Emergency minibuses to help pupils
The council will provide an emergency minibus service for pupils who have been unable to get home on their usual school transport due to social distancing measures.
The minibuses will operate for the first two weeks of term as people adjust to getting back into the school routine.
Some buses on school routes home are instigating social distancing measures which could lead to reduced capacity.
There will be four minibuses and drivers on standby each afternoon until 18 September as a response to children going back to school after the coronavirus pandemic.
Parents and pupils are being asked to plan ahead and download the relevant bus company’s app before practising using it with their children for the most up to date information for journeys to and from school.
Pupils are also encouraged to walk when they can and to communicate at all times with parents or carers.
However, children who have been unable to get on to their bus homeward bound are being advised to return to their school if they have been unable to get on board another after 30-45 minutes. The school will be able to arrange the emergency minibus to collect them from the school.
The stranded pupil will only be collected from the school. They will not be collected from any bus stop and will not be taken directly home but to their usual bus stop.
The minibuses will be able to use the borough’s bus lanes.
Cllr. Rob Anderson, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “The council has been in contact with bus operators as the time has come for children to go back to school.
“There are so many variables but we are trying to remain as flexible as possible so that we can respond as needed so parents and children know that they will get home from school.”
As part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic hand sanitisers have also been installed at 50 bus stops in the borough and at Slough bus station.
More information is being regularly updated on our webpage dedicated to school travel in the wake of the coronavirus public health emergency - http://www.slough.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/coronavirus-travel-guidance-for-schools.aspx.
The minibuses will operate for the first two weeks of term as people adjust to getting back into the school routine.
Some buses on school routes home are instigating social distancing measures which could lead to reduced capacity.
There will be four minibuses and drivers on standby each afternoon until 18 September as a response to children going back to school after the coronavirus pandemic.
Parents and pupils are being asked to plan ahead and download the relevant bus company’s app before practising using it with their children for the most up to date information for journeys to and from school.
Pupils are also encouraged to walk when they can and to communicate at all times with parents or carers.
However, children who have been unable to get on to their bus homeward bound are being advised to return to their school if they have been unable to get on board another after 30-45 minutes. The school will be able to arrange the emergency minibus to collect them from the school.
The stranded pupil will only be collected from the school. They will not be collected from any bus stop and will not be taken directly home but to their usual bus stop.
The minibuses will be able to use the borough’s bus lanes.
Cllr. Rob Anderson, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “The council has been in contact with bus operators as the time has come for children to go back to school.
“There are so many variables but we are trying to remain as flexible as possible so that we can respond as needed so parents and children know that they will get home from school.”
As part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic hand sanitisers have also been installed at 50 bus stops in the borough and at Slough bus station.
More information is being regularly updated on our webpage dedicated to school travel in the wake of the coronavirus public health emergency - http://www.slough.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/coronavirus-travel-guidance-for-schools.aspx.
