A BUS company has provided reassurance and information for Maldon district parents and students on school and college travel for the start of the new term.

First Essex has been liaising with Essex County Council and schools and colleges in the area and has also issued guidance on the wearing of face coverings to help ensure safe journeys.

Julian Elliott, commercial manager at First Essex, said: "We have been working closely with local schools to ensure there is appropriate transport provision in place to facilitate travel for students returning to school from next week onwards.

"All journeys will be run in accordance with the guidelines set out by the Department for Transport for dedicated school and commercially operated bus journeys.

"Face coverings are mandatory for children over the age of 11 on local bus services, but are not mandatory on dedicated school buses, although we strongly recommend and encourage all students using these services to wear a face covering unless they have an exemption."

First Essex added that social distancing measures are in place on commercial buses, with each bus undergoing daily deep cleaning and sanitising of surfaces before running again the following day. Social distancing does not apply on dedicated school buses.

Essex County Council has also sent a letter out to the parents and carers of children who are eligible for county-provided transport to and from school, detailing the options open to them from the start of term in September.

A spokesperson added: "It is vital that the children and young people who use our home to school transport services are able to do so safely, efficiently and with confidence and we have worked with transport providers to ensure that this happens.

"There may therefore be some differences in the requirements for students travelling to their school or education setting from next week. We would encourage any parents and carers to check with the relevant travel provider for the latest updates."

Information on other travel to school options is available at the Stop Swap Go website