Cardiff Road Safety Centre

What is a School Travel Plan?

A School Travel Plan (STP) is a document or statement which sets out a programme of measures or initiatives for reducing the number of vehicle journeys made by children, parents and staff to and from school, thereby improving personal safety on the school-run.

All schools are being encouraged to develop and implement school travel plans, which aims to:

• Reduce traffic congestion around schools.
• Increase personal safety of pupils and parents on the way to and from school.
• Offer children and parents an alternative choice of travel mode.
• Reduce the risk of being injured in a crash.
• Improve health and fitness.
• Meet school pupils needs by identifying problems they face on the school journey.
• Develop pupil independence and self-esteem.
• Reduce the vicious circle of school travel (i.e. Parents fear danger from traffic - parents drive children/pupils to school - traffic increases - parents fear danger from traffic).

Developing a School Travel Plan

Developing a STP need not be a complex or lengthy process, as the plan content will vary according to the specific needs of individual schools. Ideally the STP should be a living document, i.e. one that will be subject to change and improvement.

A typical plan could include the following headings:

• Introduction - What is a STP and why is it required for you school.
• Brief description of school - This will include the number of pupils, where the school is located, catchment area and any relevant factors that may be effecting school travel.
• Evidence of consultation - This will involve school travel surveys and or questionnaires.
• Proposed initiatives with objectives and targets - These could include traffic calming measures, safer crossing facilities, cycle paths and other remedial measures etc.
• Programme for implementation - When will steps be taken by the school and what needs to be undertaken by the local authority.
• Plans for monitoring and review - How will the changes be monitored and reported.

Cardiff schools can obtain a free copy of School Travel Strategies and Plans and How to Develop a School Travel Plan (a 7 point step by step guide to producing a STP), by ccontacting us at the Road Safety Centre, Tel. 029 2061 9907/8.

Copies of School Travel Strategies and Plans (a best practice guide for local authorities) can be obtained from: DfT Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby LS23 7NB Tel: 0870 1226236.

Copies of A Safer Journey to School (a guide to school travel plans for parents, teachers and governors) can be obtained from DfT Publications, PO Box 5050, Annesley, Nottingham NG15 0DJ Tel: 0845 602 2260.

Copies of How to develop a school travel plan (a 7 point step by step guide) can be obtained from Sustrans, 35 King Street, Bristol BS1 4DZ Tel: 0117 926 8893.

Additional information about school travel plans can be obtained by the Safer Routes to School Officer at the Road Safety Centre Tel: 02920 619907.