Walk to school weeks - every May and October

Walk to school week and international walk to school week offer the opportunity for children, parents and teachers to dust off their walking boots and start putting their best foot forward in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety on the school journey.

These annual events are aimed at encouraging parents to leave their cars at home and walk with their children to school, helping to reduce congestion and levels of pollution as well as improve safety at the school gates.

We have listed information on this page to make it easier for you to find what you need:

• Pupils
• Schools
• Parents
• Walk to school weeks in 2007

Pupils

Walk to school week is your chance to help reduce air pollution and congestion around your school therefore improving the quality of the environment. By walking to school you can actively encourage others to walk, improve your health and enjoy talking with your friends.

Remember the fun doesn’t have to stop when the week is over, how about setting up your own walk to school scheme, for example WOW - Walk on Wednesdays?

Don’t forget to ask your school council and teachers what activities your school is doing for walk to school week.

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Parents

As a parent you will be fully aware of the importance of teaching your child essential road safety skills, for example the Green Cross Code. Walking to school on a regular basis offers you the opportunity to spend some quality time with your child(ren) to just talk, something that is very difficult to do when driving to school.

The walk to school has been proven to provide valuable exercise and children enjoy the social benefits of meeting friends and chatting to their parents on the journey to school. Teachers have noted that children who are walked to school arrive more alert and ready for their day at school. Also by walking to school you can reduce your stress levels by not having to worry about strapping children in cars, waiting in queues of traffic and then trying to find a place to park.

Walking also holds a whole host of benefits for our city - walking doesn’t harm the environment. Walking regularly instead of taking the car to school or for short journeys helps to tackle congestion and pollution and improves the sense of a school community, with the added bonus of being able to catch up with friends along the way.

Your school can also help improve your child(ren)’s safety, by participating in the school travel plan initiative and by providing Walkwise Child Pedestrian Training.

We hope that with your help we can create enthusiasm for walking to school all year round.

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Schools

Plymouth Road Safety Team has been pleased with the support from schools for walk to school week and many have shown their dedication to having healthier pupils through incorporating walk to school week in their school travel plan - however we would love to hear from more schools interested in taking part.

Walk to School Week can be integrated into a number of themed teaching activities. You may want to emphasise to children the benefits of walking regularly in terms of safety on the road, health, the city’s air quality, and of course global warming. The Official Walk to School Week website holds more than a hundred teaching ideas together with photocopiable activity sheets, alternatively contact the Road Safety Team or you could make up your own!

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Walk to school week in 2008

Walk to school week in 2008 is 13 to 17 October 2008.

The theme of this year's Walk to School Month is Power Up! and we're focusing on getting children to power up with energy by walking to school. A brisk walk to school is an easy way to boost energy levels for the day ahead and improve overall health.

Walking to school is a great way for you to do your bit, in the same way as recycling your bottles or turning off lights. We want to encourage everyone to consider how they travel to school, and try walking to school for a week. Who knows, you might just find it is quicker, healthier and less stressful!

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