MP boards the walking bus

WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones joined primary school pupils as they walked to school to show her support for International Walk to School month.
The youngsters from Meadowside Primary School, Longford regularly form a “walking bus” to get to school on foot.
Theme this year is ‘Count me in’, and the campaign is encouraging children to measure how much physical activity they do during the day.
Walking to school regularly is a good way to reach the recommended daily 60 minutes of activity to benefit their health.
But around half of children currently don’t walk to school regularly, with an enormous 41 per cent being driven to school in cars. By encouraging families to ditch the car keys and get to school on foot, the campaign will show that its not just PE lessons that are needed to give children the healthiest start in life – it’s how active they are in their daily life that really matters.
Teachers often report that those pupils who walk to school are more attentive in class.
Ms Jones said: “Walking to school is a brilliant way to get some physical activity and some fresh air into your day. Walking to school, either with parents or with the school’s walking bus, helps our children to keep fit, socialise with friends and burn off some energy. By not using the car parents are also improving their carbon footprint by reducing congestion and pollution levels.”
Following the walk to school Ms Jones met Mr Peace Mokiti, principal of a school in Soweto, South Africa, a guest at Meadowside. They both took part in a community assembly along with Soweto teacher Reena.
Pictured: Helen Jones and Peace Mokiti with the walking bus and Meadowside head Meg Marshall.