Westmorland and Furness schools are driving people to ‘be kind, park with safety in mind’ as a part of an initiative to create safer environments for children.
Messages encouraging parents and carers to adopt responsible parking habits are being rolled out at 68 schools participating in a funded banner initiative launched by the Council.
Schools have reported an increasing number of drivers parking on zig-zag lines intended to keep entrances clear and on kerbs, forcing children to navigate between vehicles in the road and reducing visibility for safe crossings.
In a bid to tackle this, all primary and junior schools across the area were invited to take part in the Council’s new banner initiative which aims to promote small but meaningful changes in driver behaviour.
Schools could choose from designs featuring one of two clear and impactful messages: “Be kind, park with safety in mind” or “Walking a little means a lot... park away from the school.”
Parking a short distance away from the school where space is available and walking, wheeling, or cycling to the gate not only helps create a safer environment by reducing congestion and improving visibility, but also encourages healthier, more active journeys for children and their families.
St Martin and St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Windermere signed up to receive the safety banners aiming to reduce risks on a busy road that also serves St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School. They hope to see a reduction of hazardous congestion and promote a safer environment for children choosing to travel actively to school.
Mrs Louise Swindlehurst, Acting Headteacher at St Martin’s and St Mary’s Church of England Primary School said, “With there being two schools close together it doubles the number of cars and we get quite a lot of traffic leading to parents parking on the zig zags at drop off and pick up times.
“The council-funded banners are a useful way to promote the safety of the roads and encourage people to park responsibly. If we can get them parking a short walk away from our school, it would really help us to create a safer environment here.”
Westmorland and Furness Council is also equipping hundreds of primary-aged children every year with essential road safety skills that will last a lifetime. Since the start of the Council in April 2023, 41 schools have benefited from the council’s fully-funded workshops.
Training provider, Pyjama Drama, uses original music, imaginative games, role-play, and storytelling to support children to safely explore real scenarios they may encounter on the roads. They cover topics such as crossing busy roads without distractions, walking on roads without kerbs, navigating islands and crossings, the importance of looking both ways before crossing and staying alert around vehicles.
A total of 78 pupils across three key stage one classes at St Martin and St Mary’s Church of England Primary School participated in the workshops.
Mrs Swindlehurst said: “Our curriculum is already very packed so to have a funded opportunity like this where Pyjama Drama comes in to teach about road safety just makes it much easier for the teachers to ensure these important life skills are delivered.
“Every child has taken part, and it has been a really inclusive workshop. They have been very fun, but quite hard hitting at times where they have heard gripping story’s which made them understand the importance of being safe on the roads. All have left feeling excited so I am hoping they are going to take that excitement home and share it with their families.
“It was a really easy process to book on, every child has thoroughly enjoyed it and have all learnt something they can take away. I would encourage other schools to get in touch with the council and sign their classes up.”
Cllr Janet Battye, Westmorland and Furness Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills said: “Education is key to helping children understand the risks they may face on our roads. The road safety workshops provide a real opportunity for schools to equip children with essential skills to navigate roads in a fun and engaging way. I strongly encourage Westmorland and Furness primary schools to take advantage of this free training and contribute to making our school environments safer for everyone.”
Alongside engagement with schools, new 20mph limits will be introduced in Summer 2025 at key locations requested by communities.
Speeds will be reduced across 20 areas in Eden and South Lakeland, particularly outside schools and playgrounds near busy roads, ensuring a safer environment for children, families and other road users. In Furness, the council is exploring different road safety priorities, particularly around schools, and will assess specific concerns raised by residents.
The Council has also confirmed a £37.7 million highways improvement programme that is already delivering significant upgrades to roads, bridges and structures. It includes £750,000 earmarked for the delivery of new safety schemes and improvements to road markings and studs.
Cllr Peter Thornton, Westmorland and Furness Cabinet Member Highways and ICT said: "It’s never too early to learn about road safety. We want our children to be safe and investing in road safety isn’t just about lowering speed limits and upgrading infrastructure, it’s also about equipping young people and their families with the knowledge and awareness to stay safe.
"Through these council-funded initiatives, our aim is for children to learn how to navigate roads safely while encouraging parents and carers to adopt responsible driver behaviours and parking habits, creating safer school environments.
"By combining investment in education with practical safety measures, we can build safer communities for everyone."
Primary schools can request to book a workshop with Pyjama Drama by emailing roadsafety@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk, with funding available for up to 50 schools each financial year.