Walking Routes Assessments

The walking routes have now been assessed with the assessments having been undertaken independently by an external organisation, using the criteria laid down by the Welsh Government Statutory Guidance for the Risk Assessment of Walked Routes to School.

In accordance with the Learner Travel Operational Guidance a route is considered to be available if it is safe for a learner to walk alone or, if appropriate for the age of the learner, accompanied by an appropriate adult.

All routes are assessed on the assumption that pupils are accompanied as necessary by a responsible person, but it is for a parent to decide whether or not a child needs supervision on their journey, and this is the parent’s/carer’s responsibility to arrange if they are unable to do it themselves.

In determining the comparative safety of a walking route, assessors consider the physical risks that escorting parents/carers and learners might encounter along the route between home and school.

Route assessments, including consideration of traffic counts, anti-social behaviour, and collision data, take place at the times of the day and on the days of the week that learners would be expected to use routes.

Assessments have been undertaken along the main roads to schools. Subsequent side roads that link into main roads have not been considered as they are deemed to be already available and in daily use by current learners.

The Welsh Government’s Operational Guidance document outlines that local authorities must consider various criteria when assessing the availability of a walking route to school, including the topography of the route Whilst giving cognisance to the guidance, given the nature of the valleys across Rhondda Cynon Taf, the Council does not consider the inclines between villages within its county borough to represent a hazard for its residents, as they are along separate routes or pavements for pedestrians to keep them away from vehicles, and are in use by the general public and school learners every day.

It should be noted that the Guidance does not require consideration of the following:

• The weather conditions experienced along a route
• The time it takes to walk a route
• Pupils having to carry bags or equipment
• The parent’s or carer’s finances, occupation restrictions, age, health, or other sibling commitments

In this regard it remains the responsibility of the parent or carer to ensure their child attends school. 

The Council must be consistent in how it assesses eligibility for free school transport, and therefore the independent assessments are considered final.

Any decisions made by Council Officers regarding Home to School transport entitlement will be based on the independent route assessments, subject to compliance with the information contained within, and in conjunction with the Welsh Government’s Learner Travel Operation Guidance.