Two of Sefton Council’s Highways Team shared the authority’s innovative approach to the national School Streets initiative at a regional conference this week.

Helen Cumiskey and Sam Turner told attendees at School Streets North: 2026, in Liverpool, how Sefton has expanded the School Streets idea, in collaboration with the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, and have taken a whole neighbourhood approach. Taking this approach has enabled Sefton to help whole communities work towards reclaiming their streets.

In Sefton, the Council works with the school community to find ways of improving the school run through identifying changes that benefit everyone across a whole neighbourhood. This has enabled them to complement the traditional School Street approach, because not all streets are suitable to be School Streets, for example a school can be located on a busy main road.

Bootle North Park School Neighbourhood

An example of Sefton’s school neighbourhood approach is the North Park area in Bootle, which includes five primary schools and three community groups within a 2.5 square km area.

Extensive engagement was carried out in the area including workshops in the classroom, pop-ups at the school gates and drop-in sessions within the community.

Suggested and implemented improvements 

Improvements and suggestions made through these events ranged from more seating, greenery, artwork, better bike shelters, more bins, less dog muck, better lighting, safer crossings, reduced speed limits, and parking restrictions (like a school street).

The Council then produced a programme of improvements, some of which have already been introduced. Examples so far have included introducing a Park and Stride, where free car parking during the school drop-off/pick-up times is provided at a nearby leisure centre. Improved crossings will be delivered this year, and a new pupil-led mural has been commissioned via a local artist to brighten up journeys.

School Streets

School Streets are being rolled out across the country, with some councils committing to supporting a set target number of operational school streets. A school street introduces restrictions on a section of road outside school drop-off and pick-up times. This is to create a safer and more pleasant environment for pupils getting to school, reduces congestion and improves air quality.

School Neighbourhoods - a flexible approach

Helen Cumiskey, Principal Strategic Infrastructure Planner, Sefton Council said:

“We know that active travel to school has significant benefits to pupils from improving focus in the classroom, improving physical health, supporting independence, and improving air quality and safety.

“But we also realised that setting up School Streets can, because of the traffic restrictions they require, be more difficult than they initially seem. That’s why we have taken this broader and more flexible neighbourhood approach, enabling us to introduce the best practical measures for each area.

Involving the community

“It’s important that the pupils themselves have been part of the process to make a positive change in their own area, on their own streets. They have had a role in aiming to improve not just their lives, but the experience of their whole community when getting around.

“And the changes are making it much nicer, easier, safer, cleaner and greener to walk, wheel, cycle, or scoot to school.”

Sam Turner, School Neighbourhoods Officer, Sefton Council said:

“Our work in schools tells us that that people are worried about the climate and air quality, and want to have fun walking, wheeling, cycling or scooting to school.

“We know pupils feel safer in front of their school where a School Street has been implemented, but we recognise that their journey to school starts further away than just outside the school gate.

“Our approach in Sefton takes that and expands the area we look at and acknowledges that not every school can have a School Street and finds ways to still improve their journey.”

School Streets North Conference

Nearly 200 delegates from across the north of England attended the School Streets North: 2026 conference in Liverpool. Hosted by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, it brought together local authorities, campaigners, headteachers, transport planners, and active travel professionals to examine how to expand and sustain School Street schemes across the North.

Claire Prospert, Regional Manager North East, Active Travel England who chaired the session said:

“The presentation from Sefton Council showcased a new neighbourhood approach to creating safer streets for children and young people to travel to school. It was great to hear from the pupils themselves, through short videos, about the positive impact it’s having in their lives.”