Pupils at three Brighton and Hove primaries are being encouraged to walk to school when they return for the rest of summer term from tomorrow (Tuesday 3 May).
The aims include improving fitness, concentration and learning as well as reducing the number of cars on the school run, making it safer for those who walk and greener in general.
The scheme is known as WoW (Walk Once a Week) a national campaign to increase the number of children who walk to school.
The three Brighton and Hove schools signing up this term are
- Cottesmore Primary School in The Upper Drive, Hove
- Patcham Junior School in Ladies Mile Road, Brighton
- Westdene Primary School in Bankside, Brighton, are taking part
All three will take part in the scheme until July next year.
Each child who walks at least once a week will receive a badge after a month, with a different badge being given out each month.
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Teachers often report that those pupils who walk to school are more attentive in class.
“And the WoW campaign has been proven to increase walking to school.”
Debbie Willsher, a teacher at Patcham Junior School, said: “We have always had super support from parents and I know that they will get fully behind this scheme, particularly in the summer months.
“During the winter it is undoubtedly harder but I do hope the incentive of collecting a badge spurs the children on to walk at least once a week through the cold season too.
“I’m so pleased that this project is running in excess of a year to hopefully form life-changing habits of how children travel to and from school.”
The council said that about 250,000 children were taking part in the scheme across the country.
It added that three schools taking part in Brighton and Hove would benefit from Department of Health funding awarded to Living Streets, the organisation that runs the scheme.
