St Peters NS Snugboro

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Board of Management Traffic Management Policy,
St. Peter’s N.S., Snugboro
This policy was drawn up by the Board of Management (B.O.M.) in collaboration with the Department of Education and Skills, Mayo County Council, An Taisce ,the R.S.A., parents, staff and the school’s insurers. In 2016, the Parents’ Association Committee of St. Peter’s N.S. surveyed parents regarding how children travelled to school and also regarding which direction parents travelled from at drop off and pick up times. As a result of the findings of this survey, the Board of Management applied for funding to develop a set-down area at the front of the school and is pleased to announce that the funding for a new set down area was provided in the summer of 2021.
The aim of the Board of Management (B.O.M.) is to provide a safe traffic management system which will be in operation at arrival and dispersal times at the school . The B.O.M. recognises its obligations to provide as reasonably as it can, the safe entry and exit of every pupil, teacher, employee and person who enters and exits the school and its grounds.
The Board of Management believes that each employee and parent has a responsibility for maintaining a safe traffic flow in and around the school environs and to behave in a manner which does not jeopardise his or her safety and that of others.
The safety of our children is of paramount importance and thus the B.O.M. is asking each family to play their part in co-operating with this policy.
This policy should be read in conjunction with other school policies especially our Health and Safety Policy and our Supervision policy.
The school reserves the right to amend this policy from time to time entirely at its discretion.
Traffic Management System:
The Board of Management in consultation with the parties mentioned above is seeking your co-operation with the traffic management plan/system contained herein.
In order to ensure the safe arrival and departure of our pupils to/from our school and to ensure the smooth flow of traffic near the school at arrival and dispersal times we would appreciate if you could adhere to the following:
Bus:
The bus will drop off and collect children at the front gates i.e. Entrance 2 and 3.
Please do not park in the bus zones nor in the disabled parking zone.
Traffic approaching the school from the Derryharriff direction:
Ideally, pupils travelling from the Derryharriff direction would enter the school grounds at Entrance 1,cross the school yard to make their way to the line to their classroom.
Children are encouraged to walk along the footpath from the playschool to Snugboro school. Motorists, after safely dropping children at the playschool/footpath/ Entrance 1 travelling to Castlebar from Derryharriff are asked to travel via the Newport Road.
Pupils are asked not to walk through the staff carpark in the mornings/evenings.
Traffic approaching the school from the Crochaloch/Tullycommons direction:
Ideally, pupils travelling from the Crochaloch direction would enter the school grounds at Entrance 1,cross the school yard to make their way to the line to their classroom.
Motorists, after safely dropping children at the footpath/ Entrance 1 travelling to Castlebar from Crochaloch/Tullycommons are asked to travel via the Newport Road.
Traffic approaching the school from the Newport Rd. direction:
Ideally, pupils travelling from the Newport Road direction would enter the school grounds at Entrance 2 or 3 (whichever entrance is closest to your child’s class line), to make their way to the line to their classroom.
Ideally motorists, would turn their car facing for the Newport Rd. before safely dropping children at the footpath/ Entrance 2/3. (Walk your child to the footpath).
Any motorist who is travelling from the Newport Road direction who chooses to use our set-down area is asked to exit by a left-turn only and to continue their journey in the Rathbawn direction.
Any motorist who is travelling from the Newport Road direction who chooses to drive to Entrance 2/3 is asked to continue their journey in the Rathbawn direction.
Traffic approaching the school from the Rathbawn direction:
Ideally, pupils travelling from the Rathbawn direction would enter the school grounds at Entrance 4 (via a car) or Entrance 5 (walking/via a car) to make their way to the line to their classroom.
Ideally motorists, would enter the set down area at “IN” entrance ,exit at “OUT” by a left turn only and to continue their journey back in the Rathbawn direction.
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A TURN/REVERSE AT THE ENTRANCE/EXIT OF THE SET DOWN AREA NOR IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL GATES..At collection times, we would hope that children would exit the school grounds at the same entrance/exit points as they did at arrival in the morning.
SETDOWN AREA:
Please refer to the attached map, and follow the instructions as outlined below.
The set-down area is made up of two lanes:
 Lane 1. Set-down lane and Lane 2.Arrow lane.
 Motorists will be asked to use a one-way system in the set down area.
 Motorists will enter near the school at “IN” and exit near our next door neighbours' driveway at “OUT” . (See map/signage)
 Motorists wishing to use the set-down lane are asked to keep to the left (Lane 1) when you enter this area. Motorists may use the arrow lane (Lane 2) to overtake if necessary.
 Pupils are to exit their cars in the set-down area only via the passenger doors nearest to the footpath.
 Motorists overtake by following the arrows. No child is to exit a car in the arrow lane.
 Pupils are only allowed to walk on the footpath leading to Entrances 4 and 5 in the set-down area. (Children are NOT to walk on the footpath containing flowers and plants. Children are NOT to walk across the Entry/IN and Exit/OUT points for motorists).
 Children enter the set-down area via a car or via Entrance 5 if on foot.
 If parents are using the set down area, they are asked to stay in their cars, drop/collect pupils and leave immediately whilst exercising extra caution as you exit the area.
 Motorists in both lanes are asked to give way to one another (take turns) when leaving the set-down area.
 When exiting the set-down area motorists are asked to exit by left turn only and to travel in the Rathbawn direction.
 Please be patient with other motorists and respect pedestrians and cyclists.
 Cyclists are asked to enter the school grounds at Entrance 5. (Cyclists are not to cycle on the school grounds. Please walk your bike into the school grounds at Entrance 5.)

We all want our children to arrive and depart safely to/from school.
Co-operation of Parents and Others using the set-down area
Each motorist is responsible for their own safety and that of their passengers.
Responsibilities of Motorists/cyclists/pedestrians:
Everyone arriving at/departing from the school is asked to take reasonable care of themselves and for others.
Evacuation:
The Set-down area will be used for evacuation purposes in the case of an emergency.
Disclaimer:
“This is a private Set-down area. The Board of Management accepts no liability for loss of or damage to car(s) using these premises. Any person using this area does so at his or her own risk”.
Conclusion:
This Traffic Management System Plan/ Policy was originally drawn up in 2021.It will be regularly reviewed in consultation with the relevant partners and at least on an annual basis. The school reserves the right to amend this policy from time to time entirely at its discretion.
Signed: Date: 10/10/2022
Chairperson, Board of Management
Signed: Date: 10/10/2022
Principal & Secretary of the Board of Management