New national guidance released to support delivery of School Streets

By GM Moving | 05 December 2024 | TAGS: School Streets, Active Travel, healthy active places

New guidance that will help to design activity into our neighbourhoods and reduce congestion on the roads during school run times has been released by government.

GM Moving are committed to working with partners, including Transport for Greater Manchester, on supporting schools and local councils deliver school streets.

Children and young people who enjoy an active journey to school are happier, breath cleaner air and learn better throughout the school day.

The activity levels of children and young people, measured by Sport England in their Active Lives report, remained stable in the 2023-24 academic year compared to previous years. 

Sport England data shows that 47.8% of children are meeting the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of taking part in an average of 60 minutes or more of movement, physical activity and sport every day.

GM Mayor Andy Burnham has already committed to creating 100 school streets across Greater Manchester during this mayoral term, which began in May.

GM Moving’s Strategic Lead for Walking, Wheeling, Cycling, Louise Robbins, said:

“School streets are a prime example of building movement and physical activity back into our lives so we’re delighted to see this new guidance from the government.

“We hope it will accelerate our ongoing efforts to build healthy, active environments around our schools but also throughout our neighbourhoods and communities.

“We look forward to working closely with partners in Greater Manchester on creating more school streets and developing pupils’ positive relationship with movement for life.”

New guidance from Active Travel England (ATE) and the Department for Transport will help councils deliver school streets that work for schools and local communities.

The schemes restrict motor traffic outside schools during at the start and end of the school day, reducing congestion, boosting safety, and enabling more pupils to walk, wheel or cycle.

Walking, wheeling, or cycling to school has many proven benefits for children and young people including:

• Improved physical and mental health for schoolchildren
• More opportunities for social interaction
• More independence for older pupils

Research from Road Safety Trust shows schemes to increase active travel on the school run are supported by most parents and residents, and don’t cause significant road safety issues.

Meanwhile Active Travel England found 85% of people support active travel and would like to do more and Sustrans research shows 4 in 5 children want to walk or cycle to school.

National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said:

“The majority of kids have told us they want to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle to school – it’s what they want, and it’s what we want for them.

“It is vital that we give them the opportunity to bookend their day in the classroom with fresh air and exercise, helping them build healthy travel habits for life.

“Through our new School Streets guidance, we will be able to better design activity into our neighbourhoods and help make life happier and healthier for future generations, all while reducing congestion on the roads during school run times for residents and businesses – it’s win-win for everyone."

Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said:

“It’s crucial that children are able to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that come with walking, cycling or scooting to schools.

“Today’s new School Streets guidance will help embed active travel at the heart of our neighbourhoods, so that children, parents, and local residents can all benefit from cleaner air, less congestion, and healthier journeys to school.”

A new School Travel Strategy is being developed as a shared priority between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the 10 local authorities. For more information, click here.