Rethinking the school run in South Tyneside - children, parents and transport chiefs prepare for school reopenings

Parents have been urged to ‘think carefully’ about the school run when classrooms reopen in September.
File picture from PA as children prepare to return to schoolFile picture from PA as children prepare to return to school
File picture from PA as children prepare to return to school

For many youngsters it will mark the first time they have seen the inside of a classroom since March, when lessons were suspended in an attempt to halt the spread of COVID-19.

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But with capacity limited on usual transport options such as buses and Metros due to social distancing guidelines, families are being asked to consider alternative plans.

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Moira Smith, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Families at South Tyneside Council, said: “We want people to think carefully about how they travel to school.

“The number of people who can get on public transport is limited and if too many people choose to drive this could lead to safety concerns around our schools.

“Whenever it is safe and possible to do so we would encourage families and students to walk or cycle to school.

“As well as being a simple way of building exercise into the day it is also far better for the environment.”

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Among the concerns of highways and education chiefs is that too many parents will attempt to drive their children, causing congestion around schools and prompting knock-on delays elsewhere on the road network.

Those travelling during the week for other reasons, such as work or leisure, have been urged to adjust their journey times to avoid peak school run traffic.

In the run up to this, Tyne and Wear transport operator Nexus has advised anyone using cash to pay for buses to carry the exact change needed, if possible.

Martin Kearney, chief operating officer at Nexus, said: “We know parents will have more interest than ever in how their children get to and from school following lockdown.

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“We have made extensive plans to make sure pupils can travel comfortably, providing more than 100 extra buses so pupils can travel in line with the latest public health advice on Covid-19.

“There are many ways to get to school, and young people themselves often want to travel as sustainably as possible by walking, cycling or using public transport.

“Where people need and choose bus and Metro, they can do so with confidence.”

More information on school transport options can be found at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/schooltravel