School Travel Plans
School Travel Plans
The main aim of a School Travel Plan is to bring about significant reductions in the use of cars travelling from homes to the school. It does this by promoting and encouraging walking, cycling, car-sharing the use of buses and other sustainable means of transport to pupils, staff, parents and visitors. The government has a target that every school in England will have a Travel Plan by the end of March 2010.Other aims of a School Travel Plan include:
- Safer travel to and from our school.
- Fitter, healthier, happier pupils, parents and staff.
- A significant reduction in traffic congestion and pollution around our school.
- A higher awareness amongst pupils, staff and parents of the environmental, safety, health, economic and social consequences of our travel choices.
Decreasing car use will help to reduce accidents, improve our health, and reduce vehicle emissions harmful to human health and the environment. In addition, travel plan work helps pupils develop their road skills, responsible attitudes towards other road users, and their awareness of the effects of their travel choices; all of which they can take into their adult lives. Travel Plans are submitted each year by March 31st. Following approval by the DCSF (Dept for Children, Schools and Families) and DfT (Dept for Transport), the school is allocated a grant. This can be spent on capital items on the school site that will increase sustainable travel.
The grant is £3,750 + £5 per child for Primary schools, and £5,000 + £5/child for Secondaries and Special Schools with students of more than 10 years old (i.e. secondary age). Regrettably grant is not available to Independents, but other support is.
a) Lockers/hooks to store wet weather gear
b) Secure Cycle Storage
c) Trees to Absorb Carbon Dioxide
d) A Parent-Waiting Sheltere) Better entrances
f) Pedestrian/Cycle markings on school grounds.
