Please download from here our new User Guide for Student Travel
The following is the guidance set out by the DfE for home to school transport from the autumn term. We will be following these guidlines for the return of schools in September
The full guidance can be found on the following link
Social distancing has significantly reduced available transport capacity. This guidance sets out a new framework for supporting transport to and from schools from the autumn term.
We are making a distinction between dedicated school transport and wider public transport:
by dedicated school transport, we mean services that are used only to carry pupils to school. This includes statutory home to school transport, but may also include some existing or new commercial travel routes, where they carry school pupils only
by public transport services, we mean routes which are also used by the general public
Pupils on dedicated school services do not mix with the general public on those journeys and tend to be consistent. This means that the advice for passengers on public transport to adopt a social distance of two metres from people outside their household or support bubble, or a one metre plus approach where this is not possible, will not apply from the autumn term on dedicated transport.
The approach to dedicated transport should align as far as possible with the principles underpinning the system of controls set out in this document and with the approach being adopted for your school. It is important to consider:
how pupils are grouped together on transport, where possible this should reflect the bubbles that are adopted within school
use of hand sanitiser upon boarding and/or disembarking
additional cleaning of vehicles
organised queuing and boarding where possible
distancing within vehicles wherever possible
the use of face coverings for children over the age of 11, where appropriate, for example, if they are likely to come into very close contact with people outside of their group or who they do not normally meet
Dedicated school services can take different forms. Some journeys involve coaches regularly picking up the same pupils each day, others involve use of a minibus whilst other services are used by different pupils on different days, or by pupils with SEND. The precise approach taken will need to reflect the range of measures that are reasonable in the different circumstances.
It will also require a partnership approach between local authorities, schools, trusts, dioceses and others. In particular, it is imperative that schools work closely with local authorities that have statutory responsibility for home to school transport for many children, as well as a vital role in working with local transport providers to ensure sufficient bus service provision. DfE will shortly publish new guidance to local authorities on providing dedicated school transport, based on the framework outlined here.
Given the pressures on public transport services it may also be necessary to work with local authorities so that they can identify where it might be necessary to provide additional dedicated school transport services, including in places where these services do not currently operate. The government is currently evaluating this position and will set out next steps shortly.
Cozy Travel Ltd
6 Gateshead Close
Sunderland Road
Sandy
BEDS
SG19 1RS