Walk to School & Feel Good

• 'Walk to School' 
• Walking Buses 
• Why Walk? 
• It can be good for YOU too 
• Contacts      

'Walk to School'

Walk to School Week happens twice a year to highlight the benefits of walking to school, even if only part of the way.

Many parents feel too much traffic makes it unsafe to walk - so they add to it by driving to school. Others live some distance away, or drop the children at school on the way to work.

By stressing the benefits of walking we hope to encourage it all year round, and reduce the traffic congestion, parking problems and pollution around our schools.

Make a small change - make a difference!
If you have to drive, consider parking further away from the school and walking the last few hundred metres.

If you can't walk every day, try one or two days a week to start with.

Making the area around school safer, cleaner and healthier is everyone's responsibility.

Back to top

Walking Buses

One way to make walking to school safer and more fun would be to start a walking bus on your route.

It could consist of a maximum of 16 children walking in pairs, all wearing reflective vests, with a parent volunteer at each end to lead and guide.

The bus would walk a set route, collecting 'passengers' along the way at set bus stops.

Sharing the responsibility with other parents would mean being able to have a day off sometimes, or not having to go all the way to school.

if you have to drive, you could drop the children off at the terminus, knowing they could join the bus and walk the rest of the way safely, leaving you more time to get to work.

If you would like to help set up a walking bus please contact the school, or one of our teams below.

Back to top

Why Walk?

For your child's safety:

• While you are walking with your children you can help them learn good road crossing skills.
• By leaving the car at home, even occasionally, you are reducing the amount of traffic on the roads around the school.
• Your children will feel safer walking with yourself or a group of others.      

For your child's health:

• Walking to school will keep children fit and healthy, feeling brighter and ready for the day ahead.
• Teachers say children who walk to school are more alert and ready to learn than those who are driven.
• On some days walking to school may be the only exercise they get.      

To improve your environment:

• By leaving the car at home you are helping to cut down air pollutants which can cause asthma in children
• By not driving so close to the school the danger from traffic will reduce.
• Children will gain independence and social skills by talking with friends on the way      

Back to top

It can be good for YOU too:

• It can mean more quality time with your children
• It can help socialise with other parents and make new friends
• It will keep you fit and healthy
• Starting a walking bus and sharing responsibility means you can have a day off occasionally
• Joining a walking bus means the children walk to school safely and you get to work on time      

Back to top

Contacts