Covid-19 guidance for operators of school and college transport September 2021
This guidance follows current government guidance, which has been developed in line with advice from Public Health England (PHE), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for Education (DfE). Implementing the measures in this guidance will reduce the risk to all staff and passengers.
Social distancing is no longer required and so school and college transport will be loaded up to the maximum capacity of the vehicle. In addition, students from different schools will sometimes be on the same vehicle.
There is no longer any need for students to sit in year group or class bubbles, but we have recommended to students that they sit in a consistent seat with the same group of people where possible, particularly if transport is shared with students from other schools.
Face coverings are no longer an absolute requirement but we are stating that we expect all students aged 11 or over to wear one when travelling on our services (unless they have a valid exemption) and for younger children to do so if they can.
Please be mindful that it is likely that many students will not wear one and there is very little we can do about this, because it is no longer a legal requirement on any transport services, but for adults who have been double-vaccinated it’s important to remember that the risk of a) catching Covid and b) getting very ill from Covid is extremely low and so transport staff should be advised of this. In addition, drivers in particular have very little face to face contact with students for a prolonged period of time.
Bus passes: Where bus passes are used (i.e. on all large vehicles) drivers should ensure students validate their pass on the ticket machine on each journey so that we know who has travelled and can trace individuals easily if necessary.
The following is a system of control measures that can help to minimise the spread of Coronavirus. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is mandatory to implement measures that are reasonably practicable and effective at reducing the risk. This means we must consider the extent to which measures are reasonably practicable and, where they are, to take these measures.
Minimising contact with individuals who are unwell: Parents have been advised that their child should not travel if they, or a member of their household, has symptoms of Coronavirus.
If a child is sent home from school with symptoms, they will be told to self-isolate for 10 days and to get a test. They can then return to the transport service when the 10 days is over or they have a test and the result is negative.
Likewise a driver or passenger assistant should not work if they have symptoms. If they develop symptoms whilst at work, they must go home and get a test and self-isolate for 10 days or until they get a negative test result.
You should not routinely ask to take a child’s temperature before allowing them to board the vehicle.
Clean hands thoroughly more often than usual: Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an easy virus to kill when it is on skin. This can be done with soap and running water or hand sanitiser – washing hands for at least 20 seconds is advised.
We have asked students to carry hand sanitiser with them and to use it before boarding the vehicle. If you can also have hand sanitiser available on the vehicle, this would be very helpful.
Drivers and passenger assistants should use alcohol hand rub or sanitiser at intervals throughout the journey and should always do so after performing tasks such as helping a child into the vehicle or handling a child’s belongings.
Ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach: This approach is very important and will be reinforced with students at school. If you can make a covered waste bin or plastic bag available on board your vehicle then that would be very helpful.
Ventilation: It is very important to maximise the ventilation of fresh air (from outside the vehicle) on transport, particularly through opening windows and ceiling vents, where possible.
Cleaning:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is easy to kill on surfaces. Normal cleaning products will do this - specialist cleaning products are not needed. Cleaning of high-touch areas like grab rails and door handles should be undertaken after every trip where possible, and an enhanced clean should be carried out at the end of each day.
Face coverings for transport staff: It is not mandatory for transport staff to wear face coverings, however we strongly request that
- drivers wear either a face covering or visor where they do not have a screen around them, or where they are providing assistance to passengers and
- passenger assistants wear a face covering or visor as they are assisting some of our most vulnerable children.
Young people up to the age of 16 have not been able to get vaccinated and so this is to protect them.
Response to any infection
All staff and families are expected to engage with the NHS Test and Trace process.
If anyone starts to display any symptom of Coronavirus then they should book a test https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test and follow government guidance on self-isolation (currently 10 days unless symptoms persist) until the result is back. Staff should also inform you as their employer and you should inform us.
If the result is positive, then we need to be informed immediately and they need to continue their self-isolation period.
If the result is negative, they can return to work.
Close contacts and self-isolation: If a member of staff is identified as a close contact (which includes of a child on their vehicle) then there is no need for them to self-isolate as long as they have received both does of the vaccine and the last dose was at least 14 days ago. However they are advised to get a PCR test to test their own status and to test themselves daily for 10 days using a home lateral flow test.
These new self-isolation rules also apply to young people under the age of 18 years and 6 months.
Drivers, passenger assistants and families should be willing to provide details of anyone they have been in close contact with if they test positive for Coronavirus or if they are asked to by Test and Trace.
If we become aware of a positive test for Coronavirus involving a child on your transport, then we will contact you immediately and advise what you and your staff should do.
