CHILDREN returning to school and their parents are to be offered extra protection during the school-run.

Oxfordshire County Council plans to build social distancing in to morning and evening journeys and drop-offs.

Many children from the reception year, Year 1 and Year 6 returned on June 1and more are due to follow soon.

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The council is now instituting the following measures:

l A risk assessment of the roadside stops to collect and drop school children to ensure enough space is available for pupils to maintain social distancing guidelines

l Moving pick-up points entirely to a location with a larger available waiting area where required

l New vehicle loading guidelines: updated information on how many people school transport providers can now carry has been communicated

Preparations continue for the proposed return of Year 10 and 12 pupils with further risk assessments planned.

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A recent survey of all 63 Oxfordshire county councillors found that the introduction of school streets – a traffic control measure to restrict motor vehicles around schools at certain times of day – was a 'standout priority' in terms of how Oxfordshire’s share of the government’s £250m Emergency Active Travel grant fund should be spent to help lift the lockdown in the coming weeks.

County councillor Liam Walker said: "The health and safety of pupils, teachers and support staff is our number one priority and how pupils travel to and from schools is an important part of how we plan to achieve this as we recover.

"We will continue to support them by ensuring the return to schools is as safe as it can be, with the necessary social distancing and transport adaptations in place, as increasing numbers of pupils come out of lockdown and return to the classroom."