A complex, costly picture is emerging of the challenges in getting north children safely to school when term starts in August.
Local authorities are currently exploring options to cope with social distancing in school transport, which across the region ranges from taxis and minibuses to coaches and double-deckers.
Buses which take 80 children at a time can now only take 20, potentially quadrupling costs every day, while rural nine seater minibuses may only manage two or three.
One of the hardest hit regions is Highland, with 70% of children relying on school transport.
Nairnshire councillor and former secondary teacher Tom Heggie said in his area children depend on the full range of transport to get to Nairn Academy from outlying areas.
“All these present their difficulties with social distancing.
“How transport is managed will go hand in hand with how the school organises its timetabling, which teachers are looking at carefully.
“There might be a blended learning approach with some pupils continuing learning at home or they might come in on a rotational basis, but there is no doubt the challenge is massive.”
In Inverness South, Culloden Academy has 1,500 pupils.
Local councillor Ken Gowans said not all the children would be travelling to school at the same time, giving additional capacity.
“The full practicalities are still being assessed, but hygiene and safety are the most important thing.
“It will add to the massive costs facing Highland Council from Covid-19, but it has to be done.
“We can’t cut corners when it comes to children’s safety.”
Dingwall Academy has more than 1,000 pupils.
Its former head teacher, councillor Graham Mackenzie said: “Problems arise if teachers decide to work a rotational system.
“There’s no way even 500 pupils could come in to school at any one time.
“One teacher told me she had measured her classroom for social distancing and only had room for one teacher and ten pupils.”
Education committee chairman John Finlayson said partnership working groups have been set up across Highland to manage the return to school.
“Amongst these groups is a transport group, led by the council’s principal transport officer and supported by a number of relevant partners, stakeholders and providers which will look at developing local area transport solutions in response to the needs of each area.”
In Aberdeen city, council and transport providers are working together to explore the options.
A city council spokesman said: “We will advise families of any changes necessary as soon as we have a clearer impact of the physical distancing arrangements on transport.”
In the Western Isles, the council will publish its local delivery plan next week, while in Moray, the council’s transport manager Nicola Moss, said: “There are many complexities we need to address, but planning is under way.
“We’re working closely with education colleagues to determine what transportation is needed, and provides the safest environment for young people.
“We’ll update parents as soon as we’re able to.”
A spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “It is a complex situation and our officers are working on assembling key data to inform our approach. Social distancing does reduce the number of seats that would be available and we are in discussions on how to allow for this.”
Orkney Islands council is also still working on its school transport plan.
A spokesman said: “The safe operation of school transport is being carefully considered as part our planning for the reopening of schools later in the year.
“When we have a clear plan of how this will operate, parents/carers will be informed. ”
