Education chiefs reveal 43 school buses in Northamptonshire where they cannot meet social distancing targets

Education chiefs are warning nearly a third of Northamptonshire's school transport network cannot meet targets on maintaining social distancing .

Parents were promised each year group bubble would be separated by two metres and where this is not possible an absolute minimum will be one metre as all students return to school for the first time since March.

But a statement on the northamptonshire.gov.uk website yesterday confirmed 43 routes to six different schools are too crowded to keep even one metre between year groups.

Schools affected are Moulton School and Science College, Wollaston School, Sponne School in Towcester, Corby Business Academy, Guilsborough Academy and Prince William School in Oundle.

Parents are being asked to make sure students have face coverings — or consider driving them to school.

The Education Authority statement says: "The current Covid-19 situation has had a significant impact on the way we deliver our transport to schools particularly with regard to social distancing measures.

"The principles we were attempting to adopt were those of best practice, However, Government advice does allow for home to school transport to be provided without social distancing if necessary.

"So far we have achieved the level of social distancing we set out to reach on over 100 services and are using our best endeavours to secure the additional vehicles needed in time for when all students return to school.

"There is sufficient capacity for all students to be transported to school. But there may be some routes that will not include the level of social distancing we were planning for.

"We are continuing to work with operators and schools to reduce the number of routes that we are unable to provide social distancing on.

"We would ask parents of students who are using the routes above to wherever possible ensure that their children have suitable face masks for their journeys to and from school.

"Should parents prefer to transport their children to school themselves whilst we are trying to secure these additional contracts, the council does offer a scheme where parents can claim a mileage rate of 45p per mile, paid half-termly in arrears on receipt of a validated claim form.

"Parents who wish to take up this options will need to contact the council and will be asked to return their children’s bus pass."

Education chiefs were told back in July by Government to put in place plans and provide extra capacity to ensure children could travel to school safely.

The problem comes at a time when Covid-19 cases are rising rapidly among the youngest age group in the county.

Schools have been putting in place numerous safety measures to ensure children are kept safe, with mixing between different year group bubbles avoided.

This newspaper first reports issues with transport to Corby Business Academy yesterday.

County councillor Jason Smithers, who is cabinet member with responsibility for school transport, admitted the situation was "not ideal" but ‘he was confident "a robust solution will be found in the coming days."