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In Cornwall there are over 75,000 journeys to school each day. A significant proportion of these are by car, 68% for primary and 35% for secondary school. The impacts of these school journeys can be clearly seen in congestion at the start and the end of the school day around many of Cornwall’s schools. This often results in unsafe and unhealthy environments for pupils and residents in the local area.
We need to improve the health of children in Cornwall and active travel to school presents a number of co-benefits and opportunities.
Active travel to school can help not only children but parents and carers to reach the daily recommended level of physical activity CMO Physical activity guidelines through everyday active journeys
Our Sustainable Mode of Travel Strategy sets out how we will continue to support sustainable school travel.
Current Programmes
Active Travel Inspectors
Sign up to become Active Travel Inspectors and empower pupils to inspect their school neighbourhood, identifying ways to make walking, wheeling and cycling easier, safer and more enjoyable for school journeys.
Bikeability
Access free Bikability training for your school. To book, email Julie.ponting@cornwall.gov.uk
Eco Schools
Eco-Schools is a pupil-led education programme for all types of schools, from primary and secondary. to colleges, nurseries, and SEND settings.
Find out more about Eco School on the Eco Schools Website
School Travel Grant
This funding supports schools to remove barriers that prevent pupils from walking, cycling, or scooting to school. By encouraging active travel, the grant aims to support healthier lifestyles and more sustainable journeys for children and their families.
Apply to the School Travel Grant
Parking Buddies
Cornwall Council have started a Parking Buddies loan scheme to help schools tackle parking outside of schools.
Find out more information about parking buddies
Park and Stride
Set up a Park and Stride for your school. Cornwall Council may be able to support with parking permits for a nearby Council owned car park.
Tool Kits
Active Travel Tool Kit- Active Travel (including Park and Stride) can complement other measures that schools have in place to manage a safe return to school. Encouraging students to walk, scoot and cycle can help reduce pressure on space as they arrive and leave. It also reduces congestion and air pollution at the school gate.
Bus Tool Kit- Sustrans, with Cornwall Council and Transport for Cornwall, has been working on a resource package for schools and children. It aims to promote and educate about bus travel in Cornwall. This document will be available soon and outline a series of activities including three lesson plans with games/activities.
Clean Air for Kids Tool Kit- This is for anyone who wants to explore the world of air quality. It is particularly aimed at providing adults with fun and engaging activities to complete with children in educational settings. Here you will find information on different ways in which to bring the subject of air quality to life, with interactive ideas to get conversations started.
FRideDays Bike Bus toolkit Set up a Bike Bus using the FRideDays Bike Bus toolkit
Healthy Schools Tool Kit- This Healthy Schools Toolkit helps schools that want to improve the health and wellbeing of their whole school community. It can be used as a general school improvement tool to enable the whole school workforce to be creative in their approach to improving health and wellbeing.
Twilight trails Tool Kit- On dark nights and in bad weather, all pedestrians and children are vulnerable on the roads. This is because they are less visible to motorists. We have put together a programme known as the 'Twilight Trail' to present the Be Safe, Be Seen message to children within primary schools. The Twilight Trails provide children with a fun and interactive lesson about the importance of being seen when out in poor light.`
Resources
20mph Resource Pack- Communities can support us by spreading information and messages through various communication channels. This resource pack includes: leaflets, posters, other media assets. These will help spread the word and engage your community at a local level. This will support the work of the wider campaign to make Cornwall's roads safer.
Join us in making a difference. We have put together a guide to help support you in sharing the 20mph message within your community.
Backseat Boss- AXA’s free road safety resource for KS1, KS2 and SEN pupils, supporting the 2026 RSHE guidance.
BREAK Teaching Resources -Road safety teaching resources for children and young people.
Children Accident Trust Activity Sheet
Resources for Youth Organisations - A range of resources for Beavers, Brownies, Cubs, Guides and Rainbow groups. Please scroll down to see and download information for each.
RoSPA Practical Pedestrian Training - for children in year 3-4.
THINK! Educational Resources -Provides lesson plans, slides and films for ages 3-6, 7-12, and 13-16.
THINK! Tales of the Road -Produced by THINK! Is a brilliant resource which provides plenty of safety information, tips on active travel and covers basic elements of the highway code.
Teaching road safety skills to children with additional needs- By ROSPA, the National Autistic Society also offers road safety advise for parents and carers.