Pupils raise money for new ‘kiddie-shaped’ signs to help improve parking outside Sheffield school

The school council at Waterthorpe Nursery Infant School decided to take matters into their own hands by raising nearly £200 for the new road safety pavement signs in a bid to discourage parents to park illegally outside their school.

They raised the funds by setting up two stalls on a Friday – selling reflective items to their peers before morning assembly, in the hope of allowing them to be clearly seen on their way to and from school, as well as selling ice pops and raisins during the weekly reward playtime.

Headteacher Helen Stokes says she has already received lots of positive feedback from parents about the signs which are produced by Cestrian Signs Ltd.

She said: “The thing is, as a headteacher I’ve told the parents about parking around the school but when I see children telling the adults they seem to take more notice of them. It is very much about the children, they are the future and they are concerned about their future and the future of the environment also.

"They want to protect their safety by clamping down on where some parents park such as the hatchings or pavements and want to help fight climate change too.”

The signs form part of a sustainable school travel plan, which was devised by the school council after they consulted parents and those living nearby on issues such as illegal parking outside school and speeding, in a bid to improve safety on surrounding roads.

After the consultation ended, they held a meeting to discuss the outcome with the support of Paula Edwards, an active travel officer with Modeshift Stars which works with schools and communities to promote the health and environmental benefits of active travel.

As part of this plan, the school council have also launched a petition calling for a 20mph speed limit around the school for which they have been gaining signatures from parents, school staff and members of the community.

Those in Year 2 planted trees at the nearby Waterthorpe Park as part of activities to help the environment.