More school buses for Torbay

Social distancing will not apply

Social distancing rules will not apply on dedicated school buses for pupils in Torbay.

The same rules will apply as in the rest of Devon, with the public barred from specific services.

Torbay Council says the Government public transport rules will not apply on dedicated school or college transport, but children may be seated in year groups to reflect the ‘bubbles’ in schools.

Social distancing will be in force if pupils use normal scheduled bus and train services, along with all the guidance for public transport including wearing face coverings from the age of 11.

A senior councillor urged parents to give their children as much information as possible about the return to school to help them prepare for the start of term in September.

The council has been working with Stagecoach to set up a series of dedicated school buses with a £100,000 Government grant.

Extra buses will be running across services 12, 22 and 23, at set times:

• Route 12 to Brixham – additional services leaving Torquay Harbour at 07:55 and 08:05;
• Route 22 to Paignton Community College, Roselands and South Devon College – additional services leaving Torquay Harbour at 07:48 and 08:15;
• Route 23 to South Devon College – additional services leaving Paignton Bus Station at 08:01 and 08:25.

The council says on its website: “Where your child uses dedicated school or college transport (that is transport that does not cater for the general public), the guidance for public transport will not apply. 

“Your child may be asked to use a regular seating plan on this transport (to reflect where possible the bubbles that are used within school), and measures will be put in place to ensure vehicles are cleaned regularly and boarding is managed.”

The local authority has been working with education providers to develop individual plans with measures to minimise risk of infection including: 

• staggered start, break and finish times;
• increased hygiene, handwashing and cleaning;
• children remaining in consistent groups;
• limiting the amount of shared resources, spaces and practical activities.

The council said in a statement: “As we approach the final weeks of the summer holidays, it’s time to start thinking about getting your child ready for their return to school. “Returning to school after lockdown is no easy task, we’ve been working closely with all of our local schools and colleges as they prepare to safely welcome back all pupils this September. 

"The return to school this year will be a little different to normal, we have been working with all education providers to help them implement the latest Department for Education guidance, create robust risk assessments and take careful mitigating steps to contain the virus.”