Two mums have helped an Ashford school improve child health and wellbeing by driving the launch of a walking bus scheme.

The service currently runs once a week – on a Wednesday – to get pupils safely to Aldington Primary School. Youngsters are supervised by approved staff and parent volunteers as they walk along a set route.

The launch was celebrated in assembly and participating children were rewarded with special certificates, tabards, swim vouchers, and walk to school rubbers – plus a basket of Halloween treats.

Gabbi Freeman, who started the walking bus in June with fellow parent Louise Bowman, cited her daughter as the inspiration as “she was always trying to persuade me to walk the mile or so uphill route to school with her.”

She added: “We now have about 12 children that join us every Wednesday morning. Our newest recruits are two reception class children aged just four.

“The children benefit greatly from our walk, embracing fresh country air, forging new friendships across different year groups and for our older children, an opportunity to learn some leadership skills whilst helping to guide our younger walkers.

“It also goes some way to reducing the parking issues that affect our school, and hopefully has an impact on our wider village community to have less cars on the road at peak times.”

Joining the walking bus team and pupils at the launch were representatives from Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council, and Three R’s Teacher Recruitment.

The aim is for the bus to run on additional days and use different routes across the village but more parent helpers are needed to achieve this. Any interested parents are advised to contact the school.

Walking Bus is part of the KM Walk to School Campaign which encourages families to help the environment and get active by swapping car journeys for green travel.

Last academic year, participating schools succeeded in generating 617,320 green journeys – sparing the county from thousands of cars on the road and associated air and noise pollution.

Organisations supporting the campaign, which is run by the KM Charity Team, include Ashford International Hotel, Orbit, Countrystyle Recycling, Specsavers, Eurostar, Whites Transport, Volker Highways, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Medway Council, Whitefriars, Maidstone Borough Council, London Array, and EduKit.

Schools interested in starting a walking bus should contact Karen Brinkman at kbrinkman@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291.

Find out more about walking bus or other walk to school schemes such as Super Wow (Walk on Wednesday) at www.KmWalkToSchool.co.uk/Wow