Safer, greener and healthier active travel toolkit for Essex children, young people and families now available
A toolkit outlining ways families can actively travel to school is now available for use.
The toolkit has been produced by Essex County Council and Active Essex, who are committed to increasing the levels of physical activity among school pupils across Essex.
Covid-19 has given families in Essex an opportunity to rethink the school run for pupils attending the 450 primary schools in Essex.
During this difficult and challenging time, it is possible to provide some routine to daily lives by adopting an active travel approach.
Active travel allows families time in the outdoors, breathing in fresh air and getting some sunlight, needed by our bodies to produce vital vitamin D.
While it is not convenient or possible for all students to actively travel to school, walking or cycling should be the default for many, whilst those living further away could park and stride – which means parking the car outside of busy areas and walking the short distance to the school.
To download and learn more about the Active Travel Toolkit for schools, click here
Active travel not only presents the benefits of health as a source of physical activity but is safer for the environment and improves relationships and social inclusion.
Dr William Bird, GP and Physical Activity Advisor said: “The toolkit reflects the importance of physical activity which is an essential part of school life for every child.
“The time spent walking and cycling to school gives precious time when they can talk with their parents or catch up with their friends.
“It is also time to experience the seasons, notice nature and engage with the local people and culture in their neighbourhood. This lays down memories and provides security of belonging to a place. The excellent suggestions and ideas in this toolkit are key to creating a healthier child in the fullest sense.”
From Stop. Swap. GO! and Bikeability to the Healthy Schools Programme and The Daily Mile, the toolkit offers ideas and ways to implement these initiatives into the school and out to the pupils and their families. It is hoped the toolkit can create behaviour change so that sustainable transport becomes normal and also gives schools support to create behaviour change.
Tracey Vickers, Head of Sustainable Transport for Essex County Council, said: “Children are our blueprint for the future, so if we can encourage them now to lead active lives, whether that be during the school day or on the journeys they do every day, they’re more likely to continue with these behaviours into their adults lives. We need to be brave and embrace a new way of thinking about transport – one which puts our vision of safer, greener, healthier at the forefront.”