Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of children walking to school.

Local authorities are required to ensure that safe walking routes are available to those pupils who are expected to walk to school. They are also under a duty to promote sustainable travel and transport. The duty applies to children and young people of compulsory school age who travel to receive education or training in a local authority’s area. Local walking, cycling, and bus strategies should inform the local authority’s performance of its duty to promote sustainable school travel.

On 18 July 2014, the Department for Education issued revised home to school travel guidance which gives examples and provides further information on sustainable transport, including walking to and from school. The guidance is published online at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-to-school-travel-and-transport-guidance