Schools joining the KM Walk to School campaign could win storytelling sessions by a celebrated children’s author and a crafty CBeebies TV presenter.

Participants in the green travel schemes Active Wow and Green Footsteps, run by the KM Charity Team, will be eligible to join in a walk to school contest in October. They will be in with the chance to receive a story time visit from Nick Butterworth, creator of the popular Percy the Park Keeper and Q Pootle 5 series.

The award-winning author is a champion of the KM Charity Team’s literacy work including Buster’s Book Club and the Kent Literacy Awards and he will bring his storytelling magic to a top achieving school in the autumn.

Schools will also be encouraged to have as many pupils as possible walking to school for a competition staged in February, where the top prize is a visit from none other than Mister Maker himself, Phil Gallagher. Pupils will no doubt be keen to walk to school on the contest date for the opportunity to meet the CBeebies star in person and hear him tell a story.

The Active Wow scheme requires pupils to walk, cycle, or scooter to school at least once a week and preferably on a Wednesday. Pupils living long distances from their school can still join in by using the option to park and stride. Each week, participating schools honour their best class with a Class of the Week trophy, and regular inter-school challenges offer major prizes for having bumper green travel numbers on the set competition dates.

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be in a position to offer such exciting rewards to schools. There will be even more competitions taking place throughout the next academic year - coinciding nicely with the KM Year of Walking 2018 campaign - with prizes to motivate and reward pupils, so watch this space!”

Schools can join using their Primary School Sport Premium grant and bookings received before the summer holidays will receive a 20% price discount plus entry into a prize draw to win Eurostar vouchers.

Contact Sarah Clyne at sclyne@thekmgroup.co.uk or on 0844 264 0291. Visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or click HERE.

Organisations supporting the KM Walk to School campaign include Kent County Council, Medway Council, Bel UK, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Golding Homes, Orbit, Countrystyle Recycling, Specsavers, Eurostar, Whitefriars, Jelf, Gallaghers Aggregates, and Volker Highways.

Find out about the KM Charity Team’s literacy scheme for schools at www.bustersbookclub.co.uk