The news of a second lockdown was of no real surprise to the British public, however, many organisations were able to learn a great deal from the first lockdown and ensure more robust systems were in place in preparation for the second wave.
One key difference since the first lockdown in March, is that schools, colleges and universities are to remain open, and this poses a number of challenges and opportunities for councils, parents/guardians and schools.
Home to School transport plays a vital role in the lives of hundreds and thousands of children and young people with special educational needs. This vulnerable group and their families face numerous daily challenges, and they need a system that can adapt to the current, rapidly evolving situation.
Calling on years of working to improve complex transport requirements and personal experiences, 365 Response CEO & Founder, Sarah Fatchett – and her team of specialist subject matter experts and software developers – have worked with some of the largest councils in the UK to implement Home to School transport systems that support all stakeholders.
The 365 Smart Platform was well placed to quickly adapt to the changing needs of councils, schools, families and transport providers. The digital system features risk assessments and mandatory checklists (including deep cleaning measures and PPE requirements).
Using intelligent algorithms, the Smart Platform automatically makes allowances for social distancing and updates vehicle capacities accordingly. This makes the planning and booking of home to school transport much easier for council staff, who may previously have been using paper or spreadsheets to keep track of vehicle capacities. As many of these teams are now working from home, a robust, digital system is the best possible way to keep data safe and secure during these times.
The automated route planning function of the Home to School transport system stores a detailed record of the journeys and the passengers, so that in the event of any potential Covid-19 exposure, those involved can be quickly notified.
Built-in functionality for incident reporting ensures parents and guardians can have full peace of mind that any issues can be quickly addressed, with all relevant parties made aware of the situation in real-time.
The smart system supports the council to meet key performance indicators (KPIs) and set critical parameters to ensure needs are met within agreed timescales. During this uncertain time, the threat of Covid-19 is not the only risk that needs to be carefully measured and monitored. The safety and security of children and young persons is still a critical point on the agenda, meaning that intelligent systems play an integral role in Home to School transport now, more than ever.
We are acutely aware that the current situation presents a major challenge to councils and all organisations providing Home to School transport, and we are happy to share our years’ of experience. Get in touch with us today to hear how we can work with your council to implement the 365 Smart Platform for your Home to School transport, at [email protected].
