School Travel Plans

The Sustainable Transport team works with the majority of schools in Waltham Forest to support them to develop a School Travel Plan (STP) through TfL’s nationally recognised accreditation programme called Travel for Life. The main objectives of a STP are to promote active travel, reduce congestion and improve road safety outside school. A good school travel plan should be based on consultation with teachers, parents, pupils and governors and other local people and should be reviewed and updated regularly, to ensure it stays relevant and appropriate. 

Once a travel plan is developed, schools can apply for either the Bronze, Silver or Gold award annually based on the number of activities that have been completed.

The benefits of a School Travel Plan include:

• Less congestion and pollution around the school gates 
• Improved travel awareness and road user skills amongst pupils
• A safer environment for walking, cycling and kick-scooting
• Improved independence and responsibility for pupils

The benefits of partaking in the Travel for Life programme include:

• Free resources, lesson plans and guides to support you
• Supports the curriculum including school travel and climate action planning
• Incentives along the way including competitions for new equipment, Top School Awards and inter-school events such as Mini and Teen Tour de Waltham Forest
• Promotes life skills and employability through peer led projects and leadership opportunities
• Health and wellbeing benefits
• Interventions to improve road safety and air quality
• Borough officer support from the Safe and Active Travel officer and Sustainable Transport Team

Every school and its community are unique and have their own travel issues and concerns. Through the Travel for Life programme officers can help schools to create, deliver and maintain travel plans that suit their individual needs. 

Find out more on the Travel for Life website, or email schooltravelplans@walthamforest.gov.uk.