Responding to the government's new Active Travel strategy, which aims for at least 60% of children in England to be walking or cycling to school within a decade, Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Walking, cycling or wheeling to school is healthier for children, better for the environment and cheaper for families, but it’s essential it can be done safely.

“While schools do much to encourage children and parents to commute to school in this way, safety considerations can understandably be a barrier. We therefore welcome the investment in new safe routes and crossings, programmes training young people to walk and cycle safely to school, and help for schools to develop travel plans.

“For rural schools especially, which may serve a wider community, the solutions might not be simple, and the government should look carefully at how this investment can be used to benefit all areas.”