South Normanton Nursery School arrived at the Modeshift STARS National Travel Awards as the Midlands Regional Early Years Establishment of the Year. They left the ceremony as the Modeshift STARS Early Years Establishment of the Year 2025/26. This national award recognises their outstanding commitment to active and sustainable travel.
Modeshift STARS Early Years Establishment of the Year
The nursery holds a Good Travel Plan with Park and Stride participation increasing steadily over time. The school leads by example in environmental education and pupil wellbeing by embedding sustainability across learning. It also takes part in initiatives such as National Clean Air Day.
Strong family involvement supports this success. The wider community also plays an active role. Together, they continue to improve safe and healthy travel habits for young children.
The Experience
By bringing together parents, staff, and children, the nursery has turned daily travel into an opportunity for physical development. Students build confidence in the large outdoor area through year-round access to bikes and ‘Scooter Smart’ training. Regular balance bike sessions where parents are also included in the teaching help build an ethos of active travel.
Curriculum themes like ‘SMILERS Travel Smart’ also link emotional wellbeing directly to active journeys. Every child at nursery receives a Monkey when they start and Monkey is also a part of Team Modeshift as their Active Travel Mascot.
Modeshift Monkey even travelled to London with the Headteacher, Mr Hallsworth and they presented all about some of the work they have been doing including learning Makaton sign based communication assisting making their Active Travel work accessible.
Mr Hallsworth said:
‘We are really proud that we won a national award. It’s a credit to parents, children and all the work they put in. The nursery runs a number of schemes and is actively working towards reduced car trips by encouraging walking, cycling and using scooters.’
Conclusion and endorsement
Modeshift Monkey met Mr Prickles from Stannington First School. These mascot connections highlight the creativity behind the programme. They also support the new PR28 Active Travel Mascot initiative, which rewards schools that develop their own mascots!
