With the pending reopening of schools, parents who previously applied to the council for school transport for their children should receive an email by Friday the 26th June, although parents are being advised to encourage their children to walk to school, if safe and feasible, or provide transport themselves if possible.
Only pupils who have been through the correct application process, and who are considered eligible, will be able to receive school transport, and numbers will be limited due to the necessity of maintaining the required social distancing.
Availability will also only be on days that schools have informed the council that pupils will be attending. Vehicles will run at the typical time and from the usual stops for morning journeys in most cases, though parents might be advised differently.
Parents are advised to remind their children to maintain social distancing measures of 2 metres apart when waiting at bus stops, as well as to remind their children to always wash their hands before and after being on school transport. For boarding purposes, children will enter one at a time, maintaining distance from other passengers, using seating from the back of the bus first. When disembarking, the same distancing rules apply, with children exiting the bus one at a time from the front working back.
Any children who have been exhibiting signs of COVID-19, if they’ve been feeling unwell, if they’re part of a household with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive in the last 14 days should not travel.
Pupils with school bus passes cannot use school transport if an application has not been submitted.
Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “We really appreciate parents’ co-operation on school transport during this unprecedented time.
“Due to the social distancing regulations, our buses are running with a much-reduced capacity, which is proving to be very difficult.
“We are urging children to walk, cycle or scoot to school where they can do so safely, or if they cannot, for parents to arrange transport.
“We will endeavour to keep parents up-to-date with the arrangements for September, once we receive further guidance from Welsh Government.”
School bus timetables are available to check on the council website.
