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_____________________ STARS School Travel Plan

 

STARS is TfL’s accreditation scheme for London schools and nurseries. STARS inspires young Londoners to travel to school sustainably, actively, responsibly and safely by championing walking, scooting and cycling.
STARS supports pupils’ well-being, helps to reduce congestion at the school gates and improve road safety and air quality.

Riverside Bridge School would like to encourage all children, parents/carers and staff to walk, cycle, and scoot or come by bus/train and be part of the active travel activities. It not only improves pupils’ emotional health and well-being but also contributes to pupils’ 60 minutes a day of physical activity.
A School Travel Plan is a document that:
  • demonstrates a school’s commitment to environmental and community concerns and the overall welfare of its pupils;
  • states the way in which a school intends to help reduce the use of cars for the school journey, and for improving safety, the environment, health and the social skills of pupils;
  • is a whole school initiative and demonstrates support from children, staff, parents/carers, governors and the wider community;
  • aims to give parents/carers and pupils the choice of traveling by walking, cycling and public transport with confidence thereby reducing congestion at the school gate.
  • looks in detail at pupils’ needs on the school journey and attempts to find suitable solutions for unique situations at each stage.;
  • has clearly stated aims, objectives and targets which are achievable, measurable and are supported by the whole school community.

 

Currently, only 24% of pupils walk, cycle or scoot to school.  We would like to see an increase in this number.

 

 
 
 
 What are the benefits of active travel?
  • It improves mental health leading to improved attendance and academic success.
  • It improves physical health, helping pupils to achieve the recommended minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
  • It promotes independence and improves road safety awareness
  • It reduces congestion and noise in the community.
  • It improves air quality around the school.

 

In order to ensure as many pupils as possible are given the opportunity to realise these benefits we each have an important role to play.

 

Staff will encourage pupils to travel to and from school more safely and actively by:
  • promoting the benefits of active travel;
  • celebrating the achievements of those who travel actively to school;
  • raising awareness of the air quality benefits of active travel;
  • providing cycle training to all pupils who wish to participate.

 

What we ask of parents/carers:
  • please encourage their child to travel actively to school by walking, scooting or cycling to school whenever possible;
  • ensure their child walk or ride sensibly and safely on the way to and from school, and to push bikes and scooters on school grounds;
  • ensure that bicycles and scooters are roadworthy and properly maintained. If in doubt consult a qualified mechanic;
  • consider providing their child with a cycle helmet;
  • ensure their child can be seen by fitting lights to their bike by supplying them with high visibility clothing;
  • make sure their child has a lock for their bike or scooter and that they know how to use it if you are going to leave their bike or scooter on school premises;
  • ensure you have appropriate insurance cover for their child’s bicycle or scooter as the school is not liable for any loss or damage to cycles or scooters on the premises or being used on the way to or from school;
  • if you travel by bus, can you get off the bus at least two stops early and walk the last part of the journey?

 

We understand that sometimes there is no alternative to driving to school.
  • Where a car must be used we ask parents to drive only part of the way, and drop their child off away from the school so that some of the journey can be walked or scooted.
  • If you do have to drive their child and stop in the near vicinity please do so legally, safely and with respect for our neighbours and local residents.
  • It is not acceptable to park or wait on double yellow lines, on the school zigzags or across residential driveways for any period of time.
Please note that the decision on whether a child is competent to cycle or scoot to school is for the parents/carers to make. The school has no liability for any consequences arising from this decision.

 

What we ask of pupils:
  • ask their parents if they can walk, scoot or cycle to school;
  • behave in a way that shows them and the school in the best light whether walking, scooting, cycling or using public transport;
  • ride or walk courteously, sensibly and safely on the way to and from school;
  • push bikes and scooters on school grounds;
  • check that their bike or scooter is roadworthy and properly maintained;
  • consider wearing a cycle helmet;
  • make sure they can be seen by using lights in the dark or bad weather and by wearing high visibility clothing;
  • make sure they have a lock for their bike or scooter and that they use it.

 

For pupils and staff who are unable to walk, cycle or scoot their whole journey to and from school, we encourage the use of public transport, car share and park and stride.
Parents and carers are reminded that they are responsible for the safety of their child on the journey to and from school.

 

School Travel Plan – March 2021
STARS Travel Plan – September 2019 to August 2021