FAQs

A School Street is a timed street closure that restricts access for motor vehicles at school drop-off and pick-up times but allows people walking and cycling to pass through. School Streets make the roads around schools safer for children and parents, reduce air pollution around the school gate, and encourage walking and cycling. They can be operated manually with gates and marshals or are enforced by ANPR Cameras. Where applicable, planters are used to aid the calming of traffic and further improve safety. Other wider mitigations may also be incorporated to aid the effectiveness of a School Street.

All of Enfields' current operating School Streets are enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras

School Streets are part of Enfield Council’s effort to address the climate emergency, reduce traffic congestion, and promote healthier, more sustainable transport options. These initiatives are in line with local, regional, and national policies that support a green recovery and aim to reduce carbon emissions. 

School Streets encourage the uptake of active modes of travel such as walking, wheeling and cycling by creating safer and cleaner environments around schools whilst reducing the number of vehicles in School Street zones. This can lead to a mode shift to scooting, walking, using public transport or cycling; enabling a few more minutes of quality time on the journey to school, leading to healthier communities. 

School Streets help achieve the following key objectives:

• Reduce the risks of road danger associated with vehicle traffic
• Reduce congestion and pollution around the school entrance
• Reduce miles travelled to school by car
• Increase the number of pupils and staff actively travelling to school, thereby achieving positive health outcomes for the school community.

Schools interested in introducing a School Street can request one by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the form available here.

Before a School Street application can be considered, schools must be actively engaged with the TfL Travel for Life programme (formerly known as STARS). This programme helps schools promote safer, more sustainable travel options for students and staff, and ensures that the school community is committed to making positive changes in how they travel.

For more information about the Travel for Life programme or assistance with joining, please contact journeysandplaces@enfield.gov.uk. 

We are working to introduce School Streets across the borough to make it safer for young people to get to and from school. There are School Streets in operation at the following schools. A map with existing and proposed locations can be found in the documents folder here. 

School Streets Operate Monday to Friday during term times unless otherwise stated

School Streets for Eversley Primary School and Merryhills Primary School are currently in development as part of the FY 24/25 School Streets Delivery Programme. Further information can be found at https://letstalk.enfield.gov.uk/SchoolStreets.

A School Street for St Michael at Bowes Church of England Junior School and Tottenhall Infant School is currently in development as part of the Bowes East Quieter Neighbourhood project. Further information can be found at Bowes East Quieter Neighbourhood | Let's Talk Enfield.

A School Street for Brettenham Primary School and Fleecefield Primary School is currently in development as part of the Edmonton Green Quieter Neighbourhood project. Further information can be found at Edmonton Green Quieter Neighbourhood | Let's Talk Enfield.

All of Enfields' current operating School Streets are enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras.

Residents and businesses within the closure areas, Blue Badge holders requiring access to the school and emergency vehicles will be exempt from the road closures. We will continue to work with the schools to ensure that anyone with specific needs is not adversely affected. 

A School Street has a legal order associated with it to not enter the School Street area during the closure time in a motor vehicle, unless exempt. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras are in operation to support the scheme. If you enter the closure zone during the hours of operation without an exemption you will be issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

People eligible for an exemption to the School Street:

• Residents who live within and businesses who operate within the School Street zone.  To apply for an exemption, visit https://www.enfield.gov.uk/services/parking/parking-permits-rb (if you have not applied for a permit previously then you will need to set up an account to be able to apply).
• Parents and carers of pupils of the school who are Blue Badge holders. Please contact the school's exemptions administrator via the school office.
• Emergency services (automatically exempt).  

No. Only exempted vehicles are allowed to leave or enter the street during the restrictions. Parents are strongly encouraged not to park within the School Street.

A Memorandum of Understanding is in place for each and outlines the agreement between the Council and the school, detailing both party’s ongoing roles and responsibilities. This will ensure the success of the scheme beyond the initial implementation.

A copy of a typical Memorandum of Understanding can be found in the Documents section on the right hand side of this project page here.

Signage will be open during school term time. These display the times of the day when the closure is in operation. Prior to a School Street being launched, we wrote to residents in the area to inform them of the scheme's operation and where possible to avoid travelling in the areas of the closure during the operating times.

We recommend notifying visitors of the closure ahead of visits if you anticipate they will be travelling during closure times. Below is an image of signage at a School Street when open.

We will undertake a series of monitoring activities to understand the impact of the School Street. Data will be collected before and after the delivery of the School Street to assess whether there has been an improvement outside the school. Parents, residents, and staff will be invited to fill out a perception survey and pupils will participate in hands-up surveys before and after the School Street is implemented. This data will enable us to understand how the scheme has affected pupils’ experience of drop-off and pick-up and the healthiness of the street outside school.

Yes, if you require a document relating to a School Street translated into an alternative language, please send a request to JourneysandPlaces@enfield.gov.uk including the name of the document, the name of the school and language you require.

• If you are a resident, you can apply for permits via the council website:  https://www.enfield.gov.uk/services/parking/parking-permits-rb. If you require support, you should contact the Parking Services team.
• A Blue Badge holder residing within a school street zone who does not drive can nominate one vehicle for an exemption. Please apply for the permit as above with a copy of your Blue Badge and proof of address.
• If you are a parent or guardian requiring special access to a school to pick up or drop off a pupil you should contact the school directly and ask to be put in contact with the School Street Administrator.