• use barrier arms to keep children well back from the kerb.

Where one warden is used:

• identify suitable gaps in the traffic, then lower their arms and call 'Cross now' to the waiting children
• raise their barrier arms and call 'Wait' to prevent latecomers running onto the road 
• encourage the children to walk quickly so they don't hold up the traffic.

Where two wardens are used:

• the leader calls 'Check'
• the second member calls 'Clear' after checking it is clear to the marks
• the leader calls 'Cross now'.

Note: wardens do not cross the road with pedestrians or stand on the road.

2. School wardens at traffic-light crossings

At a crossing controlled by traffic signals, the warden:

• presses the button, raises their barrier arm and waits for the 'green person' to show 
• checks for turning traffic if appropriate
• when it's safe, lowers their arm and calls 'Cross now'
• raise their barrier arm when the signal turns red or starts flashing and calls 'Wait' to any latecomers