Children on free school meals get cycling/ bikeability training. Photo Pixabay

By Emily Dalton

local democracy reporter

Free cycling and walking training is to be delivered to support primary school children who are on Free School Meals (FSM) so they can get to school safely.

Surrey County Council (SCC) has received funding to support its walking training programme for children in Year 3 and bikeability training for children in Years 4-6.

Cllr Matt Furniss

Matt Furniss (Con, Shalford), Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth at SCC, said: “Every child should have the opportunity to cycle and walk to school safely, it is a great way to support a healthy lifestyle and encourage environmentally-friendly transport choices for the future.

“This is why we are making sure that those in receipt of Free School Meals will also receive free walking and cycling training for their trip to school.

“It is essential that children are safe, so I’m delighted that this funding will ensure all school children can take advantage of these vital road safety schemes and that no one is left behind.”

Around 23,481 school children in Surrey were eligible for free school meals at the start of the year, equivalent to 14.3 per cent of all pupils in the area, according to Department of Education data. The percentage of children in Surrey schools who were eligible for free school meals has increased by 71 per cent in the last five years from 8.6 per cent in 2018/19 to 14.7 per cent in 2023/24.

“Feet First” walking training programme is for children in Year 3 (aged seven to eight-years-old). Delivered by SCC’s walking instructors, children learn road safety skills to better enable them to safely walk to and from school with their parents and carers and prepare them for independent travel. Launched in June 2022, the scheme has benefitted over 9,000 children.

Bikeability training helps children learn how to cycle safely and increases confidence in cycling. There are different levels of training available, starting with Year 4 aged children (eight and nine-year-olds), right up to Year 6 (10 and 11-year-olds).