Revamping School Sidewalks for Enhanced Safety in Sefton
Sefton Council's School Streets programme, an initiative aimed at promoting active travel, reducing congestion, and improving air quality, has made a significant impact on All Saints Catholic Primary School in Sefton. The project, which began in partnership with an unspecified website in 2023, has resulted in a safer travel route for pupils and noticeable improvements to the local area.
The programme involves closing roads around schools to motorised traffic at certain times, encouraging walking, cycling, and wheeling as safer, healthier alternatives to driving to school. This approach has been instrumental in lessening traffic congestion and reducing harmful air pollution in school areas.
Miss Adderley, a Year 3 teacher at All Saints Catholic Primary School, has been instrumental in organising activities and encouraging staff participation in the School Streets project. Her efforts have been rewarded with a safer travel route for pupils and a cleaner, safer environment.
One of the key initiatives of the project is the Park and Stride scheme, which encourages families who drive to park further away from school and walk the end of their journey. This scheme has been well-received by the children, with Taleen, a Year 5 pupil, expressing enjoyment in meeting people she doesn't normally talk to and the scheme being less harmful to the environment.
The Park and Stride scheme from Bootle Leisure Centre has been implemented, allowing families who cannot walk, wheel, or cycle the entire way to participate in the positive changes around school. This inclusive approach has been a crucial part of the project's success.
The children at All Saints Catholic Primary School have gained much from the engaging activities and relatable manner of the project officer, with their knowledge and passion for safer, healthier travel now evident throughout the school. The officer's guidance has been crucial in turning the children's ideas into tangible, realistic plans that are being put into motion.
The School Streets project at All Saints Catholic Primary School is seen as a lasting legacy by the children, who feel a sense of ownership and passion for the project. The programme aligns with broader regional and national efforts to create safer routes for active travel, as seen in Liverpool City Region's commitment to expanding school streets and safer walking and cycling routes.
Councillor Diane Roscoe, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families, praised the council's partnership with the website and the positive impact of School Streets projects on communities across the UK. The project involves working with 15 schools in Merseyside alongside Sefton Council to support families in adopting healthy, fun, and active modes of travel to school. The partnership is focused on promoting fun, healthy, and greener habits for life.
In conclusion, Sefton Council's School Streets programme is making a real difference in the lives of children and families in Sefton, promoting healthier, greener travel choices, reducing traffic congestion, and improving air quality. The project at All Saints Catholic Primary School serves as a shining example of the positive impact that such initiatives can have on communities.
- This approach, focusing on science (particularly environmental science), health-and-wellness, and fitness-and-exercise, has led to a safer and cleaner environment for the pupils and the local community.
- The program, in partnership with educational institutions like home-and-garden and environmental-science, aims to develop lifelong learning habits that emphasize health, greener living, and self-development.
- The School Streets project, with its focus on learning, has sparked the children's interest in science and fostered their passion for a healthier planet, showing that these initiatives can serve as stepping stones for future environmental leaders.
- Sefton Council's School Streets program falls under the lifestyle category, promoting a greener, healthier, and more active way of life that extends beyond just school travel, affecting the entire community.
