A NEW parking scheme to improve safety and encourage families to walk to school has been launched at a school.

The 3PR scheme, set up by the South Essex Parking Partnership, has been rolled out at Holt Farm Infant School and Holt Farm Junior School, Ashingdon in Rochford.

The scheme will help ensure families have a safer journey to school, as it encourages families to walk, rather than drive, to the school gates.

The safety initiative is represented by 3PR, a robot character and promotes safety rules when travelling to and from school including care, consideration and caution.

Leaflets about considerate parking and sustainable transport have been distributed in the community and a no parking zone has been created around the school, which parents and carers are encouraged to avoid entering by car.

During the launch of the scheme, the school also posted letters to homes along the road of the school, to inform residents about the scheme and its hopes for improved and safer parking.

Any pupil who arrives in particular zones around the school by foot, bike or scooter will be given a 3PR token to take into their classroom.

Headteacher Lucy Wass said: “The children are excited about the 3PR challenge and we hope parents will get involved and take part too.

“Thank you for all the support from the South Essex Parking Partnership.”

Mike Steptoe, SEPP joint committee member for Rochford, said: “It was encouraging to see the children and the schools helping with the SEPP 3PR campaign to help reduce school time parking and congestion.

“I hope to see more schools implementing the 3PR campaign and I would be happy to meet with the schools to discuss how they can help.”

The scheme has been rolled out at a number of south Essex schools including Abacus Primary School in Wickford.

It was initially tested last April at at Tyrrells Primary School, Chelmsford. It is hoped others will join the scheme in the coming months.