New measures to safely transport children to school next month have been unveiled by Kent County Council (KCC).

The authority says buses will run at two thirds of typical capacity and passengers and drivers will be expected to wear face masks.

Buses will also be disinfected regularly and social distancing guidelines will need to be adhered to where possible.

The council is also speaking with bus operators to provide extra vehicles on busier services so that "everyone who needs to can travel".

KCC's full transport protocol to make sure school transport is as safe as possible includes:

• All public bus services will observe social distancing guidelines and have seating plans in place
• A number of school-day-only services have been restricted to be used only by school children so more space is available
• Children are encouraged to travel by alternative means where possible
• KCC is working with operators to provide extra vehicles on busier services and will continue to do this so that everyone who needs to can travel
• The use of face coverings has been made a requirement for all passengers, where possible, and for all transport staff unless they are separated by a Perspex screen
• KCC will work with schools to cater for staggered start and end times where possible - arrangements will be individual to each school, so parents should contact their child’s school directly if they are unsure what adjustments are in place
• KCC will continue to monitor all services and any new government guidance so it can continue to make schools transport as safe as possible

In addition, bus operators will carry out extra deep cleaning as part of their daily routines such as disinfecting the buses with ‘hot fogging’.

All surfaces will be regularly wiped down and disinfected, including touch points around the driver.

Windows will be kept open to help with ventilation and bus drivers will either be behind a screen, or wearing a face covering.

Buses will carry around two thirds of their normal capacity, run their normal route and at their normal times.

KCC is also calling on passengers to put follow certain guidelines to make the buses runs as smooth as possible.

This includes planning journeys ahead of time, and if travelling by bus, considering using less busy stops.

Contactless payments will be preferred or having the correct change where possible.

No standing is allowed either and students will only be allowed to use dedicated seats as directed by the driver.

Students are also advised to wash and sanitise their hands before and after travelling and to make sure a face covering is worn where possible.

Students must also "be conscious" of those around them and let others off the bus before getting on, and when leaving the vehicle wait until the bus has stopped before getting up to avoid queuing.

For KCC’s dedicated home-to-school transport, a transport protocol, based on government guidance, has been created setting out the measures they need to follow to keep children safe.

This includes trying to maintain 1m social distancing, wearing face coverings, trying to ensure different schools are not mixed on the transport and children suing the same seat on the vehicle when they travel.

KCC’s cabinet member for education and skills Richard Long said: "School leaders, teachers and support staff have been working tirelessly, supported by KCC officers, to ensure schools are ready to safely welcome all pupils back to the classroom in September and it is only right we ensure they are able to travel to and from school in safety as well.

"Wherever possible and providing it can be done safely we would encourage pupils to walk or cycle to school, with a parent or carer if necessary, as this will free up much-needed space on public transport, while exercise can also be beneficial for both physical and mental health.

'Wherever possible and providing it can be done safely we would encourage pupils to walk or cycle to school...'

"Whichever method of transport a child or young person uses to get to school, we would like to remind all pupils in Kent to follow the relevant guidance, for your safety and the safety of those around you.

"For our SEND pupils, we have been working with Special schools directly to ensure that children with additional needs will be provided with a safe route to and from school.

"As Government guidance is understandably adapting as Covid-19 response develops, we will continue to update our website, and where necessary, contact parents directly to keep them informed.

"We appreciate that the ongoing uncertainly that Covid-19 is causing can lead to frustration, but we will continue to provide guidance as quickly as we are able to."

It comes as the authority revealed that demand for bus passes for secondary school students has dropped by around 75% this year amid the Covid-19 crisis .

This has prompted fears that there will be more cars on the road.

KCC cabinet member for highways and transport Michael Payne said: "Numbers for the Kent Travel Saver have dropped considerably this year - for the Kent Travel Saver we’ve had around 6,100 applications compared to around 24,000 normally; and for the 16+ Travel Saver we’ve had around 1,800 compared to 7,000 normally.

"With the uncertainty around going back to school, these numbers are not a surprise, particularly as we have urged parents to consider alternative options to get their children to school.

"Now that government has provided the guidance, we have been able to put our plans into action.

"We have created a dedicated ‘return to school’ area on our website detailing how the return to school will work, and we will also be contacting parents directly.

"If you are eligible for free school transport or registered for the Kent Travel Saver, Kent 16+ Travel Saver or Vacant Seat Payment Scheme, we will be in touch with guidance for your particular circumstances.”

As more pupils will now be travelling to school by car, KCC has put more measures into place to avoid road chaos.

Mr Payne added: "This, unfortunately, is another unavoidable consequence of Covid-19 but we are creating additional cycle lanes, slowing speeds around schools where appropriate to do so, encouraging more to walk and cycle and advising parents on alternative ways to get their child to school.

"This is an area where we can all do our part to make sure we’re making use of the most environmentally friendly way of travelling and keep congestion to a minimum.

"During this crisis, buses have continued to operate, carrying many of our essential workers including NHS staff to work.”

For the latest information, visit www.kent.gov.uk/backtoschool .

Read more: All the latest news from Kent