The Road Safety and Travelwise Team offer support to schools all over the city through the School Travel Plan Process.

A school travel plan identifies travel problems and also looks at how we can encourage more pupils to walk, cycle or take the bus to school, therefore decreasing the use of cars and the problem of congestion.

A group of parents, staff and often, pupils, work together with the team to organise and promote the school travel plan activities.

Currently, there is are government grants of between £5-10,000 available for schools that complete a school travel plan. Further grants are available to support the development of Walking Buses and walking promotion in schools.

Derby has over 65 schools that have a successful and active school travel plans.

These include Cherry Tree Hill Infant and Juniors, Derby Moor Community Sports College, Parkview Primary School and Beaufort Community Primary School.

School travel plan work links in with Health Promoting Schools, Eco Schools and the Physical Activity Strategy. Activities and events that schools can run as part of the process, include:

• Walk on Wednesday Tree - each class records how they travel to school over a half term and the healthiest class is awarded a certificate of achievement.
• Walk to School Week - a dedicated week when pupils are encouraged to walk to school.
• Bike2School Week - a week of activities and events related to cycling.
• Competitions - pupils are asked to design a poster to promote a walking or cycling message.
• Decision making - curriculum work where pupils decide how they would reduce the congestion at their school.
• Assemblies - related to various sustainable transport themes.

For further information about school travel plans contact Helen Elcock and Emma Johnson, the School Travel Plan Officers.

Helen Elcock 

01332 715160
E-mail: Helen.Elcock@derby.gov.uk

Emma Johnson 

01332 715044
E-mail: Emma.Johnson@derby.gov.uk