School Travel Plan – Promoting Safe, Healthy and Sustainable Travel
Making Every Journey Count!
At SS John and Monica Catholic Primary School, we are committed to encouraging safe, healthy and environmentally friendly journeys to and from school.
We recognise that the way we travel has an important impact on children's health and wellbeing, road safety, our local community and the environment.
Through our School Travel Plan, we actively encourage pupils, families and staff to choose walking, cycling or scooting whenever possible, helping to develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime.
As a Catholic school, we also recognise our responsibility to care for God's creation and protect our common home. Promoting sustainable travel is one of the practical ways in which we demonstrate this commitment.
Celebrating Our Achievements – Modeshift STARS Accreditation
We are proud to have achieved both the Bronze and Silver Modeshift STARS Accreditation Awards, recognising our ongoing commitment to promoting active, safe and sustainable travel.
Modeshift STARS is a nationally recognised accreditation scheme that celebrates schools working to reduce unnecessary car journeys, improve road safety and encourage healthier travel choices.
These achievements reflect the positive contribution of our pupils, parents, staff and wider school community.
We continue to build on this success by developing new initiatives and encouraging even more families to make sustainable travel choices.
Our Active Travel Initiatives
Throughout the school year, we promote a range of activities and initiatives designed to make travelling to school safer, healthier and more enjoyable.
WOW – Walk to School
Our WOW Walk to School initiative encourages children to make active journeys to school as part of their everyday routine.
Walking, cycling, scooting and other eligible active journeys help children develop healthy habits while reducing traffic congestion around our school.
We celebrate children's efforts and encourage families to make small, achievable changes to their daily travel routines.
Even walking part of the journey can make a positive difference!
Bikeability – Developing Confident and Safe Cyclists
Through Bikeability, children have opportunities to develop essential cycling skills and road safety awareness.
Bikeability training helps pupils to:
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Develop confidence and competence when cycling.
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Understand important road safety rules.
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Recognise potential hazards and make safer decisions.
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Learn how to cycle responsibly and considerately.
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Develop greater independence as they grow older.
We believe that equipping children with practical road safety skills is an important part of preparing them for greater independence.
Our School Parking Pledge
The safety of our children is always our highest priority.
Through our School Parking Pledge, we encourage all parents and carers to make a commitment to safe, legal and considerate parking around our school.
We ask families to:
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Keep school entrance zigzag markings clear.
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Never block residents' driveways or dropped kerbs.
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Observe parking restrictions and follow the Highway Code.
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Avoid parking on pavements or obstructing pedestrian access.
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Be considerate towards our neighbours and other road users.
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Park safely away from the school gates and walk the remaining distance where possible.
By working together, we can reduce congestion, improve visibility and make the roads around our school safer for everyone.
Why Active Travel Matters
Choosing to walk, cycle or scoot to school has many benefits.
Health and Wellbeing
Active travel encourages regular physical activity, supports children's physical development and can have a positive impact on emotional wellbeing.
Readiness to Learn
An active journey to school can help children feel more alert, energised and ready to concentrate when they arrive in the classroom.
Road Safety and Independence
Walking and cycling provide valuable opportunities for children to develop road awareness, learn safe travel habits and become increasingly independent.
Caring for Our Environment
Reducing unnecessary car journeys helps improve local air quality, reduce carbon emissions and protect our environment for future generations.
A Safer School Community
Fewer cars around the school gates mean less congestion and safer conditions for children, families, pedestrians and local residents.
Working Together with Our School Community
We recognise that successful and sustainable travel initiatives depend on the involvement of our whole school community.
We work in partnership with pupils, parents, carers, staff and local organisations to promote road safety, raise awareness and encourage positive travel choices.
Through pupil voice and school initiatives, we encourage children to take an active role in promoting safer and more sustainable journeys.
We also recognise that walking or cycling to school may not be practical for every family. We therefore encourage everyone to make positive changes wherever possible, whether that means walking the whole journey, cycling, scooting or parking safely a short distance from school.
Every active journey, however small, makes a difference.
Caring for Our Common Home
Our commitment to sustainable travel reflects our Catholic values and our responsibility to care for the world God has entrusted to us.
Inspired by Pope Francis' message in Laudato Si', we encourage children to understand that small individual actions can contribute to meaningful positive change.
By choosing healthier and more sustainable ways to travel, our pupils are learning to become responsible, thoughtful citizens who care for their community and the environment.
Our Ongoing Commitment
At SS John and Monica Catholic Primary School, we are proud of the progress we have made in promoting active and sustainable travel.
Our Bronze and Silver Modeshift STARS awards demonstrate our commitment, but we recognise that developing a safer and healthier school environment is an ongoing journey.
We will continue to encourage active travel, promote road safety and work closely with families and our local community to make travelling to school as safe, enjoyable and environmentally responsible as possible.
Together, we can make every journey safer, healthier and greener – one step, pedal or scoot at a time!