First Minister ‘confident’ councils will meet school reopening challenge as parents asked to take children to school where possible amid ‘logistical nightmare’

Concerns have been raised about how viable school transport plans are ahead of school reopening later this month.

Schools across Wales are opening up to the majority of pupils from Monday, June 29th with efforts in place to prepare transport to ensure children can get to the schools themselves.

In a letter seen by Wrexham.com councils have been asked by Welsh Government to support the new operational guidance for schools with a view to reopening schools.

The letter picks out several elements of advice, including: “Where possible, parents and carers should travel with their children to and from school, ideally on foot, or by bike, scooter or any other means of active travel. Social distancing should be maintained on the journey to and from school.

“People of no more than two households should only travel together if social distancing is possible. In any school transport, priority should be given to those who are unable to attend without it.

“Local authorities should work with schools and settings to determine the demand for school transport and endeavour to meet these requirements. Schools will not be open to more than a third of learners at any time. Local authorities and schools will need to consider this alongside other considerations, as they plan which learners are required to attend at what time.”

Council Officers across Wales are working with Transport for Wales and bus operators to consider who scheduled bus service can be restored to more normal timetables however notes “we do not envisage that a fuller timetable and greater capacity will be in place to support school reopening”.

The Welsh Government are asking councils to ‘work closely’ with local transport providers to make arrangements for pupils who need to use public transport.

Issues are identified in the letter, such as those who would usually use public transport that will not be operating in time, with ‘local solutions’ requested to fill that gap, adding “forward planning from local authorities at this stage is absolutely vital in making sure that as many pupils as possible can be supported’.

It is recognised that ‘very limited capacity’ could be available on scheduled buses due to social distancing, and therefore that space should be ‘kept available for those without any alternative means of transport’.

Following the letter and a meeting earlier today one council insider has told us the plans are ‘just not workable’ on a local level, with concern if transport can be located and adapted in time. Concerns were also raised about children waiting at bus stops, as well as being to asked to walk or cycle to schools on routes that had not previously been looked at in terms of safety.

At the same time the First Minister was addressing the nation, the Lead Member for the Environment at Wrexham Council, Cllr David A Bithell was talking at the Town Centre Forum. Cllr Bithell said in terms of the town centre reopening, but also touching on education, “Please bear in mind, bus companies, school transport, taxis, have got a significant problem at this moment in time dealing with social distancing. Its one of the major issues that we’re going to have with school transport in particular, a 54 seater coach probably could only accommodate 10 or 12 pupils. So you can imagine the logistical nightmare that our transport officers and public transport are having to deal with. We’ve also been in dialogue with Transport for Wales and I know, approximately 50 or 60% of the services are operating. Not many people are traveling at this moment in time, which is good because that is the current situation. But as services start to unlock, that there will be some significant issues on transport.”

We put the concerns to the First Minister at today’s lunchtime briefing, and asked if there was any prospect of changing the Welsh Government ambition for school reopening given the huge logistical challenges with transport, and cleaning. We also asked for clarity on where the reopening decision lay, and if he would back local authorities or individual schools if they decided not to open.

The First Minister replied, “Schools across Wales will be reopening on the 29th of June. That is the agreement we have with a Welsh Local Government Association that speaks on behalf of all local authorities in Wales.

“I heard again yesterday directly from the leader of the Welsh Local Government Association. There are challenges, of course, in putting transport arrangements in place for the 29th of June, but he told me he was confident that those challenges could and would be met.

“It’s why we gave more than three and a half weeks of notice to the system of the 29th of June date.”

“I expect all local authorities to be working hard to put in place the practical arrangements that will allow that to happen. That is the agreement we have with local government in Wales.

“I want to pay tribute to the enormous efforts that our colleagues in local government have made and I am confident that they will meet this challenge as well.”

This afternoon Wrexham Council have pointed out that the Education Minister has said she expects pupils to attend school, in line with whatever arrangements each school puts in place between June 29 and July 24. However, she’s also made it clear that if parents decide not to send their children, there won’t be any penalties.

Wrexham Council have said, “When you’re contacted by your school, you’ll be asked to confirm if your child will be attending on their allocated days. It’s really important you respond, as this will help the school with its planning.”

“If your child qualifies for free school transport, you’ll also be asked about this – to help us work out what’s possible with transport contractors.”

“Planning for June 29 is a huge task, and we’re sure you appreciate there’s a lot to consider.”

“But please be assured that the safety of your children is our priority, and we’ll be writing to parents again when we have further guidance from Welsh Government.”