With schools set to return for all students from 8th March we will once-again be operating all normal school buses, including the additional journeys listed below. This is to provide more capacity and will also designate certain journeys as ‘student only’ in order to avoid mixing school children with the general public.
The changes are:
| Service Number | Area Served | Schools Served | Changes | Timetable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 326/327/328 | Upchurch, Lower Halstow, Newington | All Sittingbourne Secondary, Medway Schools | Additional buses at school times. Certain journeys are student only. | 326/327/328 |
| Island Buses | Sheerness and Minster | All Sittingbourne Secondary | Additional buses. All journeys are student only | Island Buses |
| 321 | Iwade, Milton Regis | All Sittingbourne Secondary | Additional buses. All journeys are student only | 321 |
| 662 | Teynham, Doddington, Newnham | Faversham - The Abbey School and Queen Elizabeth's | An additional bus alongside the main bus. | 662 |
| HS2/HS3 | Ashford, Bethersden, Woodchurch | Homewood, Tenterden | An additional bus will operate between Ashford and Tenterden. All journeys are student only. | HS2/HS3 |
| HS7/HS8 | Charing, Egerton, Pluckley | Homewood, Tenterden | An additional bus will operate between Charing, Pluckley and Tenterden. All journeys are student only. | HS7/HS8 |
Information about Chalkwell school buses can be found here.
All other services not shown here will operate as normal.
School Bus Specific Measures
Following official guidance from the Government in relation to school buses, the measures below have been taken in order to provide Covid-Secure transport:
- School buses are covered by our risk assessments and the preventative measures shown here, including disinfectant fogging and updated cleaning procedures.
- Standing will not be permitted on any school journeys
- Side and rear-facing seats will be sectioned off and are not to be used.
- The seats closer to the driver will be sectioned off and are not to be used, except where there is a physical barrier in place.
- Where different schools travel together on the same vehicle they should sit in their respective school groups.
- Customers should observe social distancing rules while waiting at bus stops and other boarding areas.
- Face coverings should be worn at all times, unless there is a valid exemption in accordance with Government guidance.
- Journeys designated ‘Student only’, or that are not normally open to the general public, are not subject to social distancing and children can share a double seat.
- Additional buses will not be able to take contactless payment, however this facility will be available on all other school buses.
- Cash payment, Kent Travel Saver and 16+ passes will be accepted on all school bus services
As you can appreciate, the guidance and requirements are changing rapidly. Therefore, the information shown here is subject to change.