SCHOOLS are set to benefit from a funding boost as a council looks to increase cycle training.

Slough Borough Council has expanded its Bikeability cycle training programme in schools after being granted £128,000 from the Department for Transport (DfT).

The funding, which runs until March 2020, will enable the council to provide additional Bikeability programmes alongside its current road cycling skills schemes.

Councillor Fiza Matloob, commissioner for highways and transport, said: “Cycling is an important skill to have because it unlocks huge benefits. Not only is it good for our health and wellbeing, but it’s good for our environment and it’s good for reducing congestion on our roads.

“Our expanded cycling training programme, made possible by the DfT funding we have secured, is great news for residents and the town.”

The new programmes will include Bikeability Balance, a series of school-based balance sessions for Reception and Year 1 pupils, Bikeability Fix for basic maintenance classes, and Bikeability Parents to teach road cycling skills to parents and teachers.

Bikeability Learn to Ride for those unable to cycle, Bikeability Ride for a series of led rides along low traffic routes and Bikeability Transition for intermediate road cycle skills training for pupils moving from primary to secondary school are also programmes listed under the expansion of the scheme.

The DfT allocated a £50m pot to the Bikeability programme from 2016 through to 2020, awarding grants to local authorities to enable them to plan their investment in cycle training.

Bikeability courses are usually run for Year 5 and 6 pupils over two different levels.

Level 1 involves playground skills, which the rider will have to be proficient in before they are allowed to take part in Level 2 which focuses on road riding.

Slough Borough Council's Bikeability programme is provided by Spokes Cycling Instructors and Cycle Experience Ltd.

For more information visit www.slough.gov.uk/parking-travel-and-roads/bikeability-cycle-training.aspx and for more information about the different schemes, visit www.tabs-uk.org.uk/bikeability-update