Schools across Brighton & Hove will be taking part in Walk to School Week next week.
Forty schools in the city, with around 13,000 pupils between them, will be encouraging children and families to walk to school.
Fairlight Primary School in Brighton is putting up a walking zone map in the playground to invite parents to think about how far they live from the school and add on local information, such as short cuts, good places to park away from the school and easy routes for walking. The map will be used to promote active travel to new parents in the parents’ pack, as a big display in the reception area and on the schools’ website.
Pupils at Fairlight are also taking part in a design competition for a ‘five minute’ walking zone sign. The winning design will be printed and displayed on lamp posts around to show five minute routes to the school.
Damien Jordan, headteacher of Fairlight Primary School, said: “There's nothing like a good walk, scoot or ride of a bike old or new first thing in the morning to get the blood pumping and the brain working ready for school.”
Piers, the giant meerkat will greet children across the city, including at Fairlight, as they arrive and handing out stickers to the walkers. Brighton & Hove City Council is using the meerkat as a walking mascot because of the animal’s habit of looking left and right.
Councillor Ian Davey, lead member for transport at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “Walk to School Week is a great opportunity to encourage more families to walk to school. This year in Brighton & Hove schools are sharing local knowledge about the best ways to get to school, quickly, enjoyably and safely. The council supports schools throughout the year with travel planning and providing safe routes around schools.”
Walk to School Week is a national event organised by the Living Streets charity.
Related information
Find out more about Walk to School in Brighton & Hove
Find out more about walking in the city