Children in Northumberland have been reassured that every possible precaution is being taken to ensure their safety since returning to school.

Northumberland County Council has worked in partnership with schools will be to put in place measures that create a safe teaching and learning environment.

Speaking ahead of the schools return, councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, cabinet member with responsibility for children’s services said reassured parents and children's as school's continue to operate with new health and safety measures.

He said: “We understand the concerns that parents, carers and their families will have as their children return to school for the first time.

"Whilst each school will have their own measures in place, every single one has been following Government guidance and adjusting those measures in accordance with any changes.

“We strongly urge parents and carers to directly liaise with, or wait for communication from their own schools as to what those new measures may mean for them and their children on their return.”

Cath McEvoy-Carr, Executive Director for Adult and Children's Services added: “We have been working with head teachers in schools across the county to support them in the implementation of appropriate health and safety measures based on their risk assessments.

“If you have concerns about your child returning to school or college, because you consider they may have other risk factors, you should discuss with your school or college the measures they are putting in place to reduce risks in line with government guidance.”

Home to school transport for over 7,000 students in Northumberland has seen new measures put in place to ensure the safety of those travelling.

Government guidance has now stated that social distancing is not mandatory on home to school transport, but the authority said every reasonable effort is being made to keep children sat apart in their year group bubbles where this is physically possible.

"Every effort is being made to make separate travel arrangements for children attending different schools by using additional transport, but where this isn’t possible children from the same school will be asked to sit together," a council spokesman said.

Visit: www.northumberland.gov.uk/coronavirus/Northumberland-schools.