Council tells Dacorum parents to avoid driving their children to school as pupils return

Hertfordshire’s schools and colleges welcome back children and young people as they return this week and next.

And the county council is telling parents to avoid driving their children to school where possible.

HCC wants families to plan their journey to and from school, warning that driving may cause problems.

"We all know things are going to be a little bit different this term, so we’re reminding families to plan ahead for their journeys to and from school so that they are as smooth and safe as possible," a spokesman for HCC said this week.

"Please avoid driving your children to school if at all possible, to ease peak time traffic but, if you do decide to drive, plan ahead and leave extra time as the roads will be busier. There may be changes to road layouts, especially around schools in town centres where temporary social distancing measures may be in place. To help with congestion around our schools, please check on your school’s website and social media to see if they are operating any park and stride schemes you can make use of. Remember, you will not be able to wait at the school gates, you will need to collect or drop off, then leave."

The council has instead urged pupils to walk and cycle as it allows 'greater opportunities for social distancing' while being better for a child's health too.

"So think about switching to these greener ways to travel if you can," a HCC spokesman added.

"If your child(ren) use public transport, they must wear a face covering if they are aged 11 or over (unless exempt). Social distancing measures will be in place on public transport, and you might want to provide your child with a contactless payment method. Some busier routes will have duplicate services running for students only. They will be clearly marked and will not require social distancing, but you will still require face coverings (unless exempt). Dozens of our staff will be out across the transport network monitoring the situation on the ground at the beginning and end of school days so we can react as quickly as possible to issues or concerns.

"If your child(ren) use a home to school transport service, providers will be following the latest guidance and advice to ensure these journeys are safe. We’ve worked with Herts Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI) to create a set of frequently asked questions around transport for families of children, and young people with special education needs and disability (SEND) which you can view online here..

Phil Bibby, executive member for Highways and Environment at Hertfordshire County Council, warned that things will take some getting used to.

“Our staff and local service operators are working hard to ensure everyone can get to where they need to be safely when Hertfordshire’s schools and colleges return over the next two weeks," Mr Bibby said.

"Our roads will be much busier than they have been for some months, and so we’d urge parents, carers and anyone undertaking a daily commute in Hertfordshire to plan ahead and leave plenty of time for their journey. If you can avoid travelling at peak times, please do.

“It’s important that we remember these are difficult times for everyone, things will take some time to get used to and so, above all, I’d ask residents to please be patient and considerate of one another and respect the people working to ensure your journeys are as safe as possible.”

USEFUL WEBSITES TO PLAN YOUR JOURNEY TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Live traffic updates for road users and planned roadworks - http://one.network/Interactive map for temporary social distancing measures in towns - www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/coronavirustownchangesFind walking and cycling routes - www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/recycling-waste-and-environment/countryside-access/rights-of-way/current-rights-of-way/the-definitive-map.aspx

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/health-in-herts/keep-active/hertfordshire-cycling.aspxLatest timetables for using the bus or train - www.intalink.org.uk/plan-your-journeyTo find out which services will be running a duplicate bus service visit - www.intalink.org.uk/duplicateschoolservices

You can find the latest guidance about returning to school, travelling to school, free school meals and much more - www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/returningtoschool