Brandlehow School’s youngest pupils had their first cycling lesson on Friday as part of a scheme to get all pupils riding bikes by the age of six.

Half a dozen brand new bicycles and helmets have been bought for reception and year one pupils at the Putney school for the first time.

They are starting with no stabilisers as teachers believe these stop children learning how to balance.

Teacher Peter Weal said: “These lessons are important because we do take children from less fortunate backgrounds who don’t have bikes. We are giving them an opportunity to learn to ride at an early age.

“The Government wants us to get out of our cars and cycle, and we have this ethos of cycling at our school.”

Mr Weal hopes the new scheme will teach pupils to keep healthy and more conscious of the environment, as well as improve their general well-being.

He says good balance can improve academic performance because balancing requires the brain to work and help it develop.

The Ridgeback MX14 mountain bikes were bought using part of a £2,000 grant for playground renovation from School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT).

Mr Weal added: “They were very excited when they saw the helmets- and even more when we told them there were bikes too.”