Class may be back in session but parents at three schools won't be allowed to drop their kids off - not in the usual way at least.

A trial scheme that temporarily closes roads during the school run has begun.

Starting today (September 5) the roads by three primary schools – Heavers Farm, St Chad’s in Selhurst and Woodcote in Coulsdon – are restricted on the morning and afternoon school runs.

Mum thinks new parking free zones at Woodcote Primary could be a danger to students

If the scheme proves successful, it will become regular at these schools and could be trialled at others in the borough.

The roads are not physically closed to traffic; instead, the council uses temporary automatic number plate recognition cameras to scan if vehicles passing through the pedestrian zones have permission. Residents and their visitors are able to enter or leave the zones by applying free of charge for an advance access permit – and over 800 people have already successfully applied.

When the scheme was announced, a governor at Woodcote Primary, James Collins said it was an "imperfect problem with an imperfect solution."

"We've been lobbying police and council saying that the area is dangerous and there is a risk to children.

"This is the council's response to the bad parking and speeding that's been happening."

Motorists driving in the zones during the school run without a valid permit will receive a £130 penalty charge notice, or £65 if paid within a fortnight.

Signs are in place to inform drivers that they are entering the school run pedestrian zones, and council staff marshal parking and road safety on nearby streets. The pedestrian zones are:

• Woodcote Primary in Dunsfold Rise, Coulsdon (including Fairfield Way and Meadow Rise)

• Heavers Farm Primary in Dinsdale Gardens, Selhurst

• St Chad’s Catholic Primary in Alverston Gardens, Selhurst.

The pedestrian zones at Heavers Farm and St Chad’s are from 8-9.30am and 2-4pm, and the zone outside Woodcote Primary is from 8-9.30am and 2.30-4pm.

Councillor Stuart King said: “These roads are a school run traffic headache for everyone, so this trial is about improving child safety and boosting walking and the environment.

“By getting hundreds of individual parents to park legally outside these pedestrian zones or – even better – at home, we hope this will make a big difference and we want to hear what people think.

“The temporary number plate cameras will help our officers make a fair decision on who can drive through the pedestrian zones and who can’t, allowing residents, their visitors, school staff and delivery drivers to go about their business as usual.”

After queried by a worried parent in July, council clarified what would happen if someone, unbeknownst to the law, ventured in to the zone at the wrong time just to see a friend or relative.

"You can apply for a permit up to 5pm on the day of the visit (so after the fact) for things like visitors," a council spokesman said:

"The permit holder can ask council for that particular registration to be exempt from the fine."

Are you a parent of a student at one of the schools involved and want to get in contact? Email: riley.krause@newsquest.co.uk