It is 8.30am in the morning and the roads around the school are heavy with traffic:  parents parking on zig zags and in bus bays to drop children off, school buses - unable to park - dropping off in the middle of the road, and residents fuming because they can’t get out of their drives.  Meanwhile children dart in and out of parked and moving cars – it’s a health and safety nightmare.  If this sounds like your school then a School Travel Plan could help.

What is it?

A School Travel Plan is a working document developed by the school which puts into place a series of actions and measures to give their parents and pupils choices as to how they travel to school.  It will outline a strategy to reduce car use and encourage walking, cycling and other sustainable forms of transport.  The school will work with all stakeholders (including parents, pupils, governors and the local community) to make the school environment a healthier, safer and more pleasant place to travel to.  

There are still capital grants available to those schools who decide to develop a School Travel Plan – typically around £5,000 for a primary and up to £12,000 for a secondary.  However, the grants are only confirmed for those schools who develop their Travel Plan by March 2009 so please think about developing your Travel Plan NOW and take advantage of this funding to help your school achieve its targets.  

Read on to find out how your school can take the first step to a healthier, safer and greener environment for your pupils.