Safer Routes to School Policy

In response to new legislation (The Education and Inspection Act 2006), all local authorities are required to develop and promote a sustainable school travel strategy. The Council’s aim in their strategy is to encourage healthier, greener and safer ways to school.

The strategy covers the following areas:

• Encourage and assist every school to develop a travel plan by 2010 – Currently 54% of schools have completed a travel plan.
• Promote and assist schools to run travel to school reward schemes, including: Walk to School month (external link), Walking Buses, car sharing schemes and prevention of inconsiderate parking schemes around the school gate.
• Continue to develop the safer routes to school programme which aims to build a safer environment for children walking, cycling and travelling by school transport to and from school.
• Create a better environment for students travelling on school transport, through; installing CCTV on school buses, running seminars for school bus drivers and tackling anti-social behaviour on buses through theatre in education programmes and input through the curriculum.
• Develop a web site to give students and their parents’ information about travelling to school on foot, cycle or using the school bus.
• Publish an annual ‘Travel to School’ strategy.

If you would like to make comments on the Council’s draft sustainable school travel strategy, then please contact the School Travel Team or Please call 0845 113 3311.