Council lends support for school bus routes
Following guidance issued by Government on home to school transport Telford & Wrekin Council is working with schools across the borough to put in place measures that will support a safe return to education for the start of the autumn term.
This will include queuing arrangements, measures for picking up and dropping off children at school as well as responsible disposal of litter.
The Council is asking parents of children who use public transport to travel to school to answer a few questions about their journey including travel time and bus route, using this link, before 7 August 2020. This will help the Council to work with bus companies to ensure there is sufficient capacity.
All Council provided home to school transport routes will be operating the same routes and times as they did before the coronavirus pandemic. However, in accordance with government guidance, the Council is asking that any pupil using school transport follows these five steps to safe travel:
• Keep a safe social distance while waiting for transport;
• Pupils over the age of 11 should wear a face covering (this is already mandatory on public transport and is recommended on school transport) Children with Special Educational Needs and or Disabilities will not be required to wear a face covering, however it is recommended where possible;
• Sanitise hands before getting on and off the vehicle;
• Dispose of litter responsibly;
• If possible use the same seat for each journey.
Since April 2020, all transport operators have carried out additional cleaning of vehicles to protect against Covid-19. This will continue and the Council will be asking transport operators to keep windows open, where possible, to increase ventilation. Drivers will also wear face coverings.
Councillor Shirley Reynolds Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education & Lifelong Learning said: “We need to help bus operators make all the necessary arrangements for the start of the new term so that children can travel to school as safely as possible.
“To do this we need to understand which children use public transport buses in case any routes need extra vehicles to transport the children and that is why we are asking parents to complete the quick questionnaire so we can work with schools and bus companies over the summer to ensure the service is ready for when schools restart in September.
“Some children have already missed out on so much over the last 4 months with their education and we want to make sure they have the best start to their new academic year.”
Information will also be published on the home to school website during the school holidays to encourage people to travel as safely as possible.
