SANDGATE PRIMARY SCHOOL Updated School Travel Plan 2011

SANDGATE PRIMARY SCHOOL Updated School Travel Plan 2011 (Original Plan completed January 2006) DCSF No. 886/2545 School Travel Planner: Beverley Thompson School Business Manager beverley.thompson@sandgate.kent.sch.uk Head Teacher: School address: Helen Tait CBE Coolinge Lane, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3QU Telephone number: 01303 257280

Contents Page Introduction to the school 3 A summary about our school 3-4 Our school s strengths 5 Transport links 6 Cycle route and walking route 7 School travel issues 7-10 Area of school population 11-12 Travel survey results 13-18 Survey summary 19 Targets and objectives 20 Proposed initiatives 21 Action plan/timetable 23 List of documents as evidence to Travel Planner 24 Monitoring and review 24 Consultation for the Travel Plan 25 Pledge and approval signatures 26 2

Introduction to the school This is the second version of the Travel Plan, in which we have reviewed and updated targets from the original document which was created in 2006. Following our original targets, we have reduced the number of cars bringing one child to school as well as increasing the amount of pupils cycling or scooting to school. The grant we received following our original Travel Plan was spent on fencing for the front of the school and put towards providing scooter/cycle storage and creating safer car parking by way of painting parking bays and creating a disabled parking space. At Sandgate Primary School our aim is, at all times, to ensure that every child makes the most of his or her abilities. Success is a great motivator and all children have the right to enjoy success. We are a community school and parents are encouraged to feel a part of our environment, working as a partnership to help every member of our community achieve great things. We are always focusing on the development of the whole child, taking an interest in emotional intelligence, health and welfare, as well as achievement. A summary about our school We have a large site comprising 14 classrooms spread between two buildings. We also have mobile laptop trolleys, a library, a community room, two halls, and corridor and office spaces for group learning. All main areas of the school are wheelchair accessible, with 2 disabled toilets on site. Our school day is 8.45 a.m. to 3.10 p.m. (KS1) and 3.15 p.m. (KS2). Our current roll is 422 and we are two-form entry for children between the ages of 4 and 11. The children are arranged in two classes per year group across Foundation, KS1 and KS2. There are staff parking facilities at the front and side of the school. The gates are closed between 8.15 a.m and 9.00 a.m and 14.45 p.m and 15.45 p.m to ensure the safety of our children. Children and parents walking to school are encouraged to use the school crossing to cross the road. The school has 56 permanent members of staff We have no SEN pupils with any specific transport elements. There are regular trips offsite for educational visits and sporting activities. If we are transporting children to other locations the bus arrives in our exit point or on the crossing wherever it is safer for the children. We then load/ unload the children in this 3

area. If numerous coaches are required for a whole school outing we usually ask Eversley College, which is situated next door, if we can use their car parking facilities. Collection from after school clubs tends to be a mixture of parents in cars, and parents on foot. A breakfast club is provided; running from 8:00am until 8:35am as well as after school activities run by teachers and a private after school club is available for children to go to straight after school up until 5:30pm. We are an urban school located on Coolinge Lane in Folkestone, Kent. Coolinge Lane has a 30mph speed limit, but has high levels of congestion and limited parking We have 28 official parking spaces. The school does not have dropping off zones for visitors and children, but has access to a cycle shed and scooter parking bays. Our school site also caters for younger children, having an independent nursery on our grounds which includes an after school club. This is open from 8:30am until 5:30pm, with parents having the option of allowing their children to attend for either morning, afternoon or whole day sessions. 4

Our school s strengths We have a Table Top School Crossing with School Crossing Patrol Man There are enforceable TRO s (traffic regulation orders) on extended yellow zig zags. This means it is illegal to park on the Keep Clear marked areas as this enables access to emergency services vehicles as well as allowing pedestrians, cyclists and drivers clear visibility. The school car park is closed off with a lockable barrier before and after school enabling the immediate school site to be made safe, without vehicle movements which could create hazards at peak times. The car park also has a permanent bollard to prevent access to the school car park from the Folkestone School for Girls entrance. The table top crossing across the car park and the parking bays have also been recently repainted and a disabled bay added. Timings of our Breakfast Club and After School Clubs mean that traffic flow is staggered. This gives parents a greater choice with drop off and collection times. They can avoid the peak times and arrive and leave in quieter times with less traffic congestion. Our site is protected by a low front fence to prevent children straying into the road from the school grounds. The school has Healthy Schools status and is committed to ensuring that health education is an integrated part of the school curriculum and that the wider community is involved in its planning, implementation, evaluation and celebration. We understand the importance of investing in health to help pupils do their best, raise levels of achievement and improve standards. 5

Transport links Train Folkestone West is the nearest train station; it is half a mile and about a 5 minute walk, across Shorncliffe Road up Audley Road, and along Coolinge Lane. For up to date rail travel information, please log on to http://www.nationalrail.co.uk Bus There are bus stops for Numbers 10/10a, 16/16a and 101/102 buses at the bottom of Coolinge Lane/Sandgate Hill and these run from Hythe to Sandgate Road. There is also a stop at the bottom of Audley Road bus stop for the Number 77/78 buses which runs in a loop from Castle Hill Avenue to the Golden Valley. For current timetables, please go to http://www.stagecoachbus.com/eastkent; or telephone 08456 002299, or http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk telephone 08712 002233. 6

Cycle route Unfortunately there are no off road or on road cycle routes near the school, although a map showing cycle routes in the Shepway area can be downloaded from: http://extranet7.kent.gov.uk/explorekentgis/map.aspx. This includes a partial cycle route on Shorncliffe Road. Walking routes Sandgate Primary School Map to show most common walking routes to school School travel issues These travel issues have been updated from the recent surveys we have carried out although some of the original concerns still remain. Our school is adjacent to the Folkestone School for Girls Grammar School which means we have an increase of traffic congestion, particularly at the junction of Coolinge Lane, Sandgate Hill and Radnor Cliff Crescent. At an open meeting of Sandgate Parish Environment Council, on 7 th January 2009, this junction was highlighted as a major safety hazard for children and their parents attending Greenfields Nursery, pupils from Sandgate Primary School and The Folkestone School for Girls who have to cross the junction of Sandgate Hill and the bottom of Coolinge Lane. Many parents reported serious problems concerning the speed of the traffic and poor visibility at this junction, often having to walk a considerable distance away from the schools, down towards Sandgate before they feel they can cross the road safely. A flashing sign, "Slow Down Danger" at the top of the hill has been installed as a result of a joint effort between members of the public and the school community the school meeting with KCC Highways Services and the Parish Council. This has gone some way to alleviating some 7

of the problems. However there are still concerns about the area being used as a turning circle for buses as well as its suitability as an area to drop off and pick up pupils travelling by bus and the resulting lack of visibility for parents and children trying to cross the road. Parents and members of the public have raised concerns over the speed of traffic from the feeder roads to the school. There are a number of parents dropping off at both Greenfields Nursery and Sandgate School. Most children are collected at midday from the Nursery or at 3pm prior to the main school closing time, so again there is no real impact here, as siblings in Sandgate and Nursery then go home together. 9 new houses have been built further down on Coolinge Lane which also has an impact of traffic volume. Due to the road layout, Golden Valley traffic uses Audley Road as a rat run to the train station. The zoning of parking restrictions around the roads near Folkestone West station has also impacted on traffic congestion on the roads closer to school. Parents and children are frequently failing to use the proper crossing point, choosing to cross at random points, often walking in through the vehicle entry areas. This is also a popular route with pupils from the Folkestone School for Girls. Parents often let their children get out of their cars as close to school as possible, which often includes parents stopping directly on the zig zag lines, on the road crossing itself or directly in front of the school car park barriers, thereby blocking vehicle access. It has been noted that visibility is poor on some of the feeder roads (Audley Road and Bathurst in particular), motorists take the bends too fast, cutting corners and making it dangerous for both oncoming traffic and pedestrians who may be trying to cross the road. Generally the site is safe as the Site Manager shuts off the access to the car park/school frontage with a gate 15 minutes before and after school start and finish times. There is currently no cycle store on our site, although we do have access to storage adjacent to our site at Folkestone School for Girls. However this is not a popular location. We can store bikes and scooters along the ramp wall to the Foundation block and against scooter storage rails in the front Foundation playground. The footpath from Eversley Way has been highlighted as a problem. It is often overgrown and not particularly welcoming. This footpath should be an asset, as anyone that chooses to walk from the Golden Valley will not have to cross Coolinge Lane at all. Cars often park over the school crossing point. 8

The above photographs show where our pupils leave their scooters and bikes during school time. The amount of pupils bringing scooters to school is now increasing. Photograph showing the shortcut from Sandgate Primary School to Eversley Way. 9

Area of school population Most of our children, when they start school at initial intake (Foundation), live in very close proximity to the school but as children progress through the school and move, this area can expand with children coming in from other areas of Folkestone, Hythe, Hawkinge, Dover and Ashford. The majority of our children do, however, come from the Folkestone area. This map shows (using the legend attached to all the other maps) how many pupils live within a half mile radius of the school and can therefore be expected to walk to school. The following maps show how widespread our pupils are dispersed around the school. 10

Sandgate Primary School Map showing pupil postcodes within a one mile radius of the school Sandgate Primary School Map showing pupil postcodes within a two mile radius of the school Sandgate Primary School Map showing all pupil postcodes 11

Section 3 The travel survey results Three separate surveys were carried out to discover a full range of opinions: 1. Main School Travel Plan Survey A survey was sent out to all parents in October 2009 asking how their children travel to and from school and results were received from approximately 50% of the parents. From the replies that were received the results were as follows: Mode of Transport Travel to School % Travel From School % Preferred Mode of Travel To School % Preferred Mode of Travel From School % Walks alone 0.5 0.5 4 4 Walks with other children 5 3 9 12 Walks with an adult 31 32 20 19 Walks with an adult and other children 14 16 16 19 Train 0 0 1 1 Car accompanied by an adult only 19 23 13 12 Car accompanied by an adult and 16 11 11 9 other children Cycle/Scooter 13 13 25 23 Bus 0.5 0.5 1 1 12

Graphs How Our Children Travel To School 35 30 Percentage 25 20 15 Walks alone Walks with other children Walks with an adult Walks with an adult and other children Train Cycle/scooter Bus Car accompanied by an adult only Car accompanied by an adult and other children 10 5 0 Mode of Travel How Our Children Travel From School 35 30 Percentage 25 20 15 10 Walks alone Walks with other children Walks with an adult Walks with an adult and other children Train Cycle/scooter Bus Car accompanied by an adult only Car accompanied by an adult and other children 5 0 Mode of Transport 13

Preferred Mode of Travel To School 30 25 Percentage 20 15 10 Walks alone Walks with other children Walks with an adult Walks with an adult and other children Train Cycle/scooter Bus Car accompanied by an adult only Car accompanied by an adult and other children 5 0 Mode of Travel Preferred Mode of Travel From School 25 20 Percentage 15 10 Walks alone Walks with other children Walks with an adult Walks with an adult and other children Train Cycle/scooter Bus Car accompanied by an adult only Car accompanied by an adult and other children 5 0 Mode of Travel 14

2. Hands Up Class Survey A hands up class survey was carried out in March 2011 across all year groups. 390 pupils responded and 32 were absent. Pupils were asked how they travelled to school and how they would prefer to travel to school. Mode of Transport Travel to School % Travel From School % Preferred Mode of Travel To and From School % Walk 53 46 38 Car 36 44 10 Train 0 0 10 Cycle/Scooter 9 8 28 Bus 0 0 7 Car Share 2 1.5 7 Other 0 0.5 0 Graphs How pupils travel to school Percentage 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Mode of transport Walk Car Train Cycle/Scooter Bus Car Share Other 15

How pupils travel from school Percentage 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Mode of travel Walk Car Train Cycle/Scooter Bus Car Share Other Preferred mode of travel Percentage 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Mode of travel Walk Car Train Cycle/Scooter Bus Car Share Other 16

3. Staff Travel Survey March 2011 A staff survey was carried out in March 2011. All staff were present. Staff living less than 0.5 miles from school 38% Staff living between 1-2 miles from school 23% Staff living between 2-5 miles from school 18% Staff living 5 or more miles from school 21% How Far Staff Live From School 40% 35% 30% 25% Percentage 20% 15% Staff living less than 0.5 miles from school Staff living between 1-2 miles from school Staff living between 2-5 miles from school Staff living 5 or more miles from school 10% 5% 0% Distance from school Staff Mode of Transport Usual form of travel Preferred form of travel Walk 31% 54% Car 54% 31% Rail 2.5% 2.5% Cycle 2.5% 2.5% Bus 0% 2.5% Car share 10% 7.5% 17

How staff usually travel to work 60% 50% Percentage 40% 30% 20% Walk Car Rail Cycle Bus Car share 10% 0% Mode of transport Staff preferred form of travel Walk Percentage Car Rail Cycle Bus Car share Mode of transport 18

Survey summary National evidence shows that children driven to school are less aware of road safety than pedestrians. The number of children travelling to school by car over the past 20 years has doubled. (Dept for Transport). In 2006, just over half (52%) of trips to school by children aged five to 10 were made on foot and 41% were made by car. (Dept for Transport: National Travel Survey 2006). In the latest Hands Up Class Survey in March 2011, 53% of the children said they walked to school and 36% said they travelled by car. It is apparent that fewer children come to school by car, than this national average. However having surveyed the children they would very much like to either cycle or scooter to school. Slightly more parents walk their children to school as walk home from school. When we consider that a large majority of our pupils live within a one mile radius of the school the opportunity to walk or travel by scooter or bicycle is certainly an opportunity for further encouragement. Very few of our children either use the bus or the train. The parent s survey via additional comments indicated a strong wish for the TRO to be enforced, and also for better crossings across the feeder roads i.e. Audley and Bathurst Road. Parents felt that a small minority do park inconsiderately. The recently painted school crossing point on the school car park area helps to ensure it is kept clear and ensure vehicles on site go as slow and carefully as possible. Parents also highlighted the problem with cars accessing the school car park via the Folkestone School for Girls entrance. There was also some support for the introduction of traffic calming measures to reduce the speed of traffic. Parents who use the footpath via Eversley Way and other footpaths in the area felt strongly about the dog mess problems and the overgrown vegetation. Some parents also expressed interested in some kind of park and walk initiative or indeed a walking bus scheme. 19

Section 4 Targets and objectives The overall objectives of this travel plan are: 1. To encourage children to take part in healthy lifestyles, by taking regular exercise on the journey to and from school where feasible. 2. To reduce the conflict between vehicles and pedestrians close to the school. 3. To promote good relationships within our local community. 4. To reduce the number of car journeys to school. 5. To integrate the school travel plan into the curriculum where possible and promote awareness of various travel options. SMART targets From the recent Hands Up Survey results a number of targets have been identified: 1. To increase walking to school from 53% to 55% by September 2012 2. To increase cycling/scooter to school from 9% to 11% by September 2012 3 To reduce the number of children being driven to school from 36% to 34% by September 2013 4 To increase car sharing from 2% to 3% by September 2013. This objectives and targets will be reviewed annually and updated as appropriate. The success of the travel plan will be determined by the results of the annual survey in 2012 and 2013 20

Section 5 Proposed initiatives We are a healthy school, which means we take the whole school approach to education and health improvement and are successful in helping pupils to do their best and build on their achievements. We aim to promote physical and emotional health by providing accessible and relevant information, and equipping pupils with the skills and attitudes to make informed decisions about heir health. A healthy school understands the importance of investing in health to assist in the process of raising levels of pupil achievement and improving standards. Physical Activity and Safety: Encouraging children to walk or cycle to school through a variety of schemes i.e. WOW (Walk on Wednesdays) or by cycling training to the national standard. The benefits of walking to general health (cutting down on obesity, helping circulation) should also be taught. PSHCE: Teaching and learning about health and safety, development of personal and social skills through team and individual activities, games and sports. Citizenship: Local authority officers or relevant environmental groups could be invited to talk at assemblies and be quizzed by pupils about their respective roles. As Healthy Schools are committed to ongoing development, achievements in safe travelling to school need to be celebrated and consistently reviewed to seek further possible improvements. 21

The school is also involved in the Junior Road Safety Officers Scheme run by KCC which encourages and promotes road safety within the school. This group take on different projects each term and have previously covered Be bright, be seen and Safety belts and booster seats. Their current project is aimed at encouraging cycling to school. The group meets the Business Manager three times a year to put forward their views, ideas and comments 22

Section 6 Action plan/timetable Proposed Action Lead Persons Start Date Progress Noted Consider a walking bus and/or park and stride initiatives Inform parents of proposal and suggest scheme to commence Spring 2012 Education Days, promoting the safety aspects and health awareness. Contact Lorna Hawkins of Healthy Schools for help and advice Liaise with Shepway District Council for continued footpath improvements and general maintenance/additional dog bins. Jo Green Spring 2012 Sue Vick June 2011 Junior Road Safety Officers to take photographs of bad areas and write to council regarding the problems. Awards for pupils who walk to school book vouchers, pedometers Travel Plan Group to decide on vouchers and how often to present to pupils Effective enforcement of zig zags and yellow lines by traffic wardens Contact School Travel Planner with regards to Zig Zag Scheme Lesley Williams and JRSOs Jo Green and Beverley Thompson Beverley Thompson September 2011 March 2012 September 2011 Safety information, banners etc and links with curriculum designing posters Newsletter campaigns and regular features about bad parking and regular updated information regarding whether targets being achieved Lesley Williams and JRSOs Beverley Thompson Ongoing Fundraising for scooter/cycle storage. Approach PTA and School Council for fundraising ideas Incorporate Road Safety Education into curriculum to enable greater awareness for pupils Dan File, Jo Green and Beverley Thompson September 2011 to August 2012 September 2011 to May 2012 Would like to have sufficient funds ready for spring 2013 Small steps training for Year 1 Jo Green Cycle training for Year 6 Lesley Williams Contact Road Safety Team for help and advice Lesley Williams and JRSOs 23

List of documents provided as evidence to School Travel Planner Parent surveys Staff surveys Hands Up surveys Travel plan meeting minutes Newsletters Section 7 Monitoring and review We have carried out annual reviews since our original School Travel Plan and agree to carry on doing so. The school Travel Plan will continue to be monitored closely and reviewed annually in March of each year by the working group led by Beverley Thompson the Business Manager. The review will take into account all pupils needs arising from new developments in education and transport provision. A more detailed review will be carried out should the school seek planning permission for further development. The school confirms that it will continue to carry out an annual pupil travel survey in the autumn term and feed the data into the School Census each January. This will be led by Jo Krayenbrink, Head Teachers PA/Admissions Officer. 24

Section 8 Consultation for the Travel Plan As part of the travel plan a number of people were consulted. These were: Our School Travel Plan action team Mrs Beverley Thompson - Business Manager (lead) Mrs Jo Green - Family Liaison Officer Mrs Dawn Begley - Parent Governor Lisa Preston - Parent Sue Vick - Healthy School Co-ordinator Lesley Williams - Year 6 TA and Transition Co-ordinator The working group also involve and feeds into: Mrs Hilary Tolputt - Chair of Governors Mrs Helen Tait - Head Teacher School Travel Plan Advisor - Jan Wickham School Council The action team last met on 27 th April 2011. The minutes of this meeting are available as evidence. At this meeting the travel plan was discussed and any responses from residents and parents were discussed. The Travel Plan will continue to be a main agenda item for Healthy Schools. The review of the updated School Travel Plan will also continue to be included as an action in the SIP (School Improvement Plan). The School Council will continue to discuss the School Travel Plan at their regular meetings and by so doing, make suggestions to ensure the Plan s success. 25

Section 9 Pledge and approval signatures We will make a commitment to the development and implementation of our School Travel Plan for Sandgate Primary School. We will continue to involve the whole school, PTA, and other key stakeholders, such as the local authority in the complete process. We will publicise the process to pupils and parents via assemblies, notice boards, newsletters etc. We will inform and consult with all stakeholders on the results of the surveys and develop a set of proposals to address the issues raised in the surveys. We will agree with the Council and other stakeholders a final revision of our School Travel Plan, with specific achievable, measurable targets within set timescales. We will implement the actions contained within the School Travel Plan, including investigating sources of possible funding We will maintain an evidence portfolio of initiatives and activities linked to the Travel Plan. This School Travel Plan has been agreed and signed by the following people, who agree to the plan being viewed publicly Title Signature(s) Date Working Group: Mrs Beverley Thompson Business Manager (lead) Mrs Jo Green Family Liaison Officer Mrs Dawn Begley Parent Governor Lisa Preston Parent Sue Vick Healthy Schools Co-ordinator Lesley Williams Year 6 TA and Transition Co-ordinator Head Teacher: Mrs Helen Tait Chair of Governors: Mrs Hilary Tolputt School Travel Planner: Transport & Safety Policy Manager David Joyner: 26

27