MORE than 10,000 children across the city are donning their walking shoes this week as part of National Walk To School Week.

City of York Council is co-ordinating the initiative in York, which aims to encourage parents, pupils and teachers to think about their journey to and from school and the many benefits of making it on foot.

This year, the team has some special help, thanks to a partnership with the charity, Hearing Dogs For Deaf People.

Hearing Dogs and their handlers are visiting primary schools across the city to promote the benefits of walking and explain more about the work of the charity.

A spokeswoman for the charity, Lucy Dacre, said: “Hearing Dogs help deaf people by alerting them to sounds they would otherwise miss, but their support goes further than that.

“Many hearing dog recipients report that their confidence and independence has returned, that they feel fitter and have a larger social network since they received their hearing dog.

“Anyone can enjoy walking and get fitter as a result. We’ve teamed up with City of York Council to promote this message to children and parents locally.

“We’re also inviting parents to consider whether they could support the charity by socialising a hearing dog puppy – what better excuse to walk to school?”

Out of York’s 12,200 primary school children, about 7,500 walk to school regularly, with about 3,660 children being driven to school in cars.

This is despite the fact the average distance to primary schools is as little as one mile.

Gillian Chefrad, the council’s school travel plan co-ordinator, said: “We’ve got more children taking part in Walk To School Week in York than ever before this year and it’s fantastic that nearly 90 per cent of the city’s primary schools are getting involved. The theme of Walk To School Week this year is ‘Walk And Talk’, emphasising the social aspects of walking to school together.

“We are really pleased that Hearing Dogs For Deaf People has joined with us to broaden children’s understanding of communication and the health benefits associated with walking.”

St Paul’s Primary School is just one school in York that recognises the benefits an early morning stroll can bring to its pupils. Fiona Bennett, school council lead teacher for the school, said: “We’ve always encouraged our pupils to walk or cycle to school and have seen first hand the benefits it can bring.

“This year is no different and we are encouraging our pupils to take part in walk to school week by running a Park And Stride scheme throughout the week.

“This will involve parents, carers and their children parking their cars in a local car park and walking the rest of the journey to school.”

At the end of the week, the school will present a golden boot award to the class with the most pupils who walked or cycled to school.

Walk To School Week is also being supported by NHS North Yorkshire and York, as part of its Change 4 Life campaign to improve activity levels among children and their families.

Rachel Johns, associate director of public health for NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “Walking to school is a great way to get some fresh air and some activity into the day.

“It’s an opportunity for children to spend quality time with their parents or carers, socialising with friends and burning off their excess energy before settling down in the classroom.

“I would encourage all parents and carers in the area to at least try walking their child to school during walk to school week so they can experience the benefits for themselves.”

Change 4 Life is a new initiative, supported by the Department of Health, bringing together different agencies to help improve diet and levels of activity among children and their families.

The goal of the initiative is to help every family in England eat well, move more and live longer.

To speak to the Change 4 Life team, phone 0300 123 4567 or log on to nhs.uk/Change4Life