Environmentally Friendly Ways Of Travelling To School

Dan McCrory, Sustainable Travel Team Leader, has asked that the following information be shared with yourselves. Please note that if you have any queries relating to this item, you should contact rob.bounds@derbyshire.gov.uk in the first instance.

Following the Parish & Town Council Liaison Forum Marketplace, we thought it might be useful to give you further details of the work we undertake to encourage schools to develop and maintain a school travel plan.

Travel plans are designed to promote active and environmentally friendly ways of travelling. A key objective is to reduce the reliance on private cars and alleviate related issues such as parental parking pressures., Additionally, Travel Plans help to address road safety concerns, improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and promote physical activity.

Travel plans are managed using the Department for Transport funded Modeshift STARS scheme which proactively encourage alternatives to making short journeys by car and dropping off at the school gate by championing walking, cycling, scooting, car sharing, using public transport and park n' stride/glide (ie parking away from school and walking or scooting the last distance) as the preferred mode of travel.

In order to achieve accreditation school are asked to complete a series of initiatives such as such as Travel Smart week, where materials are developed and distributed in May and October to help schools promote active travel. Most schools are already completing some of these so after an initial interview they may find they are further along the journey than expected.

Other examples of best practice by other schools in their travel plan include:

• Site specific map which show the various travel options of getting to school
• Promoting cycling and scooting
• Participation in campaigns including road safety week The Big Walk and Wheel, national clean air day, the latter of which can involve road closures.

There are also fun engagement activities such as bling my wheels, walk and cycle to school events, scooting the daily mile – all of which contribute to schools achieving their STARS award.

Starting the process is straight forward with support available from our Sustainable Travel team. Following an initial telephone assessment school's will be given access to the Modeshift Portal and advice throughout the development of their Travel Plan.

On going management and reporting on the Travel Plan is the school's responsibility and requires someone in school to champion the aim, objectives, and actions of the Modeshift STARS travel plan scheme. That could any member of the school community. In participating schools this has been the head, the PE lead, the eco-school's co-ordinator, the bursar, a class teacher, a teaching assistant, a governor, essentially anyone who has a passion and capacity to help develop a culture of active travel within the school community.

There are five levels of accreditation as detailed at https://modeshiftstars.org/accreditation/

Each level requires a different level of engagement and activity, with schools progressing to the higher levels in recognition of their modal shift achievements.

Modeshift STARS can also contribute to a schools climate action plan and eco schools accreditation.

Further information is available on Schoolsnet, alongside detailed supporting documents.

We welcome you sharing this information with schools in your area. If you require any further information please contact rob.bounds@derbyshire.gov.uk