A group of Maitland Public School students enjoyed a chat on their way to class on Friday which helped them start the day ready to learn.

“It was good talking to my friends,” eight-year-old Millie Fullerton said.

“We walked from Lorn Foodworks to school.”

Maitland Public School assistant principal (stage three) Alison Coombs strolled with the students.

“There is the [physical] health advantage but there’s a lot of research that says the best conversations are had when you walk side-by-side,” she said.

“It’s also a great chance for me to get to know more of the students.

“We’ll do this every Friday for the rest of the year, at least, that’s the plan.”

Transport for NSW and police promote Walk Safely to School Day to teach ­children road safety.

“While police and road, transport and safety authorities work tirelessly to make our roads safer for motorists and pedestrians, education is still the most important tool in road safety,” Traffic and Highway Patrol commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said.

“By teaching children about pedestrian safety and leading by example, the whole community can assist in reducing the risk of harm to children on our roads.”

In 2014, police recorded 14,000 school zones infringements statewide with more than 11,500 of those being for speed-­related offences.