BackgroundContents
Playing Out is a not-for-profit national organisation supporting a
growing parent-led movement to reclaim children’s freedom toplay out and use the streets and spaces where they live, for theirhealth, happiness and sense of belonging in their communities.
www.playingout.net
Sustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walkand cycle. We connect people and places, create liveable
neighbourhoods, transform the school run and deliver ahappier, healthier commute. Join us on our journey.
www.sustrans.org.uk
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Hackney Play Association
Much of this document has been adapted fromthe excellent Guidance on running a school
play street written by Hackney Play Association,and supported by Hackney Council.
Hackney pioneered school playstreets from 2013-2016.
In 2019, Sustrans and Playing Out joined
forces to raise the profile of school play streets
nationwide. Together, we have helped over
50 schools across the UK close their road totraffic and make space for children to play.

Background4

Great reasons for schools to run play streets

6

How to start a school play street– Consultation– Applying to the council– Preparing to run your play street– On the day!

8
9
10
11
14

Frequently asked questions

16

Further information and support

18

Appendix 1: Example consultation letter – parents

19

Appendix 2: Example consultation letter – residents

20

Appendix 3: Common concerns

21

Appendix 4: Example traffic management plan

24

Appendix 5: Quick checklist on running a school play street

25

Appendix 6: Example publicising letter – parents

26

Appendix 7: Risk/benefit template

27

Appendix 8: Stewarding guidance

29

Appendix 9: Template press release31

The additional information in this guide isbased on our collective experience andlessons we have learned along the way.

www.hackneyplay.org
School Play Streets – a step by step manual3

BackgroundDo you remember playing out as a child?
Most adults can recall the joy of playing outdoors,
unsupervised, often in the street outside theirfront door. Many of us walked unaccompanied
to primary school or to our school bus.
All children need time and space to play. It is
widely recognised that regular opportunities tobe outside are vital for children’s physical healthand emotional wellbeing. Through play children
learn to make friends, to interact with the world
around them, to make mistakes and to learn fromthem. Outdoor play supports children’s healthand development in ways that other activities
like structured sport or indoor play do not. 1
Yet over the last few decades, the area inwhich children are free to play and roam has
shrunk dramatically, by almost 90%.
Experts agree that greater traffic volumes and cardominated streets, rather than the lure of screens or
indoor technology, are at the heart of the problem.

A 2007 poll found that 71%
of adults played out on theirstreet every day compared toonly 21% of children today. 2
A 2013 poll of 3000 children,
parents and adults showedthat danger from traffic
is perceived as the mainbarrier to outside play. 3
A 2013 study found that only
25% of primary school children
in England were allowed totravel home from school alonecompared with 86% in 1971 4

The impact on children has been devastating.
Childhood obesity, children’s mental health,breathing problems and decreasing levels of physicalactivity are high on the public health agenda. 5
In 2009, Playing Out co-founder Alice and herneighbour Amy applied to Bristol council to close
their street to traffic for 3 hours after school so that
their children could play freely outside their front door.
Since then, interest in play streets has been
growing throughout the UK and abroad.
The ‘playing out’ model of regular street
closures, stewarded by volunteers, has now
been adopted by over 1000 streets.

A few definitions
A School Street is a road outside a school with atemporary restriction on motorised traffic at school
drop-off and pick-up times. The restriction applies
to school traffic and through traffic, on weekdays
during school term time. These are council-led,
usually piloted for 12-18 months, and enforcedby cameras, the Police or retractable bollards.
School Play Streets are short, temporary
road closures outside a school, which enable
children to play in the street more safely andmake space for adults to socialise. These arecommunity-led, last no more than 3 hours but
can take place regularly throughout the year.

Sustrans has been working to address thenegative impact of motor traffic, and create spaces
to walk, cycle and play for over 30 years.

How play streets work

Since 2004, Sustrans has been working with schools
to make it easier for children to travel actively.

Parents usually take the lead organising them,
supported by school staff and local residents.

In response to growing concerns from teachersand parents about road safety and air pollution
outside the school gates, Sustrans has been
supporting schools to run play streets –and trial ‘School Streets’ – since 2015.

Sessions typically last 1-2 hours, usually after school.
They can be a one-off event or regular occurrence– especially during spring and summer terms.

Join the movement of
parents and residents
organising play streets
Want to connect with other like-mindedparents and residents and swap notes on
how to organise play streets or school
play streets? Join our lively national
Facebook group here: https://www.
facebook.com/groups/PlayingOut/

Councils process the road closure application andusually provide the traffic signs and cones 6.

1. http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/outdoor-play
2. http://playday.gn.apc.org/resources/research/2007-research/
3. http://www.playday.org.uk/2013-opinion-poll/
4. http://www.psi.org.uk/images/uploads/
CIM_Final_report_v9_3_FINAL.PDF
5. Time to Solve Childhood Obesity: An Independent
Report by the Chief Medical Officer (2019)
6. What is my council’s approach to this?” on page 8

Need help lobbying your council fora supportive play street policy?
First, see section below ‘What is
my councils’ approach to this?’If you’re still stuck, contact Lucyat lucy@playingout.net

4

School Play Streets – a step by step manual

School Play Streets – a step by step manual5

“It was lovely, kids were out
mixing together and adults out inthe street chatting, just likethe old days, pre cars!”“Go for it.
Really brings all the community
together. Easily one of the mostenjoyable days of the school year!”

Rebecca Traill
Central primary school,
Inverness

Great reasonsfor schools to run play streets
1. Highlights the benefitsof reducing traffic at
the school gates
2. Increases children’s
physical activity
3. Brings the whole community
together – and helps schoolstaff build stronger links
with parents and children
4. Children need to play for theirhealth, wellbeing and happiness
5. Builds support for permanent
School Streets“The community really came
together for our event and it was great tosee people from the wider community
participating too. It was great to see somuch support from the parents and tohear so much lovely feedback too.”Claire Lippiett, Ty’n-Y-Wern primaryschool, Caerphilly

Seeing the streets filled withchildren is a powerful thing andcan really start to shift the way
people think about how we use
our streets and public spaces.

Jonathan Cooper
St Luke’s primary, Brighton

We do a lot to encouragechildrento travel actively to school. We’ve“We wanted to highlightworkedwith Sustrans for a number of years.
the importance of safety around the school.
We’veheld training sessions on scooter skills
The school is situated in a very short cul-de-sac,andbikeability.
We introduced a five minutejust off a main road. There is very little room to manoeuvre as
walkingzone
aroundschool, and a Walking
residents’ cars are also parked by the side of the road. Residents
Wednesday–whenchildrenhave the chanceoften complain about cars parked outside their gates. We also havetowinaSustrans
teddy.
Our
Sustrans
schoolsa few children with asthma, which we know is triggered by air
officer
has
also
done
guidedbikerides
aroundpollution. The more we can reduce traffic, the cleaner the air.
local
cycle
routes.
Being
out
in
the
fresh
air
In an ideal world our school street would be permanently
helps
childrenfeelenergised
and
they
have
pedestrianised or traffic regularly prevented
contact with nature, which is beneficial
at school drop off or pick up times.
for their mental health.
A school play street is acommunity event which brings people
together and it’s unusual: I don’t imagine
many of our children have played in the street.
The neighbouring church opened a cafe after
school as well so it was great to bring
the whole community together.”
Karen Boardman, St Barnabas
CE primary, York“I had no
idea if we would create
a good atmosphere on the day, but
We chatted to all the residents in
it just seemed to work out really welladvance, and people were so positive –despite the rain. For me the main aim was
one woman made everyone tea andto occupy all the street space with happy
offeredface-painting.
people, playing and chatting – it turned
out that people do thisWe wanted to strike a balance between hosting a happyquite naturally!
afternoon and yet being assertive about reclaiming the road
space. Don’t be put off by the prospect of inconveniencing drivers.

“There was a massive
difference! The atmosphere felt very
calm and peaceful around school – parents
spoke with each other, pupils were able toplay in the road and had a wonderfultime – it was fantastic!”
Debbie Dudt
Cofton primary, Birmingham

In the end, it was really simple, once we had the council
permit and the residents were on side. The only fancy
stuff was hanging lots of bunting.

We really wanted to
draw the head teacher’s attention
to the road safety problems, and thisschool play street was a good first step.”
Jo Phillips, parent at Brookburn
primary School, Manchester

6

School Play Streets – a step by step manual

School Play Streets – a step by step manual7

How to starta school play street

What is my council’s approach to this?
Before you start, check whether your council
allows residents to run school play streets. Over
70 councils across the UK now have a play street
policy and the vast majority won’t charge youfor a temporary road closure. Check the local
authority directory on Playing Out’s website tosee if yours is one of them: https://playingout.
net/near-you/localauthoritydirectory/
If your council does support street play, havea read of their policy and procedure, thenskip down to ‘Step 1: Consultation’ below!
If your council does not yet have a playstreet policy, don’t panic! There are twomain approaches you can take:
Run a one-off play street using
existing council policies
Try googling the name of your council withwords like “road closures for special events”
or “street parties”. This will generally link to
information about how to apply for a Temporary
Traffic Regulation Order, which is what you’ll
need for your play street. Many councils will
say that they charge for this. But in reality, once
they find out why you’re doing it, they will waive
the fee. Make sure you invite key councillors
to your event so they see the benefits!
Lobby your council to develop a supportive policy
There are over 80 UK councils who have shown
interest in play streets, but haven’t developeda policy yet. If your council doesn’t appear to
support street play or you’re coming up against
barriers, contact your local councillor and tellthem about the idea. They can help you find theright people to speak to in the council if there is
not an obvious play street application process
where you live. The Department for Transport
issued guidance to all UK councils in 2019,encouraging them to support play streets andadvising them about which legislation to use.

8

School Play Streets – a step by step manualhttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/
revised-road-closure-guidance-toboost-childrens-outdoor-play
For more tips on how to lobby your council to support
street play, see the Playing Out website here: https://playingout.net/how/faqs/getting-council-board/

Step 1: Consultation• Get the head teacher’s backing: The firstand very important first step is to talk to thehead teacher about the idea. It’s crucial thatthe head teacher is engaged and supportive as
this sets the tone for the rest of the school.

• Consult with parents to explain the idea, answer
questions, and galvanize support – ideally both
face to face and in writing. This could be done
via informal coffee mornings, parent committee
meetings and a letter or email to parents.

• Consult with staff to get their views and hopefullybuild enthusiasm – e.g. via a staff meeting. The
play street may impact staff personally (e.g.
if they drive) and they may have questions. If
there are enthusiastic staff members, try toenlist their help with publicity and stewarding.

• Involve the children to see what they think.

There are short fun videos you could show inassembly e.g. https://www.sustrans.org.uk/ourblog/projects/2019/uk-wide/sustrans-schoolstreets/, at www.hackneyplay.org/playstreets
and www.playingout.net - and introduce the idea
in the school newsletter or at school council.

• Consult with residents. Councils normally

stipulate that before applying formally you must
consult with neighbouring residents/businesses
in the street you wish to shut. If your council has
a play streets web page, look at this to see what
is required. In some London boroughs, organisers
must provide a petition of names in support.
Schools usually consult by means of aletter drop and a door knock of residents
and businesses in the street. Ideally, you
would get a few parents to help do this.

See Appendices 1 and 2 for example
letters to parents and residents.

• Consult your local councillor. Local councillors
can be a source of great support and strong
advocates for play streets – especially once
they have experienced one for themselves, so
do invite them along. It’s a good idea to involve
them early on, as they may have concerns
about how the event will impact residents in theirward. You can reassure them by letting themknow how local residents and businesses have
responded to your door knock and/or letter drop.

Is face-to-face consultation best?
We find that if you present the idea personally,
most residents react positively or neutrally to theidea. Remember that many are inconvenienced
by school traffic on a daily basis and would love
to see their street become a cleaner, calmer,
friendlier place. A door knock is also a great wayof helping a school connect with its neighbours.
Some schools have involved a small group of year
6 pupils, or the student council, in door knocking. Of
course not everyone feels comfortable doing this.
A typical street receives one or two objections andpeople may have reservations and questions. Be
prepared to listen to concerns and answer queries.
See Appendix 3 for a helpful Q&A
addressing common concerns.
Your council may provide a template consultation
letter for you to photocopy. If so, we recommend
adding a friendlier covering note on school
letterhead – as per Appendix 2. Some schools holda meeting for residents and parents to discuss theidea and this is another valuable way to give peoplea chance to ask questions and get involved.
Things to consider as you consult
Frequency and timing: How often do you want to run
School Play Streets – e.g. is this a one-off event or
do you hope to run it maybe once a term? If yourcouncil has a play street policy, they should allow you

School Play Streets – a step by step manual9How to start a school play street

to provide a list of dates for the whole year on one
application. Bear in mind that often you can put inmore dates than you’re 100% committed to, and justchoose not to run the play street on some of them. If
the closure isn’t enacted on that date (i.e. you don’t
put the road signs out etc.) the road will remain as
normal. It is usually more difficult to add dates toan application once you’ve made it. If your council
does not have a play street policy, it is likely they will
ask you to fill in a separate application every time
you want to hold a school play street. This might befine for you if you’re not running them very often.

Step 2: Applying to the council

Lots of schools opt for Fridays directly
after pick up time e.g. 3.30-5.30pm, but
you could do it on other days.

Traffic management

Top Tip
It is best to apply for the closure to start
30 minutes before the school day ends (orbefore parents start arriving to pick up at theend of the school day) to give stewards timeto set up the roads signs and be in position
well in advance of the children coming
out. NB. Most councils will limit play street
sessions to a maximum of three hours.

Location of closure: If your school is accessible
via several streets, choose the street with the least
traffic movement. Also, it may not be necessary
to shut the entire road; shorter sections of about
30-40 metres work well. Think about the mostlogical place to close the street, minimising
junctions within the closure. Councils will not
usually consider play street applications for ‘A’roads or bus routes. You can often ask the council
for advice on location of the proposed closure.
Sign up volunteers: The more help you get,the better, and the more fun it’ll be! The key jobs
are: doing the door knock, chatting to parents
in the playground informally and generally
spreading the word, organising publicity andhanding out flyers in the run-up to the playstreet, as well as stewarding on the day.

10

How to start a school play street

School Play Streets – a step by step manualOnce you’ve consulted and built up strong
support then you are ready to apply to yourcouncil by completing the application form
(usually available on the council website) andproviding any additional required documents.
Ask a supportive member of school staff or otherparents to help you with this process – don’t feel
you have to complete all the paperwork alone.

Top Tip

Ask your council what their requirements
are for traffic management on the day.
Some councils may insist you hire a traffic
management company. The advantage of thisis that they will provide and deliver the roadsigns, and will be in charge of diverting traffic.
But this comes at a cost of approx £500-600,
which the council may expect you to pay.
In the ‘Playing Out’ model, parent, teacher
and local resident volunteers are in chargeof safely managing the road closure points.
See below section on Stewards in Step 3,
plus the stewarding guide in Appendix 8.
You will need to recruit volunteers to help
with stewarding. There has to be two people
at each end of the street at all times todivert through traffic and escort residents’vehicles through at 5mph. It’s a good idea
to have an extra floating steward.
Diversion plans
If your council asks for this, check
exactly what they require.
Most school play streets will not require adiversion to be set up. They will not be on a busy
through road, and the ‘diversion’ will be obvious.
It is enough for stewards on the road closure
point to have a simple annotated map and to
explain to drivers verbally how to get aroundthe closed road. E.g “Turn left, and left again”.
You may be asked to provide a ‘traffic
management plan’ as part of your application –don’t be put off by this! In our experience, it issufficient to take a screenshot of the relevant
section of Google maps, and use differently
coloured lines to designate the section of roadthat will be closed as well as the alternativeroutes that cars will be required to take.

Any publicity materials (e.g. on posters,
flyers, letters or emails) should makeclear that parents/carers remain
responsible for their children during
the play session as on any other day.

See Appendix 4 for an example.

Step 3: Preparing to run
your play street

Confirmation of your application

Key Tasks

You will usually be asked to confirm that you haveconsulted the community that will be affected by
the road closure, and sometimes to provide proof.

See Appendix 5 for a checklist of the key things
to do in the run up to your play street.

Keep a copy of the application pack and you can
expect to hear back from the council 2 weeks before
your event. You will receive a copy of the temporary
traffic regulation order (TTRO). This is the official
notification that the road will be legally closed.

Top Tip
Councils will need anything from 4-12
weeks to process the application, so
contact them as soon as possible.

Ask for help wherever you can – it’smuch more fun that way!
Publicising
Tell parents, children and staff
Put up posters around the school, and publicise
in all the usual ways. E.g. in the school
newsletter, via email and texts to parents,
school website, parents meetings etc.
See Appendix 6 – example parents’ letter.
Talk about the play street in assembly, andencourage the children to scoot or cycle to schoolthat day. It’s also a great idea to put a memo in theschool staff meeting and invite them to get involved
if they wish to. At many schools, teachers, teachingassistants and caretakers have volunteered tohelp and have really enjoyed the experience.

School Play Streets – a step by step manual11

How to start a school play street

How to start a school play street

Tell residents

Road Signs

You must let all residents in the street know thatthe play street is happening, ideally a week or two
beforehand. You will have already consulted them, so
you can now use a simple flyer through letterboxes
as well as posters in windows or on lampposts.

In order to close your street safely and legally,
check with your local council what they require
you to use in the way of formal signage, cones orother barriers. Unless your road is a cul-de-sac,
you will need a minimum of two ‘Road Closed’signs (one at each end) and a couple of ‘Road
Ahead Closed’ signs to warn motorists as they
approach. Some councils supply these for free,which is great. Others will ask you to arrange yourown. It’s important to make sure that whatever you
set up complies with legal requirements. If you’restuck with this, contact Playing Out for help.

Put reminders on parked cars a day or
two before the play street session
There are flyers and posters you can download
freely at www.playingout.net/useful-stuff
or you may wish to create your own.
Ask the council for your official Temporary Traffic
Regulation Order (TTRO) notification. You will needto display this on the street 2 weeks before yourevent (laminated and zip-tied to lamp posts is OK).
Managing Safety
As a school play street organiser, you areresponsible for making the street safe for children
to play. Parents/ carers remain responsible for
their own children on the day – it is not freebabysitting! Just like in a playground, accidents
can happen (trips etc.) and parents need to
be on hand to deal with those if they arise.

Risk assessment
Whilst it is impossible to eliminate all risk, it isimportant to consider all potential hazards andhow you will manage them. You can use our risk/
benefit template to help – see Appendix 7.
Many experts on childhood now recognise thatrisk taking in play is beneficial for children. 7
Accidents happen in play streets as they do inparks, playgrounds and streets on any normalday. The most serious risk to manage is that
presented by cars entering at speed. Having

stewards who are well-briefed and confident withthe procedures around stewarding minimises thisrisk – see information on stewarding below.
Each time you do a play street you should
review your risk/benefit assessment to reflect
on any new risks and any lessons learned.

Top TipAs part of your risk assessment, ask
somebody to walk along the street withyou. A second pair of eyes is handy
for spotting hazards you might haveoverlooked. Check for any small turnings
or carparks for flats where cars might try
to exit – these will also need stewarding.

Public liability insurance
All schools have public liability insurance which willusually cover a school play street. Check this withyour head teacher/chair of governors. Most councils
will strongly recommend that you have it, but in reality
many play streets happen across the country without

it. Careful preparation, risk assessment and steward
briefings will go a long way to reduce risk. You canread more about liability in the FAQs on the Playing
Out website: https://playingout.net/how/faqs/
Stewards
1. Read ‘Guidance on Stewarding aPlay Street’ – see Appendix 8.
As the organiser you need to know this protocol
and be confident briefing others on what to do.
2. Recruit stewards.
You need to recruit parents and/or staff to help
with stewarding on the day. There has to be two
people at each end of the street to divert throughtraffic and escort residents’ vehicles through at
walking pace (by walking in front of the car) - once
children have been cleared from the road. We
recommend having one extra floating steward.
Stewards should be responsible adults and able
to give the role their full attention. We advise thatstewards are not looking after young children (e.g.
those under 6) at the same time as stewarding.
Circulate the stewarding guidance to all stewards
ahead of the day and arrange to meet themat least 30 minutes before the road closure
starts to check they are clear on their role.
3. Order in hi-vis vests and whistles (checkwith school if they can lend you some). Store
these with laminated copies of the stewarding
guidance, ready to hand out on the day.
First aid
Have a First Aid box/point available in case of minor
accidents and ensure stewards know where to direct
children and parents as part of your stewards briefing
Safeguarding
Discuss with your school what their safeguarding
procedure is and what you will do if a childgets separated from their parent/carer.
7. http://rethinkingchildhood.com

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School Play Streets – a step by step manual13

How to start a school play street

Planning your activities
Involve school staff, other parent volunteers andpupil committee (school council or eco group) in
deciding how you will use the road space on the day.
1. Keep it simple!
2. Don’t underestimate the joy that a big box of chalkcan bring - even to middle school pupils. Thoughkeep an eye out for what pupils are drawing, andbe ready to scuff out any obscene pictures!
3. The school will usually have some play equipment– simple things that are used at playtimes
such as bean bags, skipping ropes, hulahoops, soft footballs and maybe even balancebikes. Beyond this there’s no need to organise
games or anything special to entertain thechildren. They will do the rest for themselves.
4. Refreshments: your school or the parent
association might want to offer these but it is
not essential. Some parents have organised
cake sales to raise funds for the PTFA (and fundbalance bikes or toys for future play streets)– this can help add to the community feel.
Other things to consider
Photography
If you want good photos, you could find a
volunteer to do this. Ask around at school – amember of staff or parent may be able to help out.
Ahead of the session, they will need totalk to the school about their photography
permissions policy and how the photos will be
used. Generally schools send out a note toparents informing them photos will be taken,
asking them to tell the school office if they
don’t wish their children to be photographed.
Toilets

How to start a school play street

Step 4: On the day!
Hold a stewards briefingthem neatly on the pavement at the relevant
points, being careful not to obstruct access. Thismeans you are not rushing and everything is inplace ready for your stewards to close the road.

Arrange to meet and brief your stewards atleast 30 minutes before your event starts. Hand
out hi-vis and whistles, a laminated copy ofstewarding guidance, official legal order (TTRO)
for the road closure, and a simple diversion map(if necessary). Talk through how the stewarding
should be done and answer any questions.

Enjoy the moment!

Display signage

Finishing up

Prepare the ‘Road Closed’ and ‘Road Ahead
Closed’ signs, as well as the traffic cones, at least
15 mins before the street closure is due to begin.
Give yourself plenty of time to do this – they
can be heavy and awkward to carry! Stack

Give parents and children lots of staged warnings(blowing whistles and shouting out) before
stewards reopen the street so everyone is awarethat cars will be coming through. We recommend
having a buffer zone period of around 10 to 15
minutes between ending the session/clearing
people from the street and the time when stewards
physically reopen the street to traffic. For moredetail, see the stewarding guide in Appendix 8.

It is hard to stand back when you are runningan event. Try to recruit enough volunteers
so that you are able to be ‘off duty’ for atleast some of the time, and able to chat toparents, school staff and local residents.

Top Tip
Hand out bin bags in the last fiveminutes or so of the session andencourage everyone to help clear
any rubbish and tidy away toys.

Post event publicity
Write up a short article or ask pupils to do so forthe school newsletter and website. Make sure
to include any good photos (with permissions).
Local media may be interested – particularly
if school play streets are a first in your area.
See an example press release in Appendix 9.

Have a plan for toilet access – if this is
via school then you may need to have amember of staff available to let children in.

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School Play Streets – a step by step manual

15

FAQs

for play street organisers
My school has an after-school play centre/
childcare? What happens here?
How long will the consultation andapplication phase take?
It really depends, but generally schools start planningand consulting a couple of months before theysubmit their application. Councils can take anythingfrom 4-12 weeks to process the application.
What if my council doesn’t havea play streets policy?
Around 74 councils around the UK have playstreet policies, and 80 more are interested
in developing one. There are various options
for you if your council doesn’t yet have a playstreets policy – see ‘What is my council’s
approach to this?’ on page 8 for more detail.
What if my council charges to close the road?
Some councils will say on their website that there
is a charge for closing the road – in reality once
you explain that it is a community event they willoften waive the fee. However, it can be useful to
involve your councillor in this discussion - if they
are supportive they will help you make that case.
See ‘What is my council’s approach to this?’ onpage 8 for more detail, and feel free to contact
Playing Out or Sustrans if you need further advice.
What if residents or local businesses object?
It isn’t unusual to have one or two objections as
people can be fearful of change. A minority of people– even those who have benefitted from playing out aschildren – do find the idea of periodically restricting
traffic difficult. Don’t be put off by this. Often if you
are willing to have an open conversation and listen
to people’s concerns, you will be able to reassurethem. See ‘Common Concerns’ in Appendix 3 forhelp with answering objections. The council should
also support you with this, so ask them who the best
point of contact is. Councils with a supportive playstreet policy – like Bristol or Hackney – have taken
the decision that only ‘material’ objections (i.e. if thestreet was unsuitable or unsafe) would be used as areason for a temporary play street not to go ahead.

16

School Play Streets – a step by step manual

Talk to the after-school staff as part of theconsultation so they can form a plan around it.
The ideal scenario is enabling all children to join
in if they want to. Of course this will involve theclub staff getting up-front permission from parents
and working out the supervision ratios – but it’s
all doable so long as it’s planned for. With one
school in Hackney, for example, all the after-school
children took part and wore their club T-shirts tomake them more easily identifiable. The after-schoolstaff said it was one of the best ever sessions.

What if my school is on a busy through road?
It can be difficult to organise a school play street on
a busy through road, but you should discuss thiswith your council early on. It might be possible toclose the road at a different school entrance on aquieter road. Or if the council has a strategic priority
to alleviate traffic on that busy road they might bewilling to help you organise the traffic diversions
required. If speeding traffic is a problem, you
might want to think about trying to lobby for trafficcalming measures or run a 20s Plenty campaign.
Get in touch with Sustrans for further advice.
Are DBS checks needed for stewards?
Enhanced DBS checks (disclosure and barring
checks) should not be required for people
stewarding play streets. This is because thestewards’ role is about managing traffic. They
are there to make sure the space is as safe as
possible. They are not responsible for children
and are not providing childcare. Furthermore,
the stewarding role is occasional and does not
involve unsupervised access to children. You
must make clear on all publicity that parents are
responsible for their own children. If you haveany concerns about safeguarding there will be asafeguarding lead at the school you can talk to.
What if the weather is bad?
With our climate, this could well happen! Children
generally don’t mind a bit of rain or colder weather.
If they are dressed appropriately it can be great fun.
If there are extremes of weather (e.g. really hot or
freezing/ snowy conditions) then you should reflect
this in your risk/benefit assessment. One option could
be to simply shorten the session. In the case of really
bad weather, plan for who will make the final call andwhen, and how you’ll advise parents if it’s cancelled.
What if drivers get angry?
Occasionally stewards will deal with a driver who
is unhappy about not being able to get through. A
good steward briefing beforehand will help them tofeel prepared and confident. Usually it is enoughto explain firmly but politely that it is a legal roadclosure, that it is only temporary, and explain thediversion route. If a driver becomes confrontational,
your co-steward should alert the organiser and any
nearby parents to ensure children’s safety. It canbe useful to have the contact details of someone
at the council in case the driver wants to talk to an
official. In the extreme situation that a driver refuses
to cooperate and behaves dangerously, dial 999(or 101 if the immediate situation has passed).
Some schools have invited their local PCSOs toattend play streets, which has worked really well.
What if the council says we need to use
a traffic management contractor?
We have come across councils that have stipulated
that a traffic management contractor must be
used for play streets – generally at a cost of £500600! Clearly this is not a cost that can or should
be covered by a school or parent group. It may
be that your council has no previous experienceof community street closures and is following theguidelines that are used for other temporary traffic
regulation orders i.e. roadworks. In our experience,for the types of street you are closing for play, theroad closure can be managed safely by well-briefed
volunteer stewards. This ‘playing out’ model has
been adopted by over 1000 streets so far. In 2019,we helped over 50 schools run a play street using
volunteer stewards to manage the road closures.
Sometimes it is enough to share examples of what
has been done elsewhere. You can direct yourcouncil contact to our webpages, or send them avideo (see useful links at the end of this guide). See‘What is my council’s approach to this?’ on page 8
for more detail and contact us for further advice.

We want to implement a School Street atour school (permanent timed closuresat school drop-off and pick-up times– see ‘A few definitions’ on page 5)
What is the best approach to take?
School play streets are fantastic on their own, but canalso act as a mini-trial of a School Street. School playstreets demonstrate what happens when we taketraffic away from the school gate: 90% of parents andresidents that we have spoken to find that it works
better for everyone. Try inviting your local councillors,
but also the cabinet member for Highways,
Environment or Public Health and Wellbeing along
to one of your play street sessions. If you can show
your council that there is local support both fromthe school and wider community for permanent
traffic restriction at drop-off and pick-up times, itwill reassure them that a School Street is not goingto create political backlash. We have seen school
play streets lead to permanent School Streets in
London, Birmingham and Southampton. So if you areinterested in implementing a School Street at yourschool, a School Play Street is a great place to start.
Taking part in national competitions
such as Sustrans’ Big Pedal is also agreat way to demonstrate the demand
for active travel at your school.
You will also need to speak to your local
authority to get their support. If there isa Sustrans officer working in your local
authority area they may be able to help you.

School Play Streets – a step by step manual17Appendix 1: Example consultation letter – parents

further info

and support

Print on school headed paper
Contact

Thank you

Playing Out
hello@playingout.net/ 0117 953 7167

Thank you to Hackney Play Association andHackney Council for trailblazing school play streetsand generously sharing your excellent resources.

Sustrans
education@sustrans.org.uk

Thank you to the schools that have run playstreets so far, for sharing your experiences
and for your contributions to this document.

Links:In 2019, the following local authorities
have worked with us to fund and support
temporary street closures outside schools:

www.playingout.net – lots of otherfree tools and resources
www.sustrans.org.uk/sustransschoolstreets– info about how temporary school play streets
can lead to permanent School Streets.
www.hackneyplay.org/playstreets –more info and free downloads.
www.streetparty.org.uk – useful links andresources on road closures, particularly relating
to costs, signs and guidance to councils.
My Journey Hampshire YouTube and
Sustrans YouTube – couple of videos from school
play streets in Southampton.

Birmingham City Council, Brent Council, Bright &Hove City Council, Bristol City Council, Caerphilly
County Borough Council, Cheshire West andChester Council, Coventry City Council, Derby
City Council, Dorset Council, East Dunbartonshire
Council, East Sussex County Council, The Cityof Edinburgh Council, The Highland Council,
Leicester City Council, Luton Borough Council,
Manchester City Council, North Tyneside Council,
Pembrokeshire County Council, PeterboroughCity Council, London Borough of Richmondupon Thames, Southampton City Council,
Southwark Council, Tower Hamlets Council,
Westminster City Council, City of York Council
Finally, a big thank you to all the parents
and residents who have given their time
freely to organise play streets and school
play streets around the country.
Thank you for providing children with opportunities
to play outside, and to walk, cycle or scoot to school
more safely, for their health, happiness and wellbeing.

Dear Parents/Carers,
CLOSING [NAME OF ROAD] FOR PLAY!
Planning & Awareness Meeting for Parents/Carers and Children[Date, Time, Location]
We are planning an exciting event on [DATE]. Our school will be holding its first ever school play street
in [ROAD NAME] from [START TIME to END TIME]. The aim of closing [ROAD NAME] that day is to:• Raise awareness for pupils, teachers and parents of the health
implications for young people caused by high levelsof air pollution and traffic outside our school.
• Involve pupils, teachers and parents in a fun, symbolic dayof action with an opportunity for children to play together in a trafficfree space, and for adults to be able to chat together too.
• Encourage everyone to think about how they travel to school.
We hope that closing the road to through traffic will make iteasier to walk, cycle or scoot the school run, or use our parkand stride scheme to create a healthier, safer and cleaner
environment around the school and local community.
Can you help?
We’ll be sending out more information closer to the date. But please come and share your ideas and offersof support at our Planning Meeting on [DATE]. Or contact [INSERT NAME and CONTACT DETAILS]Best wishes[HEADTEACHER NAME]
Headteacher

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School Play Streets – a step by step manual

School Play Streets – a step by step manual19Appendix 2: Example consultation letter – residents

Why do the children need to playin the street when there is a school
playground and parks nearby?

Print on school headed paper
Dear Neighbour,
Parents and staff at [NAME OF SCHOOL] are considering holdinga ‘play street’ in [INSERT NAME OF ROAD].
[ROAD NAME] would be temporarily closed to motor vehicles from [START TIME – END
TIME], giving children the chance to play together freely and enjoy the safer, trafficfree space as well as giving parents and residents a chance to meet and chat.
We want to make it easier for both children and parents to walk, cycle or scoot toschool and we’ve been working hard to reduce the number of cars at drop-off andpick-up times. We hope that car-free play streets will help us create a healthier,more liveable environment around the school and local community.
During the play street, residents who need car access will still be able to come in and outof the street, driving slowly and escorted by a steward. Through traffic will be diverted.
The road closure points will be stewarded by school staff or parent volunteers, andparents will remain responsible for their children at all times during the session.
We are trying to talk to as many people in the street as possible about the idea.
If we’ve missed you today and you are interested in finding out more, or haveany concerns, or wish to express your support, please contact us.
Use/delete as appropriate: We are also holding a meeting in the school on [INSERT TIME/
DATE] when you can come along and find out more, and ask any questions you may have. You
can find out more about how play streets work in a short 3-minute film at www.hackneyplay.org/
play-streets and also find out about the national Playing Out movement at www.playingout.net.
Yours sincerely[NAME OF HEADTEACHER]				

[NAME OF PARENTS REP]

Headteacher						PTFA chair/member[CONTACT DETAILS – EMAIL/PHONE]

Appendix 3: Common Concerns

Parks are great for family outings and for older
children who can get there independently but foryounger children, it usually involves a special trip,
organised and supervised by adults, and they needplay opportunities closer to home. This means that,
unlike a generation ago, children are simply notgetting enough everyday active play time. Street
play is very different. Firstly, it is easily integrated
into the daily routine, so children can play ‘semisupervised’ whilst parents catch up and enjoy
themselves too. This allows for more unstructured,child-led play. Secondly, in the case of school playstreets in particular it helps make the school pickup and drop off more relaxed for everyone, withless air pollution, less traffic danger and more fun!
Children playing together on their street helps tobuild a sense of community and belonging, which inturn makes the street a safer and friendlier place.
What about the teachers that still drive to school?
School staff often do not live within the catchment
area of their school. Like all of us, they are
dependent on the local transport links to theirplace of work. Many staff opt to car share, cycle orcatch public transport and walk on the day of theschool play street to show their support. If theyneed to drive, they may choose to arrive or leaveoutside of the play street timings. But if a staff
member really needs to drive in or out during theplay street, they will be guided by stewards, as
per the protocol for residents living in the street.

Will you still let visitors/deliveries through?
Where possible we would ask that visitors ordeliveries park outside of the closure area and walkto the relevant house, but if it is essential that they
drive to the door (e.g. there is a disabled or elderly
person in the car) they will be guided by stewards.
Once the stewards are aware that somebody needs
to drive through, they will clear the street of children
first, then lead them in or out by walking in front of
the car so that they can check the road is completely
clear as they drive. Where possible, please notify
any visitors in advance of the play street.
Why is the council not doing anything
to address the traffic around the schoolat drop-off and pick-up times, but they’ll
close the road for children to play?
The majority of parents and pupils walk, cycle orscoot to school. Of those that drive, many park a
few streets away and walk the last bit. It is a minorityof parents that persist in parking inconsiderately
and dangerously. School staff, other parents
and the council are very concerned about roadsafety issues outside the gates. Resources for
enforcement of double yellow lines and zig zags
are limited. Play streets allow people to directly
experience what a calm, child-friendly, traffic-

I need to get in and out by car for mywork – this will inconvenience me
School play streets generally take place after schoolfor about an hour from 3.30-4.30ish, sometimes
once or twice a term, sometimes as infrequently
as once a year. If you are a local resident and thisis the time that you need to drive in or out of yourstreet, you will be able to do so, guided by the
stewards. Please notify them, and they will clear
the street of children first, then lead you in or out
by walking in front of your car so that they cancheck the road is completely clear as you drive.

20

School Play Streets – a step by step manual

School Play Streets – a step by step manual21Appendix 3: Common Concerns

Appendix 3: Common Concerns

parents and grandparents, in particular, there isstrong support for children’s right to play out. So
you might even find that by being accommodating
or offering support you gain new customers!
What about my child who is disabled andneeds to be picked up from school by taxi?
We really hope that your child will be able totake part in the school play street in whateverway works for them, and in that case the taxi
could be arranged to arrive after the school playstreet is finished. Alternatively, your child could
be escorted to where the road closure starts,
a short distance from the school gate, and thetaxi could pick them up there. If the taxi needs
to drive through the school play street, it will
be guided by the stewards who will make thestreet safe first. Please ensure that the playstreet organiser is aware of this, so they canbrief the stewards to expect the taxi on the day.

The noise will disturb me
Often the street is quieter during a play street, due
to less traffic. Some people would say the sound ofchildren laughing and playing is a wonderful thing
and something we no longer hear enough of. In
towns and cities we all need to live alongside eachother and tolerate a reasonable amount of noisefrom other people’s activities. Even those who don’t
drive have to live with traffic noise. Children cannot
be contained within houses, cars and designated‘play areas’. The city is theirs too and it is their rightto use the space in the way they need to. School
play streets are only an hour or two long and takeplace once a week at most. If there is a persistentproblem with neighbours complaining aboutchildren making an unreasonable amount of noise,
it may be appropriate to organise a street meeting
between residents and the school to discuss it andtry to reach a solution everyone is happy with.
I am nervous about damage to my car

free road feels like. This can have more of an
impact than other traditional methods of trying tochange people’s behaviour and it forces people
to travel in a different way to/from school. In thelong term, play streets can lead to a reduction intraffic around the school, as people begin to see
the space outside the school gates differently – itbecomes a place for people, rather than cars.
This is going to have a negative impact on
my business – why should I let it happen?
As part of the application process, everyone within
the closure area should be consulted. The school
play street will only take place for 1-2 hours after
school and it is hoped that this won’t adversely
affect any businesses. If your business is locatedoutside of the road closure, there will always bealternative routes that drivers can take and thestewards will be briefed to direct them. If yourbusiness is within the road closure and there areconcerns about this, it’s important to have a chatwith the play street organiser to try and minimise
disruption. A few, essential vehicle trips may be
accommodated by the stewards – they will guidedrivers through at walking pace. Depending on
the business, it could be beneficial to have lots ofpeople standing around on the street! Amongst
22

School Play Streets – a step by step manual

I have to pick up two children fromdifferent schools and I work full-time,
so need to drive. How am I going to pickup my child if the road is closed?
We completely understand that many parents
are in this situation and don’t intend to cause
you difficulties. Depending on the school there
should be an alternative place to park just a
short walk away – often called a ‘park and stride’.
However, we do hope if possible that you and yourchildren can take part in the school play street.
Won’t this bring a load of children from otherschools to the street causing trouble?
Each school play street session is organisedby parents and the school, and only publicisedthrough flyers and posters on that street and,sometimes, immediately neighbouring streets.
They are for the children to have a chance toplay outside their school and not designed tobe public ‘events’. However, the street is a public
space, so it is not possible or even desirable totry to exclude people coming in from outside. Itis very unlikely that you would have more thana few siblings joining in from other schools,
or children from neighbouring streets.

If you are very nervous about damage to yourcar, you may wish to park it elsewhere during theschool play street. However, we have heard of very
few incidents of damage in the hundreds of playingout sessions that have taken place across the UK
and would not expect the level of risk to be muchgreater than if children were scooting, skating or
cycling on the pavement past parked cars. Parents
are responsible for their children during the school
play street but any adult who sees a child causing
damage should talk to them or their parents about
it. The organisers and stewards will do their best toensure that children play safely and responsibly.
Who is going to pay if myproperty gets damaged?
In terms of damage to property (including cars),
the liability situation is no different with a roadclosure than under normal circumstances i.e.
people take responsibility for their own actions.
Parents will have ultimate responsibility for theirown children. And residents will need to resolve
any issues between each other and their insurers.

Who is going to supervise the children if theteachers have finished work for the day?
Parents are fully responsible for theirchildren during the play street, and all
publicity will make this very clear.
Won’t this encourage children tothink the road is a safe place to playunder normal circumstances?
We’ve had many conversations with parents andteachers about this. Everyone strongly agrees thateven young children can understand the difference
between a play street, and normal circumstances.
The University of Bristol carried out some detailed
research into temporary road closures and foundthat children were able to clearly identify whatmade a play street different: “the bins come out…
the high-vis jackets…the car noise stops…”
Similarly, parents said they were still responsible
for teaching their children the ‘rules of the road.’
The school has caused enough problems over
the years, and now this. They don’t respond when
we complain about… (parent parking, anti-social
behaviour by pupils, kids doing wheelies etc.)
We hear you, it can be frustrating living neara school. Regular school play streets may wellhelp to reduce inconsiderate parent parking –during the play street, non-residents won’t beallowed to park within the area and will have tothink about alternative options. Hopefully theprocess of organising the street closure can be
an opportunity to open up lines of communication
between residents and the school – you may
find that school staff are equally as frustrated by
the same issues and welcome your input! The
school play street should be an opportunity for thewhole community to come together. As a resident
on the street you are encouraged to join in andbenefit from it too. Do discuss your concerns withthe organiser and if you’re willing to compromiseand show some support, hopefully that will be
returned by them hearing your frustrations too.

School Play Streets – a step by step manual23Appendix 4: Example traffic management plan

Appendix 5: Quick checklist on running a school play street
Applying to close the road
Informally consult school staff, parents, residents and local councillors
Check whether your council has a play street policy
Download application form for temporary road closure (TTRO) from council website
Check bus routes/bin day
Get name and contact number of council officer dealing with application
Do a resident letter drop/door knock
Annotate map with street closure location and alternative routes
Ask school to confirm public liability insurance valid

Lead up to your school play street session
Join the Playing Out national Facebook group for peer support
Closure no1: 08.00hrs - 10.00hrs
Closure no 2: 14.00hrs - 16.30hrs
Both closures (junction Upper Chorlton Road & College Rd / Park
Drive / College Rd) Permanently manned for duration of closure
All resident a ected by closure area informed by letter 2 weeks inadvance of closure. Any vehicles within closure zone requiring
exit escorted o closure by steward @ 5mph with hazard lights on

Recruit helpers for stewarding (and other jobs such as flyering)
Invite PCSOs and local councillors/cabinet members
Agree park and stride location
Order traffic signs and cones – hopefully from council
Read ‘Stewarding Guidance’
Do a risk benefit assessment and street walkabout
Get hi-vis vests, whistles together, and print/laminate copies of stewarding guidance

ClosureAlternative route

Publicise on the street – TTRO notification on lamp post 2 weeks before,
reminder flyer or letter to residents at least 5 days before
Publicise to children, parents and staff – in the week leading up
Put notices on parked cars – a day or two beforehand

On the day
Send a reminder text to parents in the morning
Bring box of stewarding equipment (hi-vis, whistles, lanyards, walkie talkies)
Do stewards briefing 30 mins before start (exchange mobile numbers)
Do street walkabout to check for and remove any hazards
Set up ‘Road Closed’ signage and traffic cones – close road at least 15 mins before children come out
Set out any play equipment
Have first aid kit handy
Make sure somebody takes photos for school publicity
Re-open road as per stewarding guidanceAfterwards
Thank and debrief volunteer helpers and school staff
Write up for school newsletter or website with photos
Make a note of any learning points for next time, adapting risk/benefit assessment as appropriate

24

School Play Streets – a step by step manual

School Play Streets – a step by step manual25Appendix 6: Example parents letter – publicising

Appendix 7: Risk/benefit template
School and street name:Date of play street:
Named Organiser(s):Date of risk assessment:
Completed by:

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Please review and adapt to your own requirements. Consider any other risks that may beparticular to your street – e.g. is there a bend in the road, steep hill, or small turning fromflats where cars could exit from. Also think about extremes of weather and how this might
affect things. Identify what the risk is and any actions you can take to reduce the risk.

[INSERT NAME OF SCHOOL] play street: [INSERT DATE]

Benefits (To help balance the risk vs benefit, list below what you hope to be the benefits to organising your play street session)

Print on school headed paper1.

We have an exciting event happening here on [INSERT DATE]. Our school is holding its first everplay street in [INSERT ROAD NAME] when we will be reclaiming the street for play and fun!
The idea is to create a traffic-free space for children to play together,and for the adults to be able to chat together too.

2.
3.

HazardRisk/sActions to reduce risk

Moving vehicles and cyclists

Injury to volunteers whensetting up/ taking down
the road closure, or tochildren when playing

1.

Parents to be clearly informed they are still
responsible for children’s safety and behaviour

2.

All volunteer stewards to wear high visibility jackets

After the barriers are
removed, children don’t
realise the play street has
finished and run out into
the re-opened street

3.

Volunteers to check the road is clear
before installing the road closure

4.

Road closure points to be clearly marked
with traffic cones and appropriate signage

5.

Consider installing the road closure
point away from turning points where
drivers may not be able to see it

6.

Road closure notices and door to door
leafleting prior to event to warn neighbours
in advance of the road closure

7.

Children and adults to be asked to stay out of
the road until ALL road closure points in place

8.

Stewards given briefing material in advance,
briefed verbally before the start by event
organisers and will follow Stewarding Guidanceas provided by Playing Out and Sustrans9.

Stewards to use whistles or an agreed signal(loud shout) to gain attention of children/adults[ROAD NAME] will be closed to through traffic from [START TIME – END TIME] andwe encourage families, local residents and staff to come and join in the fun.
Important safety information• During the play street, parents/carers remain responsible for theirchildren as on any other day. You must stay to supervise your child.
• Please support us by travelling actively to and from school –walk, cycle, scoot or travel by public transport. If you do need
to use a car for the school run, we ask you to park [INSERTPARK AND STRIDE LOCATION], just a short walk away.
If you have any concerns or queries about the event then please do
get in touch. We look forward to seeing you on [DATE]Best wishes

10. Floating steward on duty to lookout for cars trying to leave[HEADTEACHER NAME]

11. Volunteers to alert each other and ensure
there are no children in the road if avehicle needs to pass through the roadclosure, before removing the barrier

Headteacher

12. Cars passing through the barrier to accesstheir property to be slowly led to a parking
spot by a steward – walking in front of car
13. Plan how to ensure children know that the session
has ended and the street is ‘live’ to cars again

		
26

School Play Streets – a step by step manual

School Play Streets – a step by step manual27Appendix 7: Risk/benefit template
HazardRisk/sActions to reduce riskChildren going beyond
the barriers

Injury or loss of child

1.

Ensure parents know that they are responsible for
their children during the event

2.

Volunteers/ stewards with mobile phones to stay atthe barriers throughout the event

3.

Have back-up stewards who can provide respite (fortoilet breaks etc.)

4.

Avoid situation where volunteer is left alone withchild – number of school safeguarding lead madeavailable to stewards

Parked cars

Child may collide with car(e.g on scooter) causing
injury to themselves and/or damage to the car
Child may step out unseen
as vehicles moving throughPassing membersof the public

Angry motorists

Road surface or
obstacles in road

Extreme weather

28

Appendix 8: Stewarding Guidance

1.

Residents given prior warning of the event sothey can move their cars if they want to2.

Parents and carers reminded that they are
responsible for their children during the event

3.

Stewards to be vigilant as theywalk any vehicles throughInjury from collision withchildren playing or activities

1.

Volunteers to wear hi-vis and alert
people there is an event going on

Inappropriate behaviour

2.

Monitor types of activity to ensure
possibility of bumps kept to a minimum

Volunteers and residents
subjected to abuse or
injury from drivers trying
to enter/exit the street

3.

Parents and carers informed they are
responsible for their children during the event

4.

Stewards made aware of safeguarding lead(usually senior member of school staff)

5.

Alert parents to move children away if necessary

6.

Call assistance from police ifnecessary − 999 or 101

1.

Prior notice of the event is given to residents(including opportunity for any objections
to be discussed amongst neighbours
and/ or considered by the council)

School Play Streets Steward Briefing
Thank you for volunteering to be a steward andprovide children with a wonderful opportunity to playout! The role of the steward is crucial to ensure thesafety and wellbeing of all involved in playing out
sessions. Please read these instructions thoroughly.
This 6 minute video clip on the Playing Out website
is also really useful to get an idea of what to expect:https://playingout.net/how/playing-four-simple-steps/
step-four-make-the-street-safe-and-play-out/
Notes for street organisers and stewards• There must be two stewards wearing hiviz and carrying a whistle at each closure
point. One floating steward is in the
middle, in case any parked cars want toleave from the middle of the closure.
• The closure points at each end of the road should
be set up and removed simultaneously. Follow
your council’s guidance on how to set up the signs.
• ‘Road Ahead Closed’ signs, if provided, should
be used before each closure point to give drivers
extra warning – positioned to the side of the road.
• Use traffic cones (if provided) acrossthe road at closure points.

2.

Calm, well briefed volunteers who canlead cars in and out at walking pace

• Children should not play in the street until
it is closed and stewards are in position.

3.

Children and adults briefed to say thank you,smile and wave at drivers as they pass

• Remind parents that they are responsible for theirchildren – use on street flyers and tell people.

4.

Call assistance from police ifnecessary – 999 or 101

Children or adults trip
or cut themselves

1.

Volunteers to check road and clear any obstacles/
sweep away broken glass before play street starts• Ordinarily only residents who live within
the closure are allowed access to thestreet during a play street in their cars,from within or outside the closure. See
below for how to guide them in and out.

Rubbish left in road –unsightly and gives negative
impression of play street

2.

Bin bags provided and everyone asked to clear
away rubbish 10 minutes before the session ends.

Sun burn, heat stroke,
dehydration, slips on ice,
being struck by blown objects

1.

Parents will be reminded they are responsible
for their children and to dress appropriately

2.

In extreme weather, event will be
shortened or cancelled

School Play Streets – a step by step manual• It can be helpful to invite the local PCSO
(Police Community Safety Officer) to your firstplay street, to provide legitimacy and support.
They may be too busy to attend, but it’s usefulfor them to be aware of it taking place.

The steward’s role is to:
1. Close the road safely
Help to position signs and cones according
to official council guidelines and not exposing
yourself to danger from oncoming traffic.
2. Keep children inside the closure
Look out for children trying to go beyond
the barrier and remind them to stay on
pavements beyond the barrier.
If you have concerns, try to locate the child’s
parents and get assistance from other parents.
3. Stay visible, alert and safe.
Wear a hi-vis jacket. Position yourself for
maximum visibility to oncoming traffic andawareness of the activities inside and outsideof the closure area. Within reason, avoid any
distracting conversation or activity. If you needto go to the toilet, find a suitable replacementand don’t leave your co-steward on their own.
4. Divert through traffic
Stay calm and friendly yet assertive. Explain
briefly what is happening and how long it lasts.
Suggest an alternative route. If needed, be clearthat this is a legal road closure and residents havebeen fully consulted. It may be useful to havesome of your leaflets to hand out, or to point tothe street closure order on a nearby lamppost.
5. Guide drivers needing access (residents/
special circumstances only)
Ensure you have agreement from the driverand the road is clear of children before moving
the barriers. Two stewards are needed to let
residents drive in and out; one to communicate
with the driver and walk in front of the car while
it passes through the street, the other to clear
children from the road and then remain at theroad closure point. Only deal with one driver at
a time – if in the rare case you have to deal withmore than one at the same time, ask them to wait.

School Play Streets – a step by step manual29Appendix 8: Stewarding GuidanceHere is the recommended procedure:• One steward explains to the driver they canhave stewarded access once the street isclear. Get their agreement and stay withthe driver. Do not open the barrier yet.
• The other steward clears the road of all
those playing out, with the help of the floating
steward, by blowing the whistles and shouting“Car coming, move onto the pavements.”• When the road is fully clear, the steward who
is with the car walks the car in or out – walking
in front of the vehicle at 5mph or slower.
• This steward keeps looking out for children andshouting “Car coming, stay on the pavement”.
• Only move the barrier when the car is just about
to pass through it, and replace it immediately
to prevent other cars following behind.
• Once the car has parked or left theroad, shout out “Safe to play again”.
6. If you need to swap out, ensure the steward
taking over from you has read these instructions
and hand over your hi-vis and whistle.
7. Floating steward
The floating steward’s key role is keeping
an eye and ear out for engines starting up
within the closure – and to stop any vehicle
from attempting to suddenly leave. Floating
stewards also assist the other stewards byhelping to alert and clear everyone when cars
are about to be walked through. They also
help with reopening the road – see below.
8. Dealing with difficult drivers
Occasionally drivers may become angry or
difficult. Keep calm but assertive. If someone isa bit disgruntled it is usually enough to explain
firmly but politely that it is a legal road closure, andthat it is only temporary, and explain the diversion
route. If a driver becomes confrontational, yourco-steward should quietly alert the organiser
and any nearby parents to ensure children’ssafety. It can be useful to have a contact detail ofsomeone at the council in case the driver wants
to talk to an official. In the extreme situationthat a driver behaves dangerously, dial 999 (or101 if the immediate situation has passed).
30

School Play Streets – a step by step manual

Appendix 9: Template press release

9. Re-open the road safely with a buffer zone
There is a small but serious risk of children
seeking to return to play in the street shortly after aplay street has ceased. Ultimately it is the parent’s
responsibility to ensure their safety, but it does
help to have a buffer zone or staged approachto reopening the road. This means that you end
the play street 10-15 minutes before you intend tophysically reopen the road. Give everyone lots ofnotice that the street is to be reopened to cars. You
could also gently encourage parents to start taking
their children home before the street reopens.
• One steward from each end and thefloating steward should walk up and down
the street and give a series of warnings in
the lead up to the formal end of session
e.g. “5 minutes left of the play street!”• The other two stewards stay at theclosure points at all times.

Adapt and include your own quotes (from head teacher and local council) and photos[NAME OF SCHOOL] first in region to shut street to cars
Play stopped traffic outside [NAME OF SCHOOL] last Friday – as pupils
reclaimed the street for hula hooping, skipping and games!
Around [INSERT APPROX NUMBER] children and their parents took
part in the play street session in [NAME OF ROAD].
Head teacher [INSERT NAME] said, “We were really excited to host our first play street. Manyof our children have never ‘played out’ before so it was good to see them having the freedom
to explore and play freely together, contributing to the healthy and happy lifestyle we aspire tofor all our children. By closing the road to cars during pick-up time, we also saw a reduction incongestion and pollution around the school gates, as well as children, parents and residents
coming together to enjoy the benefits of a safer, cleaner street environment. There was a real
sense of community spirit. A big ‘thank you’ to everyone that came out to show their support!”• To mark the end of the play session, allstewards should blow their whistles repeatedly,
shout out “Play street finished now”.

Parents volunteered to ‘steward’ the road closure – standing at the barriers andredirecting through-traffic. People living on the street also joined in the fun.

• After the session has ended, take at least 10
minutes to ensure that everyone is out of theroad, and that anyone left on pavements isaware that cars are about to return. Be firm
and friendly! Remind parents to ensure theirchildren understand the difference between
playing out and normal circumstances.

[INSERT NAME], whose children attend the school, said: “It was nice to be able to help out
and chat to other families. My children were very excited when they came out and saw they
could play in the street – something that they never usually get the chance to do as there
is so much traffic where we live. They loved riding up and down on their bikes and doing
the chalk drawing. Afterwards all they kept saying was: ‘When can we do it again?’”• Co-ordinate re-opening the road at both ends,
so the barriers are removed simultaneously.

Cllr [INSERT NAME], executive member for the environment at [INSERT COUNCIL] said:“Reducing the amount of traffic in and around our schools will not only help improve air quality,
but children’s health too. Research shows that walking, cycling or scooting to school can help
children’s concentration levels, as well as contributing to their overall health and wellbeing.
I’m delighted that schools across our city are showing their support for play streets.”• Whilst the barriers are being removed, thefloating steward can walk up and down
the pavement shouting “Cars coming
through now” to make a final check.

More information:
For further details contact [INSERT NAME OF PERSON AND CONTACT DETAILS]

School Play Streets – a step by step manual31About us
Sustrans and Playing Out issued this joint
guidance, aimed at schools and parents
across the UK wanting to run play streets.
Together we provide practical support
to local communities and offer expert
advice to local authorities.
We work in partnership to make streets safer
places for children to travel and play.
We believe that grassroots support combined with
political leadership drives real change, fast.

Get in touch
www.sustrans.org.uk
education@sustrans.org.uk
www.playingout.net
hello@playingout.net

Sustrans is a registered charity in the UK No. 326550 (Englandand Wales) SC039263 (Scotland)© Sustrans February 2020

Photos copyright Sustrans, except p11
Cover: Jon Bewley
P4: Vicki Deritis
P6: Ray Hayden, Paul Mitchell
P8: Jon Bewley
P11: Playing Out
P12: Ray Hayden
P13: Mark Radford
P14: Kois Miah
P15: Jon Bewley
P17: Paul Mitchell
P21: Paul MitchellP22: Paul Mitchell