School Play Streets

Create a School Play Street to provide a healthy and safe environment for pupils to play, and at the same time promote awareness of road safety and Air Quality.   

Play Streets is a school-led initiative in which you, along with your local council can temporarily close a road near your school or nursery, using temporary signage, barriers and stewards.

The session can include some structured activities, as well as opportunities for children to play freely, from hop-scotch and hula hooping to creating chalk artworks on the street.

It’s up to you how often you run a Play Street, whether it’s once a term or once a month for a few hours on a designated day.

Play Streets also provides an opportunity for teachers and parents to talk to children about road safety and the dangers of traffic. It also helps you to explore other ways to reduce car use around the school, for example through Park and Stride or a Car free Zone.

Speak to your borough officer to find out how to apply for a Play Street Order in your borough.

Once the Play Street Order has been approved, plan and promote your day with your TfL Explorers Ambassadors, parents and school travel/eco working group.

On the day you’ll need volunteers such as teachers, parents or helpers from the local community.  Ask parents/carers to supervise their children – it will not work without their support. The school or parents association may want to provide food and drink.

What you’ll need

• Support from parents/carers and staff to create a Play Street – speak to neighbours to understand their views and build support
• Approval from your local Council by applying for a Play Street Order
• Volunteer stewards in hi-vis to help run Play Street on the day
• Cone’s and bunting to cordon off the Play Street

 Materials such as cones and bunting to indicate the play area  

How to evidence your activity

• Record the feedback from your pupils, parents, staff and neighbours
• Tell your story and explain the activity; include your pupils’ feedback and photographs of Play Street in action. Also add any posters and letters you produce