CHILDREN and parents who have started walking to school together have found they enjoy it, according to head teacher Roger Highton.

This week is national summer Walk to School Week and Dunnington Primary School in York is one of many encouraging children to walk, not ride.

The idea is to cut down on traffic congestion and improve road safety and children's health.

But Mr Highton said there were other benefits too.

"Children like it if they walk to school with a parent and the parents like meeting other parents - it's sociable."

He said children also arrived at school more alert and ready to work.

Dunnington started its push towards walking back in October, and Mr Highton said there had been a gradual improvement since then. At Monday morning's assembly, 185 children out of 220 said they had walked to school.

"We can have 40 cars around the school before and after school and it does cause congestion. If we can impact on that, we'll have a safer environment," said Mr Highton.

The school has used a combination of persuading parents and children to change their morning routines and providing safety advice, cycle training and facilities like cycle parks and lockers for cycle helmets.

It has just finished its school travel plan, a document outlining its current situation and plans for action, helped by Caroline Emmerson, City of York Council's school travel plan co-ordinator.

Updated: 09:11 Wednesday, May 22, 2002