Covid-19 Update

Protection needed when settings organise transport for children

If the children or young people being transported do not have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) or a positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test, there is no need for additional measures to be taken. Read COVID-19: safer transport guidance for operators for further guidance on how to provide safer services. In non-residential settings, if a child, young person or student displays coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or has a positive test, while at their school they should avoid using public transport and, wherever possible, be collected by a member of their family or household. In exceptional circumstances, if parents or carers cannot arrange to have their child collected, if age-appropriate and safe to do so the child should walk, cycle or scoot home following a positive test result. In exceptional circumstances, if this is not possible, and the setting needs to take responsibility for transporting them home, or if a symptomatic child or young person needs to be transported between residential settings, you should do one of the following:

• use a vehicle with a bulkhead or partition that separates the driver and passenger
• the driver and passenger should maintain a distance of 2 metres from each other
• the driver should use PPE, and the passenger should wear a face covering if they are old enough and able to do so