In preparation for the return to school in September 2020, Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) have confirmed the transport arrangements to Cirencester Deer Park School following receipt of national guidance. 

Gloucestershire County Council have shared the information under different headings below to make it as clear as possible:

1. Bus routes and timetables: All closed school routes and timetables will run as they did prior to the lockdown with no reduced capacity due to social distancing and pupils should go to their bus stops as they normally do. Check the bus routes and timetables.
2. Bus passes: New bus passes for returning and new Year 7 secondary school pupils will be sent to home addresses by GCC and will be with students by the end of August at the latest. 
3. Seating bubbles: Pupils who travel on GCC contracted routes (those which only take GCC pass holding pupils) will need to sit in their ‘year group bubbles’ on the bus. GCC will have spoken to each operator on a school by school basis and they will be given a bubble plan for each route to inform they of how many seats are required for each year group so it can be made clear where the pupils need to sit.  Obviously the driver is not going to know each child and what year group they are in, so pupils are asked to make sure they sit in their correct bubbles and not try to sit by their friend in a different year.  On busy routes where every seat needs to be used there will be pupils from different year groups sat by each other as this is unavoidable where their bubbles are adjacent.
4. Spare seat scheme: GCC will be offering the scheme and they will contact parents directly, assuming they have completed an application form,  if there is capacity on the vehicle to offer them a seat. As in previous years they may not be able to make offers of spare seats to parents prior to the start of term, this is due to the fact that many late applications arrive leaving them uncertain of actual spare capacity.
5. School bubbles: Where there is a GCC contracted route that serves more than one school, they will separate the route on to different vehicles so that only one vehicle serves one school. Privately operated routes that take several schools on the same bus will still operate as normal as this is the only way to make the service viable. GCC will speak with those operators and ask that pupils are seated in ‘school bubbles’.
6. Face coverings: On GCC contracted routes face coverings should be worn whilst on the vehicle, this includes any pupils who are brought to school by taxi/minibus.  In the first week of September when GCC pass holding pupils board the vehicle they will be asked by the driver to take 2 washable face masks from a box.  Pupils are being given 2 reusable face masks so they always have one wear whilst the other is in the wash.  We ask that pupils only take the 2 allocated to them to ensure there are enough for everyone. Pupils who travel on public transport must wear a face covering, as it is not feasible to have these ready to collect on a public transport route we will send these to the school for children to collect on their first day. This means on the morning of their first day they will need to provide their own face covering for the journey in to school using public transport.   If pupils prefer to wear their own face coverings rather than the reusable ones supplied by GCC that is absolutely fine. It is their personal choice.
7. Waiting at the bus stop: Pupils need to social distance from each other whilst waiting at bus stops, only pupils from the same household or year group should stand together.  Like many of the above measures we are dependent on pupils taking responsibility for this themselves and being sensible.
8. Cleaning of vehicles: GCC are assured that their operators have increased their cleaning schedules on the vehicles and they will be thoroughly cleaned each day and cleaned between different bubbles using the vehicle.  
9. Latest Government Guidelines: Read the latest information and guidance for transport.

If parents require more information regarding school transport, they should contact the bus operator directly, GCC’s Mainstream School Transport Lead Miss Fay Williams or Miss Brace, Assistant Head at Cirencester Deer Park School. Please be aware the guidance for schools, county councils and transport operators may be subject to change.

We hope everyone can work together to make September transport a success.

Bus Service Operators

(As at 16 July 2020)

For all bus pass applications, replacements and payments, go to this GCC link.

Please note:

• Parents of children from out of area are responsible for meeting the costs of transport to and from the school.
• Shire Hall in Gloucester sends bus passes directly to the children eligible for free transport, prior to the commencement of the new school term. If you believe that you are entitled to free school transport, have lost your bus pass or require advice regarding transport to school, this is available on the  Gloucestershire County Council website or by phoning 01452 425387.
• Go to Bus Timetables.