Letter to families from the Leader of the Council

Ahead of schools welcoming pupils back next week, please find attached a letter from the Leader of the Council to share with families.

Information from BCC’s Transportation Team: Keeping pupils safe on the return journey to school

With face-to-face learning soon resuming, we are working closely with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and transport operators including National Express West Midlands, to ensure that you and your pupils are prepared for the journey back to school. TfWM have developed a Back to School Toolkit complete with posters, leaflets and ticketing information, designed to help you communicate the changes to your school community.  They have also created some online resources to help you speak to students about journey planning.

To ensure you are as prepared for the return to school journey as possible, TfWM and BCC will be holding a webinar on 11 March 3.30-4.30pm. This will give the opportunity to ask questions, find out more about public transport provision, and obtain further support and resources. Please email connected@birmingham.gov.uk to sign up.

Public Transport

Keeping everyone safe is our top priority. All buses and most trains and trams will be out on the West Midlands Network as usual, ensuring that students can get safely to and from school. Cleaning regimes have been increased and capacity on board will be limited in order to support social distancing measures. 

Top tips:

• Plan ahead; with limited space on board there may be more demand for services.
• Leave more time for your journey, as there may be a longer wait than usual. You may not be able to get on the first service and need to wait for the next one.
• Promote use of face covering: TfWM has launched the “Mask up Now” campaign to promote mask wearing compliance on public transport. Further resources can be found here.
• Remind students that social distancing should be maintained at all times when travelling.

For further advice about how to stay safe when using public transport please visit this link.

Parking and Congestion

The most effective way of alleviating congestion at the school gate is to encourage people to leave the car at home and to walk, cycle and take public transport to school.

Top tips:

• Promote alternative modes of travel: use the school’s available channels such as newsletters, text messages, emails and assemblies to promote walking and cycling, and to give reassurance that public transport is safe.
• Promote Travel Planning Tools such as Google Maps or the West Midlands Network Journey Planner to enable students to explore independently alternative bus, cycle and walking routes for their trip to school. Resources for journey planning workshops can be found here: https://www.wmnetwork.co.uk/plan-your-journey/travelling-to-school/information-for-teachers/
• Promote Park & Walk/Stride: Those who have no other option are encouraged to park safely and considerately in the local area and walk the rest of the journey.
  • Park & Walk: 5 minute walking maps are available to download through Modeshift STARS #StaySafeGetActive Walking Bubbles. There are a number of resources available, including pavement and lamppost stickers to mark the edge of the zone. Email us at connected@birmingham.gov.uk if you are interested in any of these resources.
  • Park & Stride: For further information regarding Park and Stride please see: https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/about-us/our-work-in-action/tackling-congestion-with-park-and-stride

• Review staggered times: Flexible hours for pupils and teachers could ease congestion and help to increase space for social distancing.

Encouraging walking and cycling

Walking and cycling will play a vital role in ensuring that pupils are able to attend classes safely, helping to make space for those who have no alternative but to use public transport. With the spring weather upon us, now is the ideal time to dig out those trainers again!

Top Tips:

• Bikeability Training: The Active Wellbeing Society are taking advance bookings for Bikeability training sessions at: donna.spence@birmingham.gov.uk.
• Cycle Parking: Explore if you have adequate parking. Funding to support this is available through The Young Active Travel Trust. 
• Set up a Pool Bike System. Funding for this could be available through the Young Active Travel Trust.
• Walk to school resources: https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/walk-to-school/secondary-schools

For further information about cycling and walking in the West Midlands, please visit: https://www.networkwestmidlands.com/campaigns/roll-stroll/

Modeshift STARS

BCC promotes safe and active travel to school through Modeshift STARS (MSS). This free online tool enables schools to produce a travel plan identifying opportunities which can help to reduce congestion, increase space for pedestrians and cyclists, and improve air quality and road safety.

Once registered with MSS, schools are then able to access bespoke resources including:

• School street resources to encourage walking and cycling.
• Young Active Travel Trust funding to help promote safe and sustainable travel messages.
• BCC’s Safer Routes to School programme, aimed at improving the safety of the highway and the quality of cycling and walking routes around schools. To be eligible for this scheme, schools need to signed up to Modeshift STARS and be committed to developing a Travel plan for the school.

Further support

• Please provide any information on your school's plans to manage the return via the online form at www.wmnetwork.co.uk/schooltravel
• For national governance guidance please refer to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare
• Please get in touch with us at connected@birmingham.gov.uk if you’ve got any questions.