Parental Information & FAQs
Be Prepared
We hope your child is excited about their upcoming Bikeability cycle training with us.
We kindly ask parents and guardians to check their child’s cycle, helmet and clothing well in advance of your child’s course to ensure they can participate fully. You may need to visit a bike shop before the course if repairs are needed.
We recommend you ensure your child’s bike is in good working order. As a minimum, please check the following:
Air: Are the tyres pumped up to the required tyre pressure stamped on the side of the tyre?
Brakes: Does the bike have working brakes capable of stopping both wheels? Please note cycles with one brake are only road legal if they control both wheels at once.
Chain: Has the chain been cleaned and oiled?
Gears (if present): Can you run through the gears on the bike smoothly?
Nuts and Bolts: Are the handlebars, saddle and wheels tightly secured?
Please check that your child’s helmet fits correctly by following the three steps below:
A helmet should sit comfortably on the top of their head with the peak sitting about two fingers width from their eyebrows.
The side adjusters should sit just below their ears and should form a ‘V’ shape on the side of their head.
The chin strap should allow for two fingers to fit between it and the chin. You should not be able to slide it over their chin when fastened.
Please make sure your child has suitable secure shoes.
On cold or wet days, please ensure your child has a coat, gloves and a couple of extra layers of clothing to wear.
On warm, sunny days, please make sure your child has access to suncream and plenty of water to drink during the sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign my child up for Bikeability?
Schools will let parents know when training is taking place, what year groups will be participating, and will give out consent forms. Parents need to fill this in and return it to the school within the timeframe given. Please check with your child’s school if you are not sure what you need to do.
What does the course cover?
We offer several different types of training and each level is different; we recommend looking at the Bikeability Trust’s Levels Explained page for an in-depth breakdown.
Do I need to supply a helmet and cycle?
Helmets are mandatory for all levels of training. We do not provide cycles or helmets (except for Balance training) so parents will need to supply these. Some counties choose to provide cycles for students, please contact your child’s school to check if this is the case for you.
Will my child go on the road?
Only Level 2 and Level 3 training have sessions on the road, all other levels are playground-based. All training locations will be risk assessed by our National Standard Instructors and will be tailored to the students taking part.
My child has additional needs, can they join in?
Of course! Our instructors are all trained to support children with SEND or medical needs, and we will always be ready to make any reasonable adjustments to ensure your child can participate. Adapted cycles are always welcome during playground-based training, our instructors will be able to advise if they are road legal.
Do I need to pay for the training?
A lot of training is fully funded by local authorities and therefore free to parents. Please contact your child’s school to ask about details as this varies between counties, and some types of training are chargeable.
How long is the course?
The length and structure of the course varies depending on the level of training and number of participants. Please get in touch with your child’s school to discuss this further.
My child missed a day of training, will they be able to join the rest of the course?
This depends on the structure of the course and how much content they have missed. It is sometimes possible to catch children up when they have missed sessions. Please speak to the instructors (or ask your child’s teacher to do so) to discuss this.
Why has my child not progressed to on-road training on their Level 1 & 2 course?
We aim for all children to progress to Level 2, held on local residential roads around school, but for safety reasons this progression is dependent on being able to demonstrate all the Level 1 skills. Please note the final decision is up to instructor discretion and will be made with safety as the top priority. Instructors will discuss with children why they have not progressed and let them know what they can practice for the future.
What will my child receive at the end of the course?
All participants will receive a badge and a certificate at the end of training. If they have achieved all outcomes this will be noted on their certificate, and if not there will be notes on what they need to practice. These are left with the school at the conclusion of the training, and will be handed out at a time of their choosing.
Family Cycling
Riding as a family is a fantastic way to explore your surroundings, get some fresh air and exercise as well as spending quality time together.
For more information about what your child has been taught and advice on how you can ride together as a group, please click on the video link:
Please visit our Bikeability Family training web page if you would like some support cycling as a group.
Feedback
We value all feedback (positive and constructive) as this allows us to continuously improve our training.
To provide feedback, please follow the link below: