Transport for Greater Manchester have provided the following advice to help you plan your child's travel when returning to school:

Transport has changed significantly since lockdown, so it’s important that families plan ahead for how children will get to and from school and check the latest travel advice. You should also apply now for any tickets or passes you may need.

Please consider whether your child can walk or cycle to school – it can be a safe and healthy way for pupils to make shorter trips. New cycling and walking routes have been put in place across the region as part of the #SafeStreetsSaveLives project to make it safer and easier than ever to get about on foot or by bike.

If your child needs to use public transport to travel to school, space may be limited on many services and timetables may have changed. Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM’s) Yellow School Bus services will also be running without the usual pass system in place, meaning they will operate as regular school buses so any schoolchild can use them.

When travelling to school your child should check timetables in advance, allow extra time for their journeys in case their first service is full and be patient with other passengers.

They should also follow safe travel guidance:

• Wear a face covering on-board and in stations and interchanges, unless you’re under 11 or are exempt for another reason.
• Keep your distance from other passengers where possible.
• Clean your hands regularly.
• Use contactless payment or exact change only if you can.

Children aged 11 to 16 must have an igo card to travel using a child ticket on buses in Greater Manchester. It can also be used as proof of age for travelling by tram, and child Metrolink tickets are available for igo online at getmethere.com.

If you have to drive your child to school and/or pick them up, please switch off your engine when waiting outside to reduce air pollution and consider parking further away and walking the last part of your journey.

For the latest information on timetables, tickets, changes to Yellow School Bus services and further advice on cycling and walking, visit TfGM’s Back to School hub at tfgm.com/schools.