School Transport Policy

Appendix 1: How we provide transport

1. Methods of Transport Provision
The majority of learners entitled to free home to school transport will travel on vehicles contracted directly by the Local Authority. Where suitable contracted transport is not available, the Local Authority may make use of public passenger transport services.

In circumstances where no appropriate contracted or public transport option exists for all or part of a learner’s journey, the Local Authority may offer a Personal Travel Budget to enable a parent, guardian or responsibly adult to convey the learner to school, or to an appropriate pick-up point where the distance exceeds 1.5 miles. This support is only available where the learner is eligible for free transport and the Authority is unable to provide transport directly.

2. Pick-Up and Set-Down Points
It is not always possible for transport routes to pass close to every learner’s home. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that learners travel safely to and from the designated pick-up and drop-off point, which will normally be no more than 1.5 miles from the home address.

Transport is provided only at the start and end of the school day, in accordance with the school’s standard operating hours. The Local Authority is not required to provide transport:

• To the door of the home,
• At exact times requested by parents and guardians, or
• During the school day, between sites, or for partial attendance.

Breakfast clubs, after-school activities, and extracurricular events are not covered by free home to school transport.

3. Journey Times
Where possible, journey times will be kept to a reasonable duration. However, journey length may vary depending on:

• Rural geography,
• The number of learners travelling, and
• The layout of the contracted route.

The Local Authority will plan routes to ensure safe and efficient transport but cannot guarantee shorter or individually tailored journey times.

4. Behaviour on Transport
All learners using Local Authority provided transport must follow the Home to School/College Transport Code of Conduct.

Misbehaviour may result in warnings, temporary suspension from transport, or withdrawal from a particular transport arrangement. Where transport is required to meet the Local Authority's statutory duty, alternative arrangements may be considered where necessary to ensure reasonable access to education.

Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that learners understand and comply with behaviour expectations.

5. Use of Cameras on Transport
CCTV or other recording devices may be installed on some contracted vehicles for:

• Safeguarding purposes,
• Behaviour monitoring, and
• Ensuring the safety of drivers and passengers.

Footage will be managed in line with data protection legislation and used only for legitimate operational or safeguarding purposes.

6. Post-16 Transport Arrangements
Transport provision for post-16 learners is not made on the same basis as for learners of statutory school age.

Post-16 transport is provided on the basis that learners are expected to travel independently to access the core transport network. Arrangements operate as follows:

• Learners are responsible for making their own way to a suitable point on the core transport network.
• In some circumstances, learners may be required to travel more than 1.5 miles to access a suitable vehicle on the core network.
• No bespoke or feeder transport arrangements will be provided for post-16 learners, expect where mobility needs have been identified (ALN).
• Transport will not be provided for learners living within three miles of their place of learning, regardless of the availability of a walking route.

In exceptional circumstances, learners progressing into post-16 education at their designated catchment school may be permitted to continue using existing feeder vehicles, where spare seat capacity allows. Such arrangements are discretionary, subject to annual review, and do not create an entitlement to continued provision.