What concerns me though, is that the instructor didn't allow your daughter to achieve level 2 for something that is not in the National Standard. There is nothing in the National Standard about having both hands on the handlebar when looking behind, merely that the trainee has to be able to maintain a straight line whilst looking behind. Indeed some people have to take a hand off the bars to look behind due to restricted neck/back movement. The instructor in this case was not delivering level 2 training to the National Standard.
I was surprised about her being pulled up on this, and even more so now you say it's not part of the National Standard. I'd better check again when I get home. The report was quite lengthy and detailed (to the instructor's credit) so it may be that I am confusing what my daughter has told me with what the instructor has actually written.
Find out from your daughter's school who the training provider is and make a complaint to Steer Davies Gleave
As above, I'd better check I've got my facts right first. And even if I have, I'm not inclined to make a formal complaint - partly because there were several factors that led to my daughter not achieving L2, so it's not like it all hinged on this issue, and partly because I don't want to exacerbate the whole 'failed Bikeability' thing in my daughter's mind. I'm keen to subtly use the book
@Drago recommended and the Bikeability criteria to help her myself now, so that she is moving forward positively rather than dwelling on something she sees as a negative.
there is the danger that some parents might try to use the delivery documents without understanding them
There is also scope for "My Dad says....." if we give the delivery documents to parents, as their interpretation may not match National Standard
I can appreciate and relate to these points....but surely the first one could be seen as another argument in favour of producing an easy-to-understand and implement pre-course booklet?
Parents like the op are riding with their children in live traffic anyway, so it's unlikely to make matters worse!
And overall surely this is the key issue? And again, if a pre-course booklet could be produced which summarised and simplified the key learning objectives, surely this would me more likely to support successful learning (just as we parents are trusted to do throughout the academic year when supporting children with homework and extra-curricular projects) rather than be a barrier to it?
You can get free one on one bikeabilty normally. Much better than the group.
Thanks, I was not aware of this. I'll speak to someone at the local authority about it. My coincidence the guy in charge of sustainable transport has left me a message at work about something completely unrelated so I'll mention it to him when I call him back.
But youngest was doing it fairly regular when she was 13 and eldest first one 12. Its well worth persevering if you can embed cycling without overdoing it. my eldest takes her (my old Boardman CX) bike where ever she is living and she is 20 the youngest was ultra competitive with me right from the outset and would still beat her oldest sister. The middle one lost interest unfortunately.
I rarely feel the urge to quote Meatloaf, but as he says, "2 out of 3 ain't bad". Glad to hear your experience of introducing your daughters to cycling was ultimately rewarding and successful. Persevering is certainly something I intend to do; I'm very mindful of keeping the whole thing fun, otherwise what's the point?
Cheers.
It seems that some instructors' interpretations may not be matching the National Standard anyway, so that doesn't seem like a good reason for not producing a Bikeability for Parents guide.
