MORE than £1million is to be pumped into councils’ coffers to help provide school transport over the next few months.

Hampshire County Council is to receive £1.1m while Southampton City Council is expecting £150,000 from a £40m government grant to support school transport in the autumn term but details of how the cash will be spent are still being worked out.

It could be used to invest in more buses and support children with special needs, it has been revealed.

Civic chiefs in Southampton said they are still in talks with schools to determine the likely demand in September.

But the county council has confirmed that while school transport will operate “broadly in the same way it has previously”, the difference will be in the use of it by students.

They will need to adhere to control measures such as sitting in year groups, using hand sanitiser when getting on and off the bus and, if they are aged 11 years or older, they will be asked to wear a face covering if they are able to, the council said.

Operators will also have control measures to follow including ensuring vehicles are cleaned daily and all routes will be risk assessed.

The council said the parents of children with special needs who cannot travel safely with other pupils because of underlying health issues have been offered mileage allowances to allow them to take their children to and from school in their own vehicles.

However, Cllr Patricia Stallard, executive lead member for children’s services and young people at the county council, said: “While this support is extremely helpful, there are many areas of home to school and college travel that may incur additional costs to ensure suitable and, where necessary, extra transport so that children and young people have the best options for their home to school or college journey. “

The county council explained that as public service buses cannot operate at full capacity, owing to the social distancing guidance, there will be cases where the council will consider requirements for additional public bus services.

Although the bus operator will charge a fare, the revenue may not cover the cost of the additional service and the authority will be required to provide a subsidy to the bus operator, the council said.

Further details are yet to be revealed. Details are also still being finalised for Southampton students.

Cllr Darren Paffey, cabinet member for children and learning at the city council, said: “We will be  working with our transport providers to ensure that we are able to quickly provide additional school transport if demand begins to outstrip capacity, for example by putting on extra school buses on busy routes. The funding will also enable us to make additional vehicles and travel escorts available for children with special educational needs and disabilities where these are needed.”

The news was announced by the government earlier this month.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson encouraged students and school staff to walk or cycle and said: “For those that have no other option than public transport, this investment for local authorities will mean more students will be able to travel on dedicated home to school and college transport, creating even more capacity where it is needed most.”