Walking with confidence - housebuilder donates hi-vis equipment to Lincolnshire school

Located a short distance from Barratt Homes’ Wigmore Park development on Station road, Waltham Leas Primary Academy pupils have received a donation of high-visibility items to wear whilst walking to and from school during the darker winter months.

Organised by Living Streets, Walk to School Month takes place in October each year and encourages pupils to celebrate the journey to school on foot.

The charity also runs Walk to School Week in May, in which it saw over 41 million trips logged on its tracker, and had 647,000 pupils logging their journeys in 2024.

Jane Thompson, Headteacher at Waltham Leas Primary Academy, said: “We really appreciate the donation of hi-vis kit bags to our Year 6 pupils. Many of our children walk and bike to school and these will help to keep them safe on their journey. Thank you!”

The 2024 National Travel Survey found that 83% of school journeys under a mile for children aged five to 10, and 92% for children aged 11-16, were made on foot. With the average trip lasting 18 minutes, Barratt Homes are keen to ensure pupils walking to and from Waltham Leas Primary Academy can do so safely and confidently.

Paul Hogan, Sales Director at Barratt Homes Yorkshire East, said: “As the darker mornings and evenings draw in, we want to do our bit to help local children stay safe on their walks to and from school.

“We’re delighted to donate hi-vis kit bags to Waltham Leas Primary Academy, helping to give families extra peace of mind and confidence walking in the community this winter.”

Barratt Homes’ donation of hi-vis kit bags will be well used over the coming months as the daylight hours shorten. The items are certain to benefit the children of Waltham Leas Primary Academy as they make their way around the community on their daily journeys.

To find out more about interactive activities and resources for Walk To School Month, visit Living Streets.