SAFER TRAVEL

At Yew Tree Primary School we operate a safer travel scheme. This means that there are rules and procedures about how children travel to/from school in order to keep them safe.

EYFS (Nursery - YR), KS1 (Y1 - Y2) and LKS2 (Y3 - Y4) will not be released to go home to anybody below the age of 18. Therefore, it is important that appropriate arrangements are made if you have a child in these year groups. UKS2 children (Y5 - Y6) are discouraged from travelling independently. However, if this is requested by a parent/carer then it must be put in writing using the Safer Travel permission form available below. Children will not be allowed to leave school unless written permission has been given.

We would strongly encourage that arrangements are made for children to be collected from school. However, if you do wish your child to come to/from school independently, please note the following recommendations for safer travel that have been recommended by the community police as well as reviewing NSPCC guidance HERE.

Recommendations:

• Children should wait until the lighter spring and summer months when they are in Year 6 to begin travelling unaccompanied.

• Children should avoid travelling alone. This may attract unwanted attention.

• The school should be fully informed about the routines of pupils travelling to school unaccompanied. This will enable us to alert parents immediately if they do not arrive.

   

• If a child does travel home on their own, ensure that a responsible adult is at home waiting for them.

ACTIVE TRAVEL

At Yew Tree Primary School, we encourage children to walk or cycle to school as much as possible. This is part of our Active Travel approach so to support children's fitness and health. 

As a school, we are registered with the Modeshift Stars scheme to try to promote Active Travel as much as possible. You can find out more about their work by clicking on the logo below:

We understand that some families live further away from the schools but we would always encourage everybody to park a few streets away so that some of the journey can be walked each day. We would promote active travel within the area that is our Active Travel bubble around the school.

WOW - Walk to School Challenge

At Yew Tree, we think it is really important for children to be fit and active. Therefore, we promote any opportunity which encourages children to walk to school. Even if families live far away, and need to drive, some of the journey can include walking if parents/carers park in the nearby car park and walk the last few minutes.

In addition to the physical and mental health benefits, we know that walking to school has a positive impact on the environment and is a more sustainable way to travel.

Our work in this area includes working with Living Streets using the WOW Walk to School Challenge with our children. Information about this scheme is attached in the letter below or you can visit the Living Streets' website by CLICKING HERE.