PUPILS from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Stanford-le-Hope have joined forces with housebuilder Barratt Homes Eastern Counties to celebrate International Walk to School Month.
The schoolchildren were among thousands from across the globe who took part in the initiative. Barratt Homes donated hi-visibility armbands to the primary school for pupils to wear while walking to and from school. The housebuilder’s development Maple Park is located on Butts Lane in Stanford-le-Hope, a mile from the school.
Although the average distance to a pupil’s primary school is one mile, just 46 per cent of children walk there on a regular basis and this is despite 70 per cent of their parents saying they walked to school as children.
David Eardley, Managing Director at Barratt Homes Eastern Counties, said: “It makes perfect sense for Barratt Homes to support International Walk to School Month as many of our new homes have schools nearby. We want to encourage pupils to walk to school and our donation of hi-visibility armbands to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School will help keep the children safe as winter approaches.”
It is recommended children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day and therefore walking to school is the ideal time for children to be active. Studies have revealed walking to school reduces stress in children and simply walking one mile a day was found to curb increases in blood pressure and heart rate in later life. Studies have also revealed 90 per cent of parents who walk to school with their children believe it’s a great way to spend quality time with them and over a third stated the journey to and from school is where they find out the most about their child’s day.
Spencer Bragg, Headteacher at St Joseph’s Primary School, said: “We want to encourage our pupils to walk to school wherever possible and initiatives like Walk to School Month are a great opportunity to promote this and at the same time make sure children stay safe. That’s why we’d like to thank Barratt Homes for their donation which will help keep the children safe while they are walking to school.”
