Travelling to school

Get ready for Walktober 2019

This year we are running the amazing Walktober again and My Journey Hampshire are giving away some top prizes for families that take part. 

Keep a look out for a travel plan leaflet that will come home with your child soon.

This year we have themed Walktober around the NHS’s “Five Steps to Wellbeing”. Evidence suggests that these are five steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing:

• Connect– Have a fun day out, walking with family and friends, playing games together on your walk and collecting up treasures from nature to take home with you
• Be active– Make activity part of your everyday – walk, cycle, scoot or Park and Stride to school or work, go for a lunchtime stroll, play ball in the park or walk a friend’s dog with them
• Keep learning– Go for a walk somewhere you haven’t been before, perhaps around a park, garden or historical site
• Be mindful– Think about your surroundings during your walk and be at one with nature
• Give to others– Take a friend for a walk, volunteer at a local garden or do a sponsored walk for charity.

Upcoming events

The Big Pedal: 22 April - 5 May 2020

Sustrans’ annual Big Pedal is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooting challenge. Each spring, schools compete to see who can get the most pupils, families and staff members to arrive on two wheels. The more that do, the greater the chance to win some fantastic prizes from bike and scooter storage to cycle stunt shows by the UK’s best riders. The competition is weighted according to the size of the school, so everyone has a fair chance to win! 

Walk to School Week: 18-22 May 2020

Walk to School Week is the Living Streets initiative which invites children and parents from around the UK to unite for one week of walking to school. To find out more about Walk to School Week and resources for schools, visit the Living Streets website. 

To support walking, the Go Jauntly walking app is available to download and supports people to get active through a collection of inspiring walks. Find out more and discover local routes and tailored walking challenges.

Advice for Parents

By setting a good example you can ensure your child remains safe and develops road and traffic awareness. You might also want to follow these simple tips when crossing the road with your child.

On the pavement...

When walking near a road it is a good idea to:

hold your child's hand - don't let them run ahead

look out for and encourage your child to be aware of hidden entrances or driveways crossing the pavement

put reins on a younger child if they're not strapped in a pushchair

make sure your child walks on the side of the pavement away from the traffic

It can be hard for motorists to see small children, especially when they are reversing, so take extra care. Never let your child go near a road alone or even with an older child. Children are generally not ready to cross roads on their own until they are at least eight years old - and many will not be ready even then.

Crossing the road...

When the time comes to teach your child about crossing the road, remember the following:

• always set a good example by choosing a safe place to cross and explaining what you're doing
• let your child help you decide where and when it's safe to cross
• tell your child that it's safest to cross at a pedestrian crossing or a crossing patrol
• tell your child not to cross where they can't see far along the road
• explain that they should not try to cross a road between parked cars; drivers won't be able to see them very well and the cars might start moving
• use the Green Cross Code with your child; explain that you have to stop at the kerb, then look both ways and listen for traffic before crossing
• when it's safe to cross, walk straight across the road and keep looking and listening out for traffic
• remind your children to concentrate - they may be easily distracted, forget what they have been taught and dash out into the road
• make sure that anyone else looking after your child follows the same road safety rules that you do

Pedestrian crossings...

You might feel that pedestrian crossings are safe, but they can still be dangerous for children if they don't take care. Remember to:

• explain that pedestrians have to wait on the pavement until all the traffic coming from both directions has stopped - only then is it safe to cross
• explain that if there is an island in the middle of the road, your child should treat each half of the crossing as a separate crossing
• tell your child it's important to keep looking and listening while crossing, in case a driver has not seen them
• warn your child to watch for cyclists or motorcyclists who might not have seen them
• make sure your child can be seen easily; bright or fluorescent clothes are best during the day and reflective materials work well at night
• always use a zebra or light-controlled crossing, or a school crossing patrol, if there is one