A Lanarkshire primary school puts cycling confidence on the timetable

Staff at Bent Primary were keenly aware that not every child arrives with the same access to cycling. Some have a bike at home and regular chances to practise. 

Others do not, or have never had the space, support or confidence to get started. The school wanted to offer that experience to all pupils, but it had not been possible in the past.

As Freya McWee, Acting Principal Teacher, explains, a cycling programme had always felt out of reach because of practical barriers. The costs involved, the likelihood that some children would not have their own bikes to bring, and limited space to deliver sessions effectively.

Play Together on Pedals changed what was possible. It gave the school a way to introduce cycling in a structured, inclusive way, and to help pupils build skills they could carry beyond the school gates.

A visible shift in skills and confidence

The impact was clear as the weeks went on. Freya noticed a “massive increase in skill”, with many children learning to pedal. That milestone can make the difference between wanting to ride and giving up.

Confidence grew alongside those skills. It was especially striking to compare what children could do at the start of the programme with what they could do by the end. And because the sessions were practical and playful, they offered something many pupils relish. The chance to succeed and be recognised in a way that is not academic.

Freya also heard encouraging feedback from parents. Some children had a bike at home but had not been interested in cycling before taking part. After the sessions, families reported their children were more motivated to ride, and more likely to practise at home.

It was nice for the children to experience exercise in a different way

 

Enthusiasm that built week by week

What stood out just as much as the skills was the children’s enjoyment. Their enthusiasm grew each week. It was not only pupils who were new to cycling who benefited. Children who could already ride loved the sessions too, improving their control and building confidence through games and challenges.

Children were able to talk about their own progress, and staff could see it clearly.

A few pupils put it simply:

I had lots of fun and got so much faster riding my bike!

 

I already knew how to ride a bike but I got better and more confident using my pedals

 

The games were very fun and helped us learn different skills

 

Back at pick-up time, the excitement carried into conversations with parents and carers, with children proudly sharing milestones from the day, including cheerful updates like, “I got my pedals on today”.

More than cycling: engagement, wellbeing and achievement

The sessions supported more than riding ability. Freya described improved health and wellbeing, and improved engagement, particularly because children were excited to get out and take part in the morning.

Just as importantly, the programme gave children a chance to achieve something in a different way within school, building confidence, resilience and a sense of progress through movement and play.

What comes next

The school now hopes to take this further by acquiring bikes for younger pupils and building cycling into a sustained progression. Training staff will be key, so the school can continue developing these skills with future cohorts.

Freya also highlighted a wider challenge. Local cycling infrastructure is limited. The school sits on a 60mph road without a cycle path. 

While there is a pavement, reaching the next village involves crossing the fast road because the pavement switches sides. That layout makes cycling feel difficult and less safe for families.

Even so, the school is optimistic. Staff have seen what happens when children are given the right opportunity, and how quickly confidence can grow.

This work has been made possible thanks to funding from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) through the People and Places Fund, helping schools like Bent Primary in Lesmahagow give children a positive start in cycling and the chance to take that confidence home.