Pupils from John Locke Academy in Uxbridge were recently invited to learn about the importance of site safety at St. Andrew’s Park with Ivor Goodsite, the construction industry mascot, who spent the afternoon on site with the children.

Fifty children were taught all about the dangers found on a building site and how to avoid them.

Fully kitted out in high-vis jackets and hard hats, they were invited onto site by Ivor who helped them climb up into a fork-lift truck where they could beep the horn to signal potential dangers they could identify on site.

From a viewing platform the children were also able to watch the cranes, which are currently building the new St. Modwen homes, in action.

Holly Gilder, Year 2 Teacher at John Locke Academy said: “The children really enjoyed their trip onto the site and were very excited to meet Ivor Goodsite.

“The afternoon was not only good fun for everyone involved but taught the children an important lesson about safety and the dangers associated with any building site, which is of particular importance for us as our school is located on the edge of the St. Andrew’s Park scheme.”

Adrian Baron, Senior Project Manager at St. Modwen Homes said: “Site safety is our main priority and it’s important to us that children, particularly those living and going to school nearby to a site, learn about the potential dangers from a young age.

“It’s also another great opportunity to get involved in the local community in which we operate.”

The children were each sent home with a fun learning pack as a souvenir containing balloons, stickers and colour-in masks.

Work to regenerate the 110 acre, former RAF Uxbridge site by St. Modwen and its partner VINCI began in 2013 and the new state-of-the-art 720-pupil primary school, the John Locke Academy and over 400 homes have already been delivered.

The development will build upon and expand the wider community and vitality of Uxbridge’s town centre.

It will ultimately comprise of 1,340 new homes, over 200,000 sq ft of office and retail space, a hotel, theatre, museum, care home, 40 acre public park and will deliver some 1,000 jobs.