Cycling to school

Interesting article in local evening rag

See

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/Conte...me=13+Apr+2004
+11%3A51&tbrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=N ews&brand=ENOnline&itemi
d=NOED13+Apr+2004+11%3A52%3A05%3A320

or

http://tinyurl.com/3h7fv

"Congestion plan will hit small schools
April 13, 2004 11:51

EDUCATION bosses have criticised the Government for "moving the goalposts" on
funding for initiatives aimed at cutting school run congestion.

Last year, millions of pounds were promised to encourage pupils to walk or
cycle to school rather than rely on parents for lifts.

The Government pledged £5,000 per primary school and £10,000 per secondary
school to implement travel plans, improve safety and buy equipment.

In all, 52 Norfolk schools met the Government deadline for applying for the
payout before the end of last month. But now the sums available have changed to
£3,750 plus £5 per pupil for primaries, and £5,000 plus £5 per pupil for
secondary school.

Critics argue primaries with fewer than 250 pupils would lose out under the new
rules. Secondary schools would need 1,000 pupils or more to make up the
shortfall.

Tony Mulgrew, county spokesman for the National Union of Teachers, said: "They
are moving the goalposts again.

"This is another of the Government's endless initiatives which they then don't
fund.

"It's typical — they say one thing and then they change it later. I think
this is a good idea which deserves to go ahead.

"Of course, there are some cases where parents need to drive their children to
school, but most pupils would be better off walking, and there are ways of
organising it so it does happen."

Sarah Grainger, a governor who worked on a travel plan for pupils at
Cringleford First and Middle School, said: "It sends out mixed messages. The
Government is saying it wants to reduce car use and introduce obesity task
forces, but the message must be consistent.

"If they do not send out a clear signal of their commitment to this scheme it
is frustrating for schools that have worked so hard to put these plans
together.

"It has been a long haul at Cringleford. We have worked for two years to
formulate our travel plan, but sometimes it seems next to impossible to make
any progress.

"If the Government is serious about improving public health, it needs to make
the healthy choice the simple choice."

Green party councillor Adrian Ramsay added: "If the Government has promised a
certain amount of money and that gets changed, it might cause problems if
schools are banking on receiving a particular sum.

"It's extremely important to ensure we maximise the number of children using
alternative travel methods to get to school, both for health reasons and to
combat congestion."

Nick Williams, city councillor for Mousehold and former governor at Mousehold
First School, said: "Some schools could well lose out more than others — it
depends on the size of the roll.

"Obviously for bigger schools it might be better, but for the smaller ones it
could affect them adversely.""

Cheers, helen s



--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
**$om $

--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--

Do schools actively shame parents who drive their kids to school? Morning
assembly would be a good opportunity.

(Do they still have morning assembly?)

That won't cost anything.

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:
Interesting article in local evening rag

See

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/Conte...me=13+Apr+2004
+11%3A51&tbrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=N ews&brand=ENOnline&itemi
d=NOED13+Apr+2004+11%3A52%3A05%3A320


But would would they spend the money on ?

In article ,
says...
Do schools actively shame parents who drive their kids to school? Morning
assembly would be a good opportunity.

(Do they still have morning assembly?)

That won't cost anything.



Wouldn't work. My yongest is not at the school next door, but one a 7
min walk away. The head FREQUENTLY has ago in the fornightly news letter
about parking in front of school because it is dangerous, nad parking is
available a 2 min walk away. Some parents still park outside school,
even on fine days. MAny people are just LAZY.
--
..paul

If at first you don't succeed...
Skydiving is probably not the sport for you.

MSeries wrote:

But would would they spend the money on ?

Sheffield stands and helmet lockers, usually.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
MSeries wrote:

But would would they spend the money on ?

Sheffield stands and helmet lockers, usually.

yes of course, I overlooked those as I was thinking of only walking not
cycling as I only ever walked to school.

Dirtylitterboxo wrote:
Interesting article in local evening rag
[edited by McBain_v1]
"Congestion plan will hit small schools April 13, 2004 11:51
EDUCATION bosses have criticised the Government for "moving the
goalposts" on funding for initiatives aimed at cutting school run
congestion.
The Government pledged £5,000 per primary school and £10,000 per
secondary school to implement travel plans, improve safety and buy
equipment.
But now the sums available have changed to £3,750 plus £5 per pupil
for primaries, and £5,000 plus £5 per pupil for secondary school.
Critics argue primaries with fewer than 250 pupils would lose out under
the new rules. Secondary schools would need 1,000 pupils or more to make
up the shortfall.
Sarah Grainger, a governor who worked on a travel plan for pupils at
Cringleford First and Middle School, said: "It sends out mixed messages.
The Government is saying it wants to reduce car use and introduce
obesity task forces, but the message must be consistent.
"If they do not send out a clear signal of their commitment to this
scheme it is frustrating for schools that have worked so hard to put
these plans together.
"If the Government is serious about improving public health, it needs to
make the healthy choice the simple choice."
--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is
switched off--


This sort of duplicity is hardly surprising. The Government can no
argue that the larger schools - which are responsible for larger amoun
of congestion due to higher pupil numbers - will benefit more than unde
the previous regime, thereby allowing greater inroads to be made i
tackling car use and fat kiddies

You must also remember that this Government does not want to offen
the car lobby too much and so probably thought that a reduction i
funding to the smaller, and typically more remote, schools will stil
allow those pillocks who enjoy driving their 4x4 pollution-pushers t
do so, with the safe delivery of their fat brats to school providing
perfect excuse

The Government is not serious about child obesity because childre
cannot vote

I agree entirely that there is too little done to get kids out of car
and back onto their own feet or two wheels when it comes to going t
school, but with the "intiative overload" that headteachers must b
suffering from, it would be nice if just for once there was a clear
consistent and above all sensible message coming from No.10 on thi
subject..

... whether some of the idiotic parents would actually listen is anothe
matter. It's far to easy for some of the fat *******s out there to blam
anyone and everyone apart from themselves for their fat and idl
lifestyles that they indoctrinate their kids with

The "Big Mac" generation needs to say "I'm not "lovin' it" cos being
lard-arse ain't cool :mad


-

"McBain_v1" wrote in message
.. .

The Government is not serious about child obesity because children
cannot vote.

strange.

Kids might vote for more chips in school meals, or for fat kids to be pushed
around by a circle of skinny kids until they cry.

W K wrote:
"McBain_v1" wrote in message news:l58f-
:l58fc. [email protected]
usenetserver.com...
The Government is not serious about child obesity because children
cannot vote.
strange.
Kids might vote for more chips in school meals, or for fat kids to be
pushed around by a circle of skinny kids until they cry.


Ahh those halcyon days of beating up fat kids at school..


-

The PSF mentioned:
http://tinyurl.com/3h7fv

"Congestion plan will hit small schools

and Gonzalez responded:
It seems perfectly reasonable that a primary school with 500 pupils
should receive more funding than one with 100 pupils.

That was my first thought, too. However, I think the current funding
rules should have been in place and made clear from the start. To
pledge a certain amount of funding, let the schools make plans and then
move the goalposts really isn't on, IMHO.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/
Why I like OE6 - http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/misc/oe6.html
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine