Strengthening cycling confidence and active travel in North Lanarkshire schools

Over the past six months, the partnership between North Lanarkshire Council’s Active Schools team and Cycling UK has grown significantly, with the Play Together on Pedals (PTOP) programme acting as a catalyst for deeper collaboration.

The programme has delivered transformational outcomes for children across participating schools: improving confidence, increasing physical activity and embedding a positive cycling culture throughout school communities.

As an Active Schools Coordinator, Lee McParland continually seeks opportunities to increase physical activity and improve wellbeing among the schoolchildren. PTOP offered a unique ready-to-deliver model that removed barriers to cycling in schools by providing:

• A choice of child-sized bikes
• Adaptations for pupils with additional support needs
• Fully qualified and highly attuned cycling coaches
• Practical support and guidance on delivery in school settings

Expert advice

From the first conversation, Cycling UK provided expertise and hands on support. Marianne Emordy, Senior Project Officer for Play Together on Pedals, offered detailed operational guidance, enabling the programme to be smoothly integrated into individual school’s routines.

Initial concerns about how teachers would manage classes while small groups of 8-10 children left for cycling sessions proved unfounded. Teachers that reduced class sizes improved opportunities for targeted support and small-group teaching. This relieved pressure on staff and complemented learning rather than disrupting it.

The programme was designed to be inclusive from the outset. Specialist equipment and sensitive coaching enabled pupils with additional support needs – including children in the Enhanced Provision class – to participate fully.

Coaches played a crucial role in:

• Calming anxious riders
• Encouraging gradual, child-paced progression
• Building trust and confidence over time

This approach resulted in visible, sustained improvements in children’s confidence, engagement and self-esteem.

The PTOP programme provided so much more than an opportunity to increase physical activity. It removed all barriers to cycling in schools, and the coaches were fantastic supporting each child at their own pace and building their confidence week by week Lee McParland, Active Schools Coordinator

Teachers consistently reported:

• Improved attention and engagement following cycling sessions
• Increased confidence, especially among pupils who were previously reluctant or dysregulated
• Better attendance in identified children
• A positive ‘buzz’ around cycling across the whole school

Creating a cycling culture in schools

Cycling culture has visibly shifted. Before PTOP, only three to four pupils regularly cycled to school from P4-P7. This has increased to around 10 children daily regardless of weather and up to 15 on dry days – even among children not yet directly involved in the programme.

Across participating schools, an impressive 92% of children have learned to ride a bike independently within the five-session programme.

The input from Cycling UK has had a huge impact on children’s engagement and confidence. Staff see the difference immediately – children return to class with red cheeks, happy and more engaged.

 

 

 

Many of our Enhanced Provision children could not ride a bike before the programme; now they are confidently whizzing around the playground Marie Murphy, Head Teacher, Holy Cross Primary School

The programme’s structured progression, inclusive coaching and repeated practice have enabled children to achieve milestone skills more quickly and confidently than expected.

A key strength of the programme is its sustainability. Schools have benefited from:

• Access to grant funding
• Training for staff and volunteers
• Local partnerships with Cycling UK, SPYF On Bikes and Northern Corridor Community Volunteers

These partnerships support schools to commit to the Cycling Pledge, which encourages them to:

1. Offer every child the opportunity to learn to cycle
2. Support children to have access to their own bike
3. Embed cycling as a regular part of school life

The overarching aim is to grow active travel and significantly increase daily physical activity levels among children across North Lanarkshire.

The Play Together on Pedals programme has become a powerful driver for active travel, wellbeing and confidence in North Lanarkshire’s schools. The combination of expert coaching, accessible equipment, strong partnership working and school-wide enthusiasm has created a sustainable model with long-term benefits.

As Holy Cross Primary and other participating schools have shown, PTOP doesn’t just teach children to cycle, it creates happier learners, healthier routines and more confident young people.