[A] total of 52 schools throughout Cumbria are encouraging children and their parents or carers to swap four wheels for two feet, and give walking, scooting or cycling a go during this year’s Walk to School Week (21 – 25 May).
As part of the this year’s challenge, children will be encouraged to wear the shoes that make them happiest – whether they’re the brightest and craziest shoes they own, or simply their favourite old pair of trainers – to celebrate Living Streets ‘Happy Shoesday’ on Tuesday 22 May. Living Streets is the national walking charity behind Walk to School Week, supporting over one million children from 4,000 schools across the UK to walk, scoot or cycle to school.
Walking, scooting or cycling to school is a brilliant way to get active and healthy. It’s also a great opportunity for children to learn vital road safety skills and make sure they’re alert and ready to learn at the start of a new day.
Cumbria County Council’s Active Travel team supports the national Walk to School campaign, and parents who walk find the journey to school less stressful, their fuel bills go down, their children perform better at school and their children feel healthier and fitter. Teachers also report that those pupils who walk to school are more attentive once they reach their desks.
Over 10,000 children and parents in Cumbria will be joining school pupils from all over the country to join in the celebrations by taking part in the five day walking, scooting and cycling challenge with the theme ‘Walking Roots.’
This year they are exploring the ecosystem of a tree and children who walk, cycle or scoot to school each day add a sticker to the classroom activity-tree. Each sticker brings the tree to life across the week, from the roots and the trunk, to the colourful leaves and blossoming flowers. Activity diaries for children will focus on the importance of nature and the benefits of active travel, as they make their way to and from school by foot, bike or scooter. All 52 schools taking part in Cumbria will receive these classroom packs from the Active Travel team.
Judith Aris, Cumbria County Council’s School Travel Officer, said: “Walk to School Week is always popular with Cumbrian schools – the focus is on fun, active travel and building daily exercise into the school journey. Schools find that their entrances and surrounding streets are less congested during drop off and pick up times, which improves air quality and provides a safer environment.”
Joe Irvin, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said: “Walking to school is an easy and free way for children to get active as part of a daily routine. Teachers confirm that pupils who walk to school are more alert, ready to learn and gain better grades than those who come by car.”