Have you ever wanted to be a lollipop lady? Well, we’re going to show you how! We’ll take you through the steps of getting your certificate and then applying for a position.
You can also learn about all the benefits that come with being a lollipop lady. It’s not just about standing in one spot and yelling at drivers when they get too close.
There is so much more than meets the eye!
How to become a lollipop lady
The qualifications to be a lollipop lady are quite relaxed, but you must meet certain requirements before applying.
Firstly, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driving license. If you don’t have this then it isn’t impossible to obtain one specifically for the role of being a school crossing patrol person, but it is quite a hassle so we recommend doing this in advance.
Secondly, you must be a person of good character and have a clean criminal record. This will be tested by being vouched for by someone in the community who knows you well enough to vouch for your good character.
They should also know your criminal past quite well too. If you have anything on your record then it is probably going to be a bit of a problem.
Last but not least, you must have the ability to communicate clearly in English and give clear hand signals when necessary.
Now that we’ve gone through the qualifications, let’s go over what it takes to get the actual certification.
To become an accredited lollipop lady you must pass an accredited course.
The course is available through your local education authority and the classes are held every month or two depending on demand.
The courses cost about £200 and last around 10 days, with further training offered after completion to ensure that you’re fully capable of standing in for a crossing patrol when needed.
There aren’t really any major exams to pass which is a nice relief if you don’t do too well under pressure, but there are some minor tests along the way that will see how good your observation skills and memory are.
You will also need to undergo an interview with your local education authority before they officially offer you a place on their crossing patrol scheme.
The interview will be a chance for them to assess your character and whether or not you would be an asset to the team.
Now that we’ve got all of that cleared up, let’s have a look at what being a lollipop lady involves.
Basically, it involves stopping traffic in order to help small children cross the road safely.
That’s it, but there are some other things you can do to help everyone else along the way.
You will need to wear high-visibility clothing so that motorists can see you clearly and easily know what your intentions are at all times.
You will also need to carry out certain safety checks before letting children cross the road if they are old enough to do so.
This will include checking the road is clear of any traffic and being aware of your surroundings at all times.
You should also check to see if anyone needs assistance with anything, be it a minor accident or just needing directions!
5 Steps To Become A Lollipop Lady
Step 1: Take the training course from your local education authority and attend all classes throughout.
Step 2: Pass all exams at the end of the course.
Step 3: Apply to your local education authority for a job as a crossing patrol person. You must have completed step 1 before applying.
Step 4: Once you have completed step 3, attend a final interview before being accepted onto the scheme.
Step 5: Receive your high-visibility uniform and lollipop sign! You are now an official lollipop lady – congratulations!!
We hope that you found this guide useful and that it has helped you learn how to become a lollipop lady!
Please let us know if you have any questions or comments by leaving them in the box below. We would love to hear from you!