Andrew Dismore

“I am writing to update you on our plans to continue providing School Services to help support safe and sustainable transport for school travel.

“We are planning to continue running School Services on our bus network after the October half term until the end of the current term in December. School Services would continue to operate similarly to how they have been in the first half of the autumn term, with extra services running and up to half of all buses on certain higher-frequency routes signed as ‘School Services’ during peak times for school travel. The full list of routes that have School Services and additional services can be found at: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/bus-changes.

“The Department for Education (DfE), in collaboration with the Department for Transport (DfT), has allocated funding for school services to continue at their current level for the rest of 2020. This is part of the DfE’s work with Local Transport Authorities nationwide and is separate to our ongoing discussions with the Government over the wider funding support we require following the impact of coronavirus on our finances.

“Please note that, for the most part, School Services will not operate while schools break for the October half-term (26 to 31 October). This would be subject to variations depending on local requirements, and we are working with schools and our bus operators to understand where these services may still be required, for example where half term dates vary.

“We will continue to monitor demand on London’s bus network to ensure we are providing the most frequent and reliable services possible. We are also continuing to encourage young people to walk, cycle or scoot to school if they can, and for other customers using public transport to travel outside school travel times if possible. We are asking our customers to continue to follow the latest government guidance to ensure they use public transport safely. This includes:

• Planning your journey in advance if you need to travel and where possible travelling at quiet times and on quiet routes. (Quiet times on public transport overall: 08:15 – 16:00 and after 17:30[on the road network: 10:00-15:00 and after 19:00])
• Check how busy any station on the TfL network is, at any time of day
• All customers aged 11 and over must wear a face covering when using public transport (including school services) unless they are exempt for health or equality reasons”