Travelling to school – changes due to Covid-19

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June 3rd 2020

To make sure children are as safe as possible, your child will ideally need to make some changes to the way they travel to school and return home. They must try to social distance during their journey as far as possible. Where possible children should walk, bike or be driven to school by their parents. We would encourage families not to use buses. If you need to use buses, there is government guidance available and some advice below. 

Arrival

Once children have arrived at school, they will enter the building using the front or rear entrances depending on their mode of travel. There will be markings on the floor to help children social distance. Our team will be there to guide them. Children will use hand sanitiser while entering the school, and go straight to their year group areas, following the one-way system.    

Walking and cycling

Children should ideally walk or cycle alone, or with a member of their household. 

Students need to arrive at the time provided on their timetable and leave school immediately, once they’re dismissed. This is because we’re staggering students’ arrival and departure to make sure they can social distance. 

Students should not gather together outside school. 

There is government guidance available about how to walk/cycle to school safely.

Travelling by car

It is recommended that children should only travel with members of their household.  

If children do have to travel with people outside their household or support bubble you should ensure that the following government advice is followed.

  • Parents will need to park in the central and rear parking bays at the front entrance (the traditional one) of the school only.

  • Parents should remain in their cars and leave the site as soon as possible, to reduce congestion.  

Buses

Where possible children should walk, cycle or be driven to school by their parents as this is safer than using buses. If you need to use public buses, there is government guidance available.

In this guidance, 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.

  • by wider public transport services, we mean routes which are also used by the general public.

Using public buses and dedicated school buses key points:

If buses have to be used please observe the following:

  • Students will maintain social distancing as far as possible.

  • Please try to provide your child with their own hand sanitiser if at all possible.

  • Students will have access to hand sanitiser when they arrive in school.

  • All buses will arrive at the rear road entrance (the new one).

Some rules are different for dedicated and wider public buses.  Please check these carefully depending on the bus your child will use and explain these to your child.

Dedicated School Buses:

  • Students on dedicated school buses are not required to wear a face covering.

  • Students will disembark buses one at a time upon arrival. This will be coordinated by duty staff.

  • Arrival and disembarkation will be staggered as far as possible.

  • Social distancing measures will be put in place so that students are as far apart as possible.

  • Students must also queue only with members of their year group wherever possible.

  • We recommend that students only stand or sit with members of their year group wherever possible. Parents are asked to support with reminding their children of these guidelines.

Wider Public Buses:

  • Students on wider public buses ARE required to wear a face covering.

  • Face coverings will be available for those children whose parents require financial support.

  • A face covering is a covering of any type which covers your nose and mouth. How to wear and make a face covering.  Children should also take care to use face coverings properly.

Students will need to disembark as soon as the bus arrives and, after sanitising hands, make their way to their designated meeting area.