Pupils from Springfields First School in Yarnfield joined thousands of children from across the UK and over 40 countries worldwide to celebrate International Walk to School Month.
The school teamed up with local housebuilder Barratt Homes West Midlands, which supported the campaign by donating 100 hi-visibility armbands for pupils to wear on their way to and from school.
Despite the average distance to a pupil’s primary school being one mile, around half of school children do not walk to school regularly, with an enormous 54% driven to school in cars or by other means (National Travel Survey 2014).
[box type=”shadow” ]Tracey Jackson, Springfields First School headteacher said: “We believe walking to school is important and try to encourage as many of our pupils as possible to walk to school safely. It is good to see a developer support such a valuable initiative and we really appreciate the donation of these armbands from Barratt Homes.”[/box]
A recent YouGov poll asked children aged eight to eleven who normally walk to school their favourite thing about commuting on foot. The top answers included meeting their friends on the way and spending time with family, with 53% and 44% of the vote respectively. Therefore, by walking to school, children get not only the excellent health benefits associated with physical exercise, but also social interaction through time enjoyed with friends and family.
[box type=”shadow” ]Adrian Farr, managing director for Barratt Homes West Midlands, said: “Our development Yarnfield Park is located near to Springfields First School, so as families move in it makes perfect sense for us to support International Walk to School Month. By offering pupils a helping hand and donating hi-visibility armbands to them they should be encouraged to walk to school and can stay safe as the dark nights draw in.”[/box]
