Almost 30 school crossing patrol vacancies across Staffordshire, report reveals

There are currently 29 empty posts out of 240 – a vacancy rate of 12 per cent – with some of the vacancies “long-standing and hard to recruit to” in the county.

A report stated 34 have left or retired and 40 have been recruited during the past year.

The last full service review was carried out towards the end of 2018 and no new schools were added or removed from the service.

Councillor Charlotte Atkins, who raised the initial question over the posts with the county authority, said: “I’m surprised the last review of school crossing patrols was nearly two years ago as we’ve been told these are regularly reviewed.

“How can schools which desperately need a school crossing patrol make their representations heard and understood if these reviews are so irregular?

“I hope that we don’t have to wait for a child to be hurt before a review of those schools which need crossing patrols is carried out.”

Councillor David Williams, cabinet member for highways and transport, responded: “I’m not aware of any schools that wrote to the county council asking for any extra school crossings.

"The regularity of the reviews are at the moment every two years – they have been slightly delayed due to Covid-19.

“We’re also in some respects struggling at the moment with recruitment. It is often difficult to recruit to vacancies that we have.

"However, I will say the members of the school crossing patrols we have got have been giving their time over the Covid-19 period to ensure all crossing patrols are up to date with what is going on and that everybody is okay.

"Every single one of them is dedicated and enjoy working with the children.”

“But if Mrs Atkins has any schools that wish to be assessed as to a need for a school crossing patrol – and if that school is prepared to contribute towards providing that school crossing patrol – I’m more than happy to listen to her.”