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.
What is a School Travel Plan?
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 an 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 an 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 contacting us at the Road Safety Centre, Tel. 029 2078 8521 or contact Sustrans, 35 King Street, Bristol BS1 4DZ Tel: 0117 926 8893.
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.
Additional information about school travel plans can be obtained by contacting the Safer Routes to School Officer at the Road Safety Centre Tel: 029 2078 8524.