A GROUP of year three pupils got to build on their health and safety skills after visiting a nearby housing development.

More than 35 students from Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School, on Albany Avenue in Prescot, visited Bellway’s Scotchbarn Rise development for a health and safety-focussed introduction to the different elements of a busy building site and the opportunity for the children to try their hands at the art of bricklaying.

Site manager Steve Williams and build coordinator Mark Shiels provided an overview of the development taking place, introducing the different job roles and pieces of machinery and concluding with the importance of health and safety, explaining the many potential dangers and common hazards on a construction site.

The group was then given an interactive bricklaying lesson, with some of the pupils enjoying the opportunity to spread mortar on one side of a brick and then placing another brick on top, assisted by Steve and Mark.

Gareth Ellison, the Year 3 teacher at Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School, said: “The visit to Bellway’s Scotchbarn Rise development was a wonderful opportunity for the children.

"The health and safety talk was hugely informative, as was the tour of an active building site and being able to see first-hand the various trades and careers involved.

"Being able to try their hand at laying bricks was certainly the highlight.”

Jenny Bell, sales director at Bellway, added: “We really do enjoy inviting school children to site, watching them learn all about construction and trying their hand at brick laying. The visit is very informative yet lots of fun too; perfect for pupils of this age.

“Scotchbarn Rise is located close to Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School and it’s likely that some of our residents will send their children to the school, so it was great to host the health and safety visit with existing pupils and introduce the development to them.”

Scotchbarn Rise, situated on Scotchbarn Lane in Whiston, is a development of two, three and four bedroom homes. Prices start from £179,995.

For more information call 0151 4266918 or visit bellway.co.uk.