Pupils take steps to be healthy on school run

Seaside Primary School pupils walk to school as deputy head Nicola Irwin leads the march

Pupils at Seaside Primary School gathered at Asda in Lancing ready to march on mass to the school site in Freshbrook Road, where they were greeted by a friendly face, or should that be foot?

Strider, the mascot of the Living Streets Walk to School scheme, welcomed the walkers at the school gates, while the rhythmic beat of drums rang out from the playground.

Pupil Samantha Sono said: “I had the best morning. Walking with all my friends was so much fun. I loved seeing Strider and the drummers when we got to school.”

It was not just the children who enjoyed the day, parents too were keen to support the scheme.

Mum Claire Ogle said: “What a wonderful way to promote coming to school, the children had a fantastic walk in and have asked that we meet friends and come in together again.”

Dad Scott Craig said: “The school has organised today fantastically. What a wonderful event – there were so many happy children, who will be fit and healthier because of the work the school has done to promote walking.”

The playground percussion was provided by pupils and Horhsam band Drum Dogs.

Mum Harriett Booth said: “What a fabulous turn out.

“It’s wonderful to see so many parents and children walking to school.

“We really enjoyed the drummers, it was a great event to encourage families to walk to school.”

Teacher Rhys Nicholas said: “I loved it – it was a really invigorating way to come into school.”

MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Tim Loughton joined the procession.

“This is a great way to demonstrate that there are different ways to get to school that don’t involve cars,” he said.

“It’s great to see the school promoting safe and healthy alternatives.”

School deputy head Nicola Irwin said the school was committed to staying healthy, walking to school to reduce traffic and staying safe when coming to school.

Traffic and congestion have been a long-standing problems in the narrow, residential streets around Seaside School.

Living Streets is an organisation campaigning for safe, attractive and enjoyable streets to encourage more people to walk.