How is the distance between home and school measured?
The walking distance should be measured by the shortest, available walking route. A route is considered to be available if it is safe for a child to walk the route alone or, if appropriate, for the age of the child, with an accompanying adult. In determining the comparative safety of a walking route the local authority will conduct an assessment of the risks that escorting parents and children might encounter along the route between home and school. The assessment of a route will take place at the time of the day and on the days of the week that pupils would be expected to use the route. It will take a road safety perspective and follow the Local Authority Road Safety Officers’ Association (LARSOA) Guidelines on Identification of Hazards and the Assessment of Risk on Walked Routes to School.
