Home to School Travel
Under Section 508 (B) of the Education Act 1996 the council must provide free transport to and from school for a child if they are aged 5 to 16 between home and their nearest suitable school under certain conditions. Find out more information or make an enquiry about free home to school travel.
Walking to school
Before you decide on your school preferences, it is worth considering how your child will get to school. There is a leaflet called “How to get to secondary school”. You can request a copy from the Road Safety team by calling 0151 606 2000.
In recent years the number of children who are driven to school has steadily increased. This contributes to traffic congestion and air pollution. Less walking and cycling to school is affecting children’s health and independence. Wirral Council is committed to encouraging more children to walk or cycle to school, or catch the bus for longer distances. When deciding how your child travels to school, the following points are important to consider:
- research has shown that children who walk to school are fitter, have better developed social skills, are more familiar with their surroundings, have better road sense and arrive at school more relaxed and ready to learn
- walking, cycling or using the bus reduces congestion on the road. In the school holidays, when the roads tend to be much quieter, it is clear how much rush hour traffic is school-run related
- on average, the school-run costs families over £300 a year in petrol costs and general wear and tear
Take some time to discuss this advice with your child and help them to plan their new route to school. The right choices can increase their self-confidence and independence whilst also helping to maintain a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Find out more about walking and cycling to school or speak to your child’s school to find out if they have a travel plan or other initiatives in place.