Healthy School Streets

1.What is a Healthy School Street?

Healthy School Streets are roads that have timed access restrictions for most motor vehicles at school start and finish times. This makes it safer and easier for children and their families to walk, cycle or scoot to school. 

2.What is a timed access restriction?

A timed access restriction is when a road or a section of the road is temporarily closed to general traffic at designated times. For Healthy School Streets, the timed access restrictions are during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times to encourage more parents, carers and children to make their journey on foot, by bike or scooter, or via public transport.

3.What is the purpose of Healthy School Streets?

The key aims of Healthy School Streets include:

• Improving road safety near schools
• Encouraging more children to have an active journey to school
• Reducing traffic congestion at the school gates
• Improving air quality outside schools

This is done by limiting all unessential access the Healthy School Streets zones during the peak periods. The main purpose is to make the roads near a school safer and easier for children to walk, scoot and cycle to school at drop-off and pick-up times.

Newham has historically had the worst air quality in the country with seven out of every 100 deaths being linked to dirty air and also has some of the highest asthma rates amongst the under 18s.

We’ve seen the successful reduction of dangerous air pollution on existing Healthy School Streets. For instance, in some existing scheme areas we have seen a 32% drop in nitrogen dioxide in the morning and 16% drop in the afternoon.

4.How does the scheme work?

During the timed access restrictions, the road/s near a school entrance become a pedestrian and cycle only zone (with exemptions for some motor vehicles) for the school morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times.

Signage is placed at the entrances of the scheme to show the operational times and to inform drivers of the restrictions.

Non-registered vehicles entering the scheme during the times of operation will be identified by enforcement cameras and issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

5.When are the timed road closures for?

The timed road closures are during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times, Monday to Friday, during school term times only.

The pedestrian and cycle only zone will not apply during school holidays or at weekends.

Vehicles will not be able to enter the operational pedestrian and cycle only zone during these times unless they have a valid permit.

6.How will the scheme be enforced?

Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras are installed to enforce the restrictions for non-registered vehicles. Non-registered vehicles that enter the pedestrian and cycle only zone during operational times will be automatically issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

7.What if I am already parked inside the scheme area when it comes into operation?

All vehicles already parked in the scheme area before the times of operation will be able to exit without incurring a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

8.Who can drive on roads within a Healthy School Streets (HSS) zone during the restricted times?

Residents and businesses who live or work at an address located within a Healthy School Streets (HSS) zone can drive into their respective HSS zone at any time but may need to apply for an Access Permit to do so.

Permits can be applied for by:

• Residents living within the relevant HSS zone
• Businesses and charitable organisations that are located within the relevant HSS zone
• Blue Badge holders who need to access the school within the relevant HSS zone (including children attending the school who are Blue Badge holders or have profound Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - SEND)
• Some school staff, depending on the exemption arrangements for each school

General exemptions also apply for:

• Police, ambulance and fire brigade vehicles
• TfL buses (including Dial-a-ride services, which are clearly marked with the TfL and Dial-a-Ride logos)
• Black taxi cabs
• Royal Mail vehicles
• NHS vehicles which are clearly marked with the NHS logo
• SEND transport vehicles for schools within the HSS zones, which are clearly marked as SEND services
• Newham refuse collection vehicles

Please note: Only logos that are located on the exterior of the vehicle and are visible can be picked up by our enforcement cameras.

9.Do I need to apply for an Access Permit?

You need to apply for a:

• Resident Access Permit* if you live on one of the streets within a HSS zone but do not have an active on-street parking permit. For example, if you park your vehicle in a private driveway or garage.

*To apply for a Resident Access Permit, your vehicle must be registered to an address within the HSS zone you are applying for.

• Business Access Permit* if you are an employer or an employee of a business or charitable organisation registered at an address within a HSS zone but do not have an active on-street parking permit. For example, if you park your vehicle in a business car park or driveway.

*You can only apply for a Business Access Permit if you have a MiPermit account registered to a business address within this HSS zone. To apply for a Business Access Permit, the business must set up a MiPermit account, if they do not already have one.

• Blue Badge Access Permit if you are a Blue Badge holder, or have a child who is a Blue Badge holder or has profound Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and need access to the school during the restricted times.

Examples:

• You are a parent/carer of a child attending the school and either you or your child is a Blue Badge holder.
• Your child attends the school and has profound SEND which affects their mobility or severely impacts their safety on the road.
• You are a staff member at the school and are a Blue Badge holder

Please note:

• Not all Blue Badge holders are eligible for an exemption. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• You will need to get a letter from the school confirming that your child attends the school and that the school supports the application for an Access Permit; or a letter to confirm employment if you are a staff member. If a child with a Blue Badge or profound SEND is being transported to school via a taxi service, the same requirements apply. The Blue Badge Access Permit should be applied for and obtained by the person arranging the taxi service or by the taxi company itself.

10.How do I apply for an Access Permit?

If you are eligible for an Access Permit, you must apply via the council’s online parking system ‘MiPermit’.

For more information on Access Permits is available here.

Access Permits are for individual Healthy School Streets (HSS) zones and you can only apply for your respective HSS zone. Access Permits are only valid for accessing the zone you have applied for and cannot be used to access any other HSS zones in the borough.

11.What if I change my vehicle?

If you change your vehicle, you will need to cancel your permit and apply again for your new vehicle, or you risk receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for entering the HHS zone during the timed access restrictions.

12.What if I have a temporary vehicle for a limited period, for example while mine is at a repair shop?

On the MiPermit system, there is a way to add a temporary vehicle in situations like this to ensure your temporary number plate is on the automated exemption system, in  of your current vehicle. This allows the user to register for a courtesy permit for a replacement vehicle for 2 weeks.

13.How much are the permits for Healthy School Streets?

There is no cost for these permits.

14.How can I get help to apply for an access permit?

Residents who do not have access to an email account and cannot seek help from friends and family can visit their nearest Newham Library and they will be able to help you. You would first need to confirm that you are eligible for a permit in order to apply. Please see the ‘Exemptions and access permits’ section for more information on eligibility.

15.As a Blue Badge holder do I need to apply for an exemption?

Yes, not all Blue Badge holders are eligible for an exemption and applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

You may be eligible for a Blue Badge Access Permit if you are a Blue Badge holder, or have a child who is a Blue Badge holder or has profound Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and you need access to the school during the restricted timings.

Examples:

• You are a parent/carer of a child attending the school and either you or your child is a Blue Badge holder.
• Your child attends the school and has profound SEND which affects their mobility or severely impacts their safety on the road.
• You are a staff member at the school and are a Blue Badge holder

16.My child has Special Educational Needs (SEND), can they obtain a permit?

Yes. You can apply for a Blue Badge Access Permit if your child has SEND. In this case, instead of uploading a copy of a Blue Badge you should upload evidence of your child’s special needs e.g. this could be a doctor’s letter. Also, when obtaining your letter from the school they should outline their support for you to obtain the permit on account of your child’s needs.

17.As a parent/carer, can I apply for an exemption?

There is not a general exemption for parents or carers to access a school within a Healthy School Street and you will not be eligible for an Access Permit, unless you meet the criteria for a Resident, Business or Blue Badge Access Permit.

18.I care for a disabled family member who lives within a Healthy School Streets zone. What can I do?

If you care for a disabled family member who lives within a Healthy School Streets zone, ideally you can work around the Healthy School Streets timings when making your visits, as these are only in place for limited time periods.

There is no restrictions on exiting a Healthy School Streets zone, only upon entering. So, if you were able to enter the zone to make your visit just before the restriction times start, and then drive out during the restriction times, there would be no Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). 

Representations can be made to the council, in times of emergency, if you need to enter during the restricted timings.

If your relative needs 24hr care and you are their only mode of transportation (i.e. they do not have a vehicle registered at their own address), you can apply for a Resident Access Permit on their MiPermit account. You must make the application in the name of the family member who lives within the Healthy School Streets zone (as they are the eligible party), from a MiPermit account registered to them at their address (within the HSS zone), but you can input your vehicle registration number so that your vehicle is exempt.

19.Can a taxi company transporting a child who is a Blue Badge holder or a child with SEND to school obtain an exemption?

Yes, a Blue Badge Access Permit must be applied for to avoid accruing Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs). The Blue Badge Access Permit should be applied for and obtained by the one arranging the taxi service or by the taxi company itself.

20.Will school staff get an exemption?

No, they must be in the enter the Healthy School Streets zone before the timed access restrictions comes into operation, unless they are eligible to apply for a Business or Blue Badge Access permit.  As of 2025, some school staff can obtain Business Access permits.

21.Is this a ban on parents driving to school?

No, it is a ban on driving just on streets around school entrances. Parents who feel they need to drive will have to park legally nearby and walk the last leg of the journey. At many schools, there is already a high proportion of pupils walking and cycling to school and a significant number of vehicles are using the streets as a short cut on their journeys elsewhere, rather than getting to school.

22.Could this create congestion on surrounding streets?

We expect any potential traffic displacement to be evenly dispersed. We conduct traffic surveys to monitor traffic movements in surrounding streets and if any traffic issues occur we will consider what can be done to resolve these.

23.What about Air Quality on surrounding roads?

A large part of the scheme intends to promote and encourage active travel for children and their families, so we do hope to see a significant shift of transportation over time. We are already seeing more children walking, cycling and scooting to school where we have Healthy School Streets.

We usually expect any potential traffic displacement to be evenly dispersed. Similarly, the air quality effects on the surrounding roads are expected to be minimal, in light of the distribution.

The reason air quality outside schools is so important, is that children spend a significant amount of time outside the school gates during pick-up and drop-off times and when playing in the playground, which is often directly located on the roadside.

Research has shown that London’s toxic air leads to thousands of premature deaths every year as well as stunting the development of young lungs and increasing cases of respiratory illness.

Since residents’ key outdoor spaces are their gardens, they are usually significantly distanced from the roadside and with homes in between the road and gardens, the air quality there is expected to be mostly unaffected by the small changes to traffic on the road at the front of the properties during the 1 hour morning and 1 hour afternoon restrictions.

24.How long will the scheme be in place?

New Healthy School Streets schemes implemented under an Experimental Traffic Order can last for up to 18 months before being made permanent. The consultation period will be for the first 6 months from the launch date.

During the experimental period, it will be reviewed and, if deemed successful, can be made permanent by the introduction of a permanent Traffic Management Order.

25.How will you know if the trial period has been successful?

The road should be visibly calmer, safer and cleaner during the operational times. Traffic flow and air quality data will be collected and compared before and after the scheme has been implemented.

26.Who is paying for this?

The scheme is funded by Newham Council from the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) budget as well as some capital budget from the Active and Sustainable Travel fund.

27.What about our visitors?

Other drivers who wish to access the Pedestrian and Cycle only zones must arrive outside the hours of operation, or they can temporarily park outside the zone and then move their vehicle once the restrictions end. Vehicles that are not eligible for a permit include general visitors to residents and businesses, home deliveries and trades people.

28.What is the penalty for driving through the area when the restrictions are in force?

A £160 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) discounted to £80 if paid within 14 days, will be issued to unauthorised vehicles driving through the restriction when it is in force.

29.Why are the signs not folded during school holidays anymore?

At the end of 2023, we stopped closing the signs outside of term time. We had updated this on the Newham’s main Healthy School Street (HSS) webpage at the time.

This approach discourages motorists from using these routes whether it is term time or not, and as many schools have activities taking place during the school holidays this is safer to discourage additional vehicles.

In line with this approach, the latest HSS signs we put up don’t have capability to fold, similar to many other London boroughs.

We also found it was no longer financially sustainable to have someone open and close the signs regularly.

No PCNs are or will be issued when schools are closed on the school holidays as indicated on the council website.

30.Is there a blanket Blue Badge Exemption?

No. This was only implemented for the initial Healthy School Streets (HSS) schemes but this has now been removed. There are no longer blanket Blue Badge exemptions for any HSS schemes.

Blue Badge holders who need to enter a HHS scheme during the timed access restrictions may be eligible for an exemption and applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

You may be eligible for a Blue Badge Access Permit if you are a Blue Badge holder, or have a child who is a Blue Badge holder or has profound Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and you need access to the school during the restricted timings.

Examples:

• You are a parent/carer of a child attending the school and either you or your child is a Blue Badge holder.
• Your child attends the school and has profound SEND which affects their mobility or severely impacts their safety on the road.
• You are a staff member at the school and are a Blue Badge holder