Active Travel Policy

At Southill Primary School we encourage pupils and parents to travel to school by cycling, scooting and walking (active travel) wherever possible.

This school travel policy explains how we will be encouraging active travel to school. We discuss the policy with the pupils and re-visit it periodically to ensure its relevance. For pupils unable to travel to school actively, we encourage use of public transport and, for those who drive to school, we encourage you to use our Park and Stride scheme. More details about this scheme are available from the school office.

If you have any ideas to improve things at or around school for pedestrians and cyclists, or questions about travelling to school, please get in touch with the headteacher via the school office.

Some of the benefits of active travel

• Improving both mental and physical health through physical activity.
• Establishing positive active travel behaviour.
• Promoting independence and improving safety awareness.
• Reducing congestion, noise and pollution in the community.
• Reducing the environmental impact of the journey to school.

To encourage pupils to cycle or scooter to school frequently the school will

• Actively promote cycling and scooting as a positive way of travelling.
• Celebrate the achievements of those who cycle and scooter to school.
• Provide cycle and scooter storage on the school site.
• Provide high quality cycle training to all pupils who wish to participate.

To make cycling and scooting to and from school a positive experience for everybody concerned, we expect our pupils to

• Ride sensibly and safely and to follow the Highway Code.
• Check that their bicycle or scooter is roadworthy and regularly maintained.
• Behave in a manner which shows them and the school in the best possible light and to consider the needs of others when cycling or scooting.
• Consider wearing a cycle helmet.
• Ensure they can be seen by other road users, by using lights and wearing high-visibility clothing, as appropriate.

For the well-being of our pupils, we expect parents and carers to

• Encourage their child to walk, cycle or scooter to school whenever possible.
• Encourage their child to take up opportunities to develop their competence and confidence in cycling or scooting.
• Consider cycling or scooting with their child on the school run; possibly joining with other families as a ‘cycle train’.
• Provide their child with equipment such as high-visibility clothing, lights, a lock and cycle helmet as appropriate.
• Ensure that the bicycles and scooters ridden to school are roadworthy and regularly maintained.

Please note:

1. The decision as to whether a child is competent to cycle, scoot or walk safely to and from school rests with the parent(s)/carer(s). The school has no liability for any consequences of that decision.
2. This policy covers the journey to and from school where the school has no responsibility or liability.
3. Parents are advised that the school’s insurance does not cover any loss or damage to pupil’s bicycles and scooters left on the premises.