A school travel plan is a series of practical steps for improving children’s safety on the journey to and from school. The plan has benefits for both the school and the wider community. It helps reduce the numbers of cars on the road at peak times and contributes to the improvement of the environment around the school.
All schools within the borough are being encouraged to develop and implement school travel plans, which aim to:
- reduce traffic congestion around school
- increase personal safety of pupils and parents on the way to and from school
- offer children and parents an alternative choice of travel mode
- improve health and fitness
- meet school pupil needs by identifying problems they face on the school journey
- develop pupil independence and self esteem
- reduce the vicious circle of school travel (parents fear danger from traffic, parents drive children/pupils to school, traffic increases, parents fear danger from traffic).
As an authority we do this using the online tool Modeshift STARS. Modeshift STARS is the centre of excellence for the delivery of effective travel plans in education, business and community settings. The STARS Education scheme recognises schools and other educational establishments that have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable and active travel.
If you want to get started on a school travel plan, but don’t know how, Modeshift are laying on a free 90-minute webinar to give you inspiration.
There are 2 identical webinar sessions to choose from:
- 4th March – 10am – 11.30am
- 7th March – 3.30pm – 5pm
To receive the link to join the webinar on Teams, or for more details, email stars@swindon.gov.uk