Pupils love scooting at school
Pupils at a Perthshire school are ‘wheely’delighted with the brand new scooters they have been gifted.
Errol Primary benefited from the scooters, which came from Sustrans, a charity making it easier for people to travel actively.
The Carse of Gowrie school has been working with Sustrans for a number of years.
The charity works alongside a number of Perth and Kinross schools encouraging young people to walk, cycle or scoot to school, and Errol was recently gifted scooters as part of this programme.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “As Errol has taken part in this project for quite some time, active travel is very much established within school life.
“The school has set up an ‘I Bike Crew’ with staff being trained to lead Bikeability cycle training.
“The new scooters help deliver outdoor learning in a fun, accessible and active way.
They are only used within the school grounds and have been very well used by children and staff since they were received.
“It is the school’s aim that, by making good use of them, it will help to build the children’s confidence and ability, making it more likely they will use their own scooters outside of school safely.”
The primary school has also received a bike and scooters skills kit from Sustrans - a small obstacle course enabling children to hone their skills and gain confidence.
And it will soon be getting a vandal proof bike station installed which will hold bike tools for parents and children to use.
The PKC spokesperson added: “Sustrans works every year with a small selection of new schools so this support is then available to a new contingent of primaries and high schools.”
Alice Arnott is the Sustrans officer working with Errol Primary School. She told the PA that active travel does not just benefit children in terms of their fitness.
She said: “There have been many studies that show pupils are able to engage better in the classroom if they have been active beforehand, so active travel can therefore be a fun way of getting to school whilst giving kids the best start to their learning day.”
She added: “We deliver a range of activities including bike rides, scooter rides, nature walks, Dr Bike sessions, bikeability, outdoor learning and even pedal cinema.
“We deliver training to school staff and local volunteers with the idea that after a few years of input from the I Bike officer, the school and local community will then have the knowledge and confidence to continue delivering I Bike almost independently.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted an increased focus on pupils coming to school in an active method to reduce congestion at the school gates.
Alice said: “With COVID-19 the advice from the Scottish Government has been to encourage both active travel as a means of reducing congestion at school drop-off times and outdoor learning.
“We have been supporting schools throughout lockdown with virtual activities for pupils to do at home and now that the schools have returned we are able to support with outdoor learning in person.
“I’ve been really lucky that schools in Perth and Kinross are really embracing this advice and are keen to use outdoor learning as a safe way to learn using their natural surroundings.”
Conservative councillor David Illingworth is PKC’s active travel ambassador and is itching for a shot of a scooter.
He said: “This is a fantastic initiative that will promote healthy living and carbon reduction in Errol Primary School. Scootering is great fun for children and I’m jealous because I won’t be able to join in.”