Go to navigation

School travel plans

What is a School Travel Plan?

A School Travel Plan (STP) is a document relating to a specific school that:

  • sets out a number of practical steps for improving safety on the school journey and for reducing the number of car trips made to school;
  • provides your school community with a voice by identifying the problems experienced by pupils, parents and local residents around the school journey, and focuses on finding the right solutions for each school;
  • is a whole-school initiative and should demonstrate support and ownership from children, staff, parents, governors and the wider school community;
  • enables parents and children to choose walking, cycling and public transport with confidence and seeks to cut congestion at the school gate;
  • does not have to concentrate on transport alone but can also address health, safety, environment, education and social equity issues;
  • has clearly stated aims, objectives and targets which are achievable, measurable and are supported by the whole school community;
  • demonstrates a commitment to improving safety and reducing congestion;
  • can take several forms. For example it may be a very simple written statement of school policy, something created electronically and publicised through the school website or virtual learning platform, or a comprehensive document which deals with all aspects of the school journey.

The main aims of an STP are to:

  • reduce congestion outside the school gate;
  • improve health and fitness through walking and cycling;
  • allow parents and pupils to feel confident about walking, cycling and using public transport to and from school;
  • make sure children are aware of traffic dangers and road safety and familiarise them with using public transport;
  • make the journey safer to and from school;
  • provide a focus for recognising road safety within the national curriculum.

The need for an STP

The most important reason for an STP is to provide a safer route and allow people to feel confident about using a more sustainable method of travel to and from school.

It also contributes towards meeting the objectives outlined in the Medway Local Transport Plan 3 on reducing the growth in car use and improving safety on the school journey.

Has your school got an up-to-date travel plan?

A STP is an evolving document, created and supported by a working group, for example, parents, governors, pupils, teachers and local residents. Together the group identifies the problems and dangers outside the school and together they decide on measures to eradicate or alleviate them.

The idea is to promote and encourage a safer and more environmentally attractive network of ways for children to get to and from school, as well as raising awareness of the health and environmental implications of travel.

To find out more about school travel in Medway, email travel.safety@medway.gov.uk or visit the Safer Journeys  page.

Rate this page: 
Send this page to a friend: Send

Send a link to the School travel plans page to a friend

  4. Please answer the question below to ensure your form gets through safely to Medway Council. It is to verify that you are a real person and not an automated internet spam programme.