Walk to school? You'd better make local schools a reality first I've spent the last few days encouraging my youngest Matthew to take his first step. He refuses. He will crawl, float, walk with his walker, walk holding on to me - but he will not take that first elusive step. He needs to get a move on as if Professor Ashton, who takes over as president of the Faculty of Public Health, gets his way soon the only way to get to school will be by walking. One of the great things about where I live in London is that you can walk everywhere. This is just as well, as I never learnt to drive. I try to encourage my three and half year old daughter to walk or scoot everywhere also - in fact she has no choice in the matter. When Matthew was born, Annabelle was two and half and I refused to purchase a double buggy. We got by using slings, buggy boards, scooters, and the legs God gave her. Was it difficult at times? Sure, there was crying and tiredness but I am convinced that it has built up her stamina. She now walks or scoots to Montessori which is about 15 minutes away. Luckily her primary school is about the same distance so come September she will walk to school come rain or shine. It must be recognised however that not all children are so lucky. The school drop off is also a symptom of badly planned cities or more likely suburbs and the fact that some children cannot attend their local school. So it is not a realistic option for everyone, but I do think most children from five years-old can either cycle or walk for about 20 minutes. In Holland, unsurprisingly, 49 per cent of children cycle to school, in Germany 14 per cent cycle to school but in Ireland (where I grew up) only two per cent of children cycle to school. So if Professor Ashton and this Government are serious about improving children's health they should concentrate on first making the local school a realistic option for children and parents, improving road and path lay out so it is walking and cycling friendly, and slowing down the cars that drive near schools or busy routes to schools. This should help walking or cycling to school become a realistic options for children and their parents. Laura Perrins is a former barrister and stay at home mother with two small children who campaigns for Mothers at Home Matter. Follow her on Twitter @LPerrins