WABERTHWAITE SCHOOL Travel Plan

2008/09

CONTENTS PAGE CON HEADING TITLE PAGE 1 School details 3 2 Location and current transport 4-6 links 3 Aims and objectives 7 4 Working party and consultation 8 5 Survey and route plotting 9-10 6 Summ ary of road and transport 11 -12 problems 7 Working party 13 recommendations for action 8 Targets – specific % targets for 14 modal shift 9 Action plans 15-19 10 Review of targets 20 11 Monitoring training 21 12 Signed agreement 22 APPENDICES Photos of children crossing 1 Accident statistics 2 Proposed highways measures 3 Quotations for playground markings 4 Online survey results 5 Catchment map 6 Parent questionnaire sample 7 Questionnaire & summary re speed limits 8 Route plotting and comments 9 Minutes of meetings 10 Letter from children & responses 11 Transport map 12 Photos of children cycling/traffic study 13

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 2

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 3

1 School details

DCSF school 9093516 reference number Type of school CHURCH OF PRIMARY Number on roll 34 Number of staff 9

Age range of pupils 4-11 School contact details Head teacher Mrs Wilma Sharples Waberthwaite Address Postcode LA19 5YJ Telephone number 01229 717664 Fax 01229 717664 Email address head@waberthw aite.cumbria.sch.uk Website www.waberthwaite.cumbria.sch.uk Working group contact Name Mrs Wilma Sharples

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 4 2 Village location

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

We are a small school situated about 10 miles outside the village of Millom on the busy A595 which is the main route along the west coast of Cumbria to Whitehaven and Workington. The speed limit on this road is 60mph. The village itself is served by narrow rural roads in and around the nearby estuary. Our school is situated in its own grounds with a large parking area at the front and a large hard standing playground.

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 5 Current situation and transport links

• All but four children travel to school by school bus, 3 travel by school taxi and only one infant travels by car. • The taxis/mini buses drive in and out of the car park unless it is a larger bus and it parks outside the car park on the road. • The children have to cross the local village road to access the village hall where they have their PE lessons and various activities. Traffic has been leaving the main road (national speed limit) and entering the road past the school at a similar speed. A feasibility study is taking part on speed reduction and safety measures on the A595 and investigating a pedestrian crossing point to the village hall. • They are currently building a bus shelter opposite school for the schools buses which take the secondary children to and from Millom. • School hours are 8:50am – 3:15pm but children are dropped off from 8:30am. After school clubs usually take place 4 days a week and these finish between 4:15pm and 4:30pm. Children are picked up by their parents. • The school car park is also used by the local village hall on Tuesday afternoons and their finish time coincides with schools so makes for a very busy time. • Some of the employees of the local sausage and ham business also use the car park during the day. • School only has one entrance, there is a small kissing gate and a larger gate for when delivery vehicles need to be in the playground. This leads out of the car park. • The car park is not marked into parking bays. • Cycling proficiency for year 6 • Road Safety role play with Foundation • There are no children with special additional travel needs

Current transport links • The X6 stagecoach bus service runs from Whitehaven to Castle and stops twice a day at Waberthwaite. The times do not coincide with the school start and finish times (see appendix 12) • Microbus has a twice weekly shopping trip • There are no cycle routes or safe walking paths which serve school and access is from the main busy A595 • The nearest railway station is Bootle 3 miles away • One child travels by car from Broughton and the school bus routes are from Bootle and – (see appendix 9)

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 6 3 Aims and Objectives Aims

Our School Travel Plan aims to:

• Maintain current school bus usage • Prevent casualties on the journeys both to and from the school • Encourage car sharing • Improve road and personal safety awareness

Objectives (linked to Action Plan – Section 9)

• Administration: Set up and sustain a school travel plan working group. Review and update annually.(9.5) • Links: consultation with working group, parish council and local community • Health: increase travel and health awareness (9.1/9.4/9.5) • Curriculum: integrate BWTS initiatives into the curriculum via PSHE, Citizenship • Communication: involve and engage the community and school in BWTS (9.4/9.5) • Training: provide pedestrian training and cycle training (9.1) • Promotion: include in School Development Plan (9.4). Increase travel and health awareness (9.5)Promote the travel plan within the community and in school (9.4/5) • Facilities: develop play area on a road safety theme (9.2 • Safety: improve safety on routes to and from school and improve route to village hall (9.3). Improve safety on approaches to school (9.3)

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 7

4 Working party – to develop and implement the plan

Name Position Responsibility within working party

Mrs Wilma Sharples Headteacher Chair Judith Aris School Travel Adviser Adviser James Multree CCC engineer County Council link Kevin Cosgrove Capita Engineer Highways Adviser Parish Council link Jacqui Merry Parent/Governor Parent/Governor Link Paul Armstrong Chair of Governors Governor link Jane Armstrong Parent Parent link Neil Armstrong Year 6 Grace Robinson Year 6

How were people consulted? (e.g. working party meetings, surveys of pupils and staff, newsletters) Appen Name/position Subject/how the consultation took place Date dix no. Children All children took p art in an on line survey June 5,9,11 and Yrs 3,4, 5 & 6 took part in a discussion Sept about sustainable travel and plotted their 2008 routes to and from Waberthwaite school. Staff All s taff completed an on line survey in Sept 2008 5 September 2008 Parents A parent survey was sent out to all families Oct 2008 7,8 and local families in October 2008, of which 27 were returned, representing over 30 pupils. 21 out of 28 families completed the travel to school questionnaires Working group Initial mee ting took place at Waberthwaite 14 -10 -08 10 WG meetings 12-01-09 Site visit Councillor and children discussion Oct 20 08 Govs, staff & parent ,BWTS co-ordinator Other Letters were sent to the Parish Counc il - Mr Summer 8,11 Kitchen, e-mail to parents, placed on school 2008 website, placed in school newsletter Children’s letter sent to Councillor Brown

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 8

5 Survey and route plotting carried out Baseline Data Survey How do you tra vel to school? Date Car No. Bus/Taxi Car/Van Cycling Rail Walk Other of Share of Year survey pupil No No No No No (dd/m % % % % % No % No % s . . . . . m) July 2008 32 31 97 1 3 2008 How would you like to travel to school? Date Car No. Bus Car/Van Cycling Rail Walk Other of Share of Year Survey pupil No No No No No No No (dd/m % % % % % % % s ...... m) July 4. 2008 22 1 4 4 18 14 64 1 4.5 1 4.5 1 2008 5

WABERTHWAITE SCHOOL BWTS SURVEY REPORT Pupil survey 32 Children took part in an on line survey about travelling to and from school. 28 out of 32 children travel to school bus (with one infant travelling home by car), 1 by car and 3 by taxi. 22 junior children completed the survey in more detail. Bus: Of the 18 junior children travelling by school bus 14 thought that there was usually good behaviour on the bus. All the children thought that the bus driver was friendly and helpful. 10 (56%) out of 18 juniors thought that their bus did not usually arrive on time – none believed it to be overcrowded Car/taxi : 3 of the 4 children travelling by car/taxi travel under 2 miles Bike : All children own a bike with 20 out of 22 children saying they wear a helmet. The 2 children who do not wear a helmet consider them to be uncomfortable. 14 out of 22 children said that they would like more cycle training Accidents :1 out of 22 children has been involved in an accident - on the bus whereas 6 children have been involved in a near miss – on the bus Choice : if given the choice of mode of travel 1 junior would like to travel by bus, 1 by rail, 1 by taxi, 1 on foot, 4 by car and 14 (64%) by bike

Staff survey Of the 6 staff who answered the survey 4 drive a car to school and 2 walk.

Car : The 4 car drivers consider it too unrealistic to cycle or walk to school, although 2 of the staff would cycle to school if there was a cycle path. Of the 4 member of

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 9 staff who drive to school 3 live between 5-10 miles away and 1 over 10 miles away. All would be willing to car share if it was possible. Bus: None of the staff members are on a bus route Walk ; Of the 2 member of staff who walk one believes their route is safe and one unsafe (poor lighting, poor condition of pavements and speed of traffic) Bike : 4 out of 6 staff own a bicycle, 3 own a helmet. None of the staff are interested in receiving cycle training or bike maintenance Accidents; No-one has ever been injured on a journey to or from school, although 3/6 have been involved in a near miss (by car) Choice: If staff could chose how to travel to school 1 would travel by bus, 2 by car, 2 by foot and 1 by bicycle.

Route Plotting Data

Route Plotting Year Date of route plotting Year Groups No. of pupils May 2008 3,4,5,6 22

Route Plotting Notes

Children plotted their bus journeys to school. They discussed alternative routes to school eg cycle and explored part of the coastal road when taking part in their cycling proficiency. However the road is narrow and twisty and not safe for cycling. The bus did use this road but there have been problems with high tides and this has put the children at risk on some occasions. Now the one child who cannot be picked up travels by car. Train travel was investigated but the trains only stop at Bootle and Ravenglass. At present one mini bus, one bus (29seater) and one taxi bring children to school. I child is brought to school by car by her parent as the position of her home is deemed to dangerous for the minibus to pick up and drop off. 9 of our children qualify for school transport because of the safe routes to school policy. At present we have no special SEN transport but in September 2009 we will have need of escorted transport for one child, so this may mean another taxi. Children are picked up and dropped in the school car park except for one of the buses (29 seater) which parks on the side of the road opposite next to the car park entrance. Children arrive from 8:30am onwards. Whilst the majority of the children are bussed this was felt to be environmentally beneficial.

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 10 6 Summary of transport and road safety problems

• Speeding and heavy traffic on main A595 (working group/parents) • Rural nature of roads – narrow and twisting (WG) • Pavements not wide enough/no pavement through village(WG) • Lack of road safety/pedestrian skills experience (children/WG) • School just off a national speed limit road – traffic travelling too fast onto minor road • No signage to indicate 30mph limit through village • Secondary school children’s journey to bus stop hazardous with main road to cross (Parish council) • Lack of public transport for staff (staff) • We cross the road to go the the village hall for PE and after school clubs (children/staff) • Extra use of the car park by the local community (WG)

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 11

Junction A595 – Waberthwaite village

Crossing from school towards village hall

Junction by village hall and school

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 12

7 Working party recommendations for action

• Administration: sustain the school travel plan working group – monitor & update the plan annually(9.5). Include the STP in the SIP (9.4)

• Health: increase travel and health awareness through publicity and curriculum work (9.1/9.4)

• Training: Introduce cycle skills training for Year 4 and provide National Standards cycle training in Year 5. Provide pedestrian training (9.1)

• Consultation: engage the community , parents, children and Governors in the school travel plan (9.4/5)

• Engineering: improve the safety of the area around the school, highlight approach to school for motorists (9.3)

• School grounds: improve road safety learning facilities (9.2)

• Promotion: promote sustainable travel choices outside school as well as on the school journey amongst parents, children and staff (9.4). Promote the use of cycle helmets and safety clothing (9.4)Promote the correct use of seatbelts on the buses (9.4)

• Create a bus parking bay in the car park for 3 buses (9.2)

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 13

8 Targets – specific % targets f or modal shift by yearly review date Year 2008

Mode of Travel Baseline Data i.e. original survey % Target percentage for following year

Bus 97 97 Car/Van/taxi 3 3 Car share Cycle Rail Walk

At present all children are entitled to school bus provision and unless that changes we will maintain this level of bus use.

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 14 9 Action plans

9.1 Education and training planned (e.g. Primary: pedestrian skills training / Secondary: teenage cycle training)

Date Year Numb Completed? Notes/success criteria and risks, including links to Measure Cost (dd.mm.yy Action by group er (month/year) objectives/targets and issues previously identified ) Pedestrian Training Key Stage 17 Road Spring W Sharples Improve pedestrian skills and awareness of 1 Safety 2009 hazards CCC onwards S Thompson

Playground Cycl e 4/5 12 BWTS Autumn Cyclewise Improve basic cycle skills and awareness so that Skills training 2009 children are more competent when cycling on the road. Motivate to want to cycle. Teach children about helmets and safety National Standards 6 8 Summer Esther Cycle skills on local roads. Arrange volunteers to Cycle Training 2009 Kirkbride carry out training annually. Reassure parents and teach road skills, hazard Jenny awareness Knowles Curriculum links All 35 Autumn School Staff Road Safety/PSHE/Geography/Maths with School Travel 2008 Plan onwards

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 15 9.2 School based engineering targets (e.g. cycle storage)

Date Completed? Notes/success criteria and risks, including links to objectives/targets Measure Cost Action by (dd.mm.yy) (month/year) and issues previously identified

Mark out road £1 900 Summer W Sharples September 2009 Children will learn to recognize road safety features and safety details on 2009 signs. hard standing play area Mark out bus bays £1000 Summer H Abbott September 2009 Prevent casualties on way to and from school bus - in car park 2009 monitor effect by questionnaire to local people who use the village hall and share the car park (W Sharples)

Purchase of road £250 Summer L Ba in September 2009 Children will learn road and personal safety awareness signs and role play 2009 clothes

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 16

9.3 Long term Road engineering targets Cost will be included if Date approved Action by e.g. Completed? Notes/success criteria and risks, including links to Measure approved by Time scale by CCC traffic engineer (month/year) objectives/targets and issues previously identified Capita engineer Engineer Investigate traffic February Capita A feasibility study is taking pl ace at present into calming measures 2009 improving the junction from the A595 into and signage around Waberthwaite village. This will propose the need junction off A595 for appropriate speed limit, signage and footpaths to improve the safety in the area. The current system of street lighting is inadequate for a 30mph limit – the possibility of imposing a 30mph limit throughout the village by virtue of a TRO is being investigated. Installation of solar £3000 Autumn 2009 K Cosgrove Additional programmable flashing warning signs panel flashing to alert drivers to presence of school and school warning children crossing. It is intended to incorporate signs on A595 x 2 these into the scheme proposed to further highlight the school

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 17

9.4 Promotional/Publicity Targets

Measure Date Action by Notes

School Ensure access to low cost helmets on BWTS website. Bulk Promote the use of safety clothes and April 2009 council purchase high visibility waistcoats for children and staff. School cycle helmets to parents W Sharples council will choose preferred style.

Promote BWTS regularly in Parish October School Publicise BWTS further afield than the school. Write articles Magazine 2008 Council about any training/initiatives taking place.

Promote the correct use of seatbelts to Educate the children about the correct usage and send out March 2009 W Sharples children and parents frequent reminders

Inform parents of events within school January Keep parents up to date BWTS initiatives and activities in through Newsletter and website W.Sharples 2009 school by posting photographs etc. www.waberthwaite.cumbria.sch.uk

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 18

9.5 Additional targets/action taken by school

Measure Date Action by Notes

Regular meetings of the working group to discuss progress and Sustain school travel plan working group Termly W Sharples actions

Working Repeat survey and review plan – make further improvements Review school travel plan annually Jan 2009 Group and ensure the travel plan is seen as a working document

Include School Travel Plan in School Governing Make sure that the travel plan is seen as an ongoing process March 2009 Improvement Plan Body and is embedded within our school’s long term plans.

Link School Travel Plan to Activemark September W Sharples Consider cycle club at local school with cycles and track. work 2009

Future inclusion of summary in School Spring Governing We will inform new parents of preferred method of travel/travel Prospectus and information at new 2008 Body arrangements parent evenings

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 19

10 Review of targets

This Travel Plan will be a working document and will be reviewed and updated annually every July by governors and the working group. Any review shall be planned to commence before the action plan has run its course to guard against inactivity. The next review will be in 2010. The school will complete the survey annually in July to assess any modal shift which may have occurred. We will look at the integration of the STP into the school improvement plan to ensure the plan is sustained.

Survey Results

How do you travel to and from school? Car/Va Car Total Bus Cycling Rail Walk Date of n Share no. of survey N N N N N N pupils % % % % % % o. o. o. o. o. o. Baseline: July 32 31 97 1 3 2008 2008 Yearly Target % 97 3 Bas el ine:

2009 Yearly Target % Baseline:

2010 Yearly Target % We aim to sustain bus use where possible and encourage car sharing for activities after school

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 20 11 Monitoring training All activities/training/improvements will be recorded and monitored and notes will be added to the Travel Plan each time something is done.

Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year Year Year Year Year Activity Number Number Number Number Number Group Group Group Group Group Pedestrian T raining KS1 7

Playground cycle skills

National Standards Cycle Training Yr6 8

Road Safety Education All 35

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 21 12 Signed agreement

______School Agrees to this School Travel Plan, to undertake its objectives, and to review the Travel Plan on an annual basis. Any review shall be planned to commence before the action plan has run its course to guard against inactivity. This review will also consider pupil travel needs arising from new developments in education and transport provision, and the STP will be revised as necessary to take these in to account.

Signatures Head - teacher Name:

Signed:

Date:

Chair of Governors Name:

Signed:

Date:

Area Engineer Name: Cumbria County Council

Signed:

Date:

BWTS Coordinator Name:

Signed:

Date:

Thank you for completing this School Travel Plan

Please give details of the nominated person who will be responsible for the annual review of the School Travel Plan:

MRS WILMA SHARPLES ______

Waberthwaite School Travel Plan 22