COPPICE SCHOOL HOME/SCHOOL TRANSPORT POLICY

COPPICE SCHOOL HOME/SCHOOL TRANSPORT POLICY

1. Introduction This policy covers the provision of transport between a pupil s home and Coppice School. Parent and carers are responsible for ensuring that their children attend school. However pupils who have a statement of Special Educational Needs are entitled to free transport if this is mentioned as a requirement within the statement. Even though transport is provided parents still have a responsibility for the behaviour of their child when travelling to and from school. (see appendix 1 Guidance for Parents) 2. Operation of School Transport The operation of school transport must comply with relevant legislation vehicles and drivers should be appropriately licensed. Drivers and escorts are subject to enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks, and drivers have to undertake a Doncaster MBC driver assessment and have an enhanced medical check. The vehicles used must have an annual MOT and be regularly serviced and undergo safety inspections. Drivers are responsible for carrying out daily checks on their vehicle (appendix 2 Daily Check Sheet), fuelling, cleaning, taking/collecting the vehicle for MOT, Service/Safety Inspection and the safe transportation of pupils. Escorts are responsible for the supervision of the pupils on their run. (appendix 3 Guidance for Drivers & Escorts) All vehicles carry a mobile phone to be used as a means of communication in case of emergencies. 2. Assessment Pupils will be assessed prior to attending school for their transport needs. All children must wear a seat belt at all times during their journey. It will be established whether child seats, booster cushions or special harnesses are required. The law requires booster seats for children who have outgrown a child car seat but are too small for a regular seat belt in cars and this practice is adopted as best practice on school minibuses. Booster seats are required for children under the age of eight, weighing 18kg or more but less that 36kg (40-80 lb) and who stand less than 135 cm (4 9 ) tall. A child can start using a seatbelt alone once any of the following criteria is met: Child turns eight years old Child weighs 36kg (80lb) Child is 135cm tall. Before a child is permitted to travel in the front of a vehicle a risk assessment will be carried out by the Transport Manager. Under no circumstance are Children under 13 permitted to travel in the front seat of a vehicle. Children using wheelchairs are individually assessed to ensure the correct wheelchair and passenger restraints are used. Where possible pupils will be transported on mini buses, however in certain circumstances it may be necessary for a pupil to be transported in a taxi. When the assessment has been carried out parents will be informed in writing of the transport details for their child. This will include their collection and drop of times.

It is recognised that transport requirements may vary as a child develops and a review of transport requirements forms part of the annual review of a pupil s statement of special educational needs. (appendix 1 Guidance for Parents) 3. Linking Home and School Parents will be provided with information that:- a) sets out the time that their child will be picked up b) clarifies that it is the responsibility of the parent or carer to ensure that the pupil is ready on time pupils should be ready five minutes before the pick up time c) specifies the maximum time that a vehicle will be able to wait at a pick up point d) specifies the return drop off time and makes clear that it is the responsibility of parents or carers to be there e) states that the parent or carer should contact school if their child is not able to travel a contact telephone number should be provided f) states how parents and carers will be contacted in case of emergency, if their child is ill or should an extended delay or disruption to transport occur. For some pupils the journey to and from school can have a significant impact on the quality of the school day or evening at home. We will ensure that drivers and escorts are known to parents by visiting them prior to transporting the child or young person if requested. We will aim to maintain stable staffing over time and avoid unnecessary changes of personnel. For pupils with autistic spectrum disorders, any changes need to be explained and planned in advance. We will ensure that journey times are reasonable and that undue stress is not caused by extended periods on vehicles.

TRANSPORT OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL NOTES OF GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS These notes are issued to assist you as Parents and ensure that you understand the arrangements made for transporting pupils with special educational needs between home and school. GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS AND CONDITIONS Appendix 1 1 In the Doncaster Metropolitan District, the majority of pupils who attend a Special school are provided with free transport between home and school. 2 It is the Education Authority s policy to pick up pupils at a point on the normal bus route as near as possible to their home. 3 In cases where the degree of a pupil s disability is severe, arrangements will be made to collect the child from home. 4 Transport is provided in a variety of ways, ie coach, mini bus or taxi depending upon the location, need and numbers of pupils involved. An escort is usually provided on the special buses to ensure pupils safety during the journey. Escorts are only provided for pupils travelling by taxi in special circumstances. 5 Parents are normally informed at the start of a new contract of the place and time where their child is to join the transport. 6 It may be necessary to make an adjustment to a child s transport arrangements from time to time to take into account changing situations. Every effort is made to keep the journey time between home and school as short as possible. PARENTAL DUTIES 1 It is your duty as a Parent to ensure that your child is at the picking up point at the specified time and to meet your child from the transport on the return journey. 2 If a Parent or other responsible person, is not at the appropriate place to receive their child, then the child should remain on the transport and the vehicle continue on its journey. At the end of the journey the vehicle will make a second attempt to deliver the child to an appropriate person. If this is still unsuccessful, the escort will telephone the school, Pupil Support and Transport or Social Services to seek advice.

Escorts are instructed to report Parents who persistently fail to meet the vehicle or who are regularly late when meeting the vehicle. 3 The escort and appointed contractors are instructed that children may not be dropped off at alternative addresses without instruction from the Headteacher or Pupil Support and Transport. 4 If your child is collected from home it is your responsibility as a Parent to have your child ready and waiting at the correct time and to take them to the vehicle. Your child should be ready 5 minutes before the pick up time. The vehicle will wait for 3 minutes only from your designated pick up time after which they will continue on their way. Escorts will assist in helping pupils to a seat, but they must not leave the vehicle to collect pupils from the door of their house. It is your responsibility as a Parent to get your child to and from the vehicle, even if they are unable to walk. 5 Your child will not be allowed to eat or drink anything whilst travelling to and from school. This is in the interest of Health & Safety. 6 You may occasionally need to send a message or small items such as medication to school with your child. Messages should normally be written and addressed to the Headteacher of your child s school. If money or medication is given to the escort, it should be in a sealed container or envelope marked clearly with your child s name and in the case of medication, the dosage prescribed. Money and medication should never be put your child s school bag. 7 If the vehicle is late in the morning or afternoon, you should contact your child s school by telephone. 8 Transport is provided on a strictly home to school basis and therefore it is not possible for childminding arrangements to be taken into account. Consequently it will be necessary for parents to ensure that there is an appropriate adult at home to receive the child, if for any reason they are unable to be at home. Any such arrangement will need to be confirmed in writing to your child s school beforehand. 9 Parent and Carers will be contacted by telephone in the event of any problems at school, if your child is ill, if there are any extended delays or disruptions with their transport. 10 In cases of inclement weather a decision will be made as early as possible as to whether school will open/close. Our buses will make every effort to collect your child but will not attempt to access any areas which the drivers consider to be unsafe. Announcements will be made on Trax FM and notices will be placed on our school website (coppicespecialschool.com). If the weather deteriorates

during the school day your child may be returned home early. During times of inclement weather you will be required to make arrangements for a responsible person to be at your home to meet your child. The co-operation of all Parents is necessary to ensure that problems regarding transport are kept to a minimum. If there are difficulties these should be discussed with the Transport Manager.

HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORT GUIDANCE FOR DRIVERS AND ESCORTS All Drivers and Escorts will be required to undergo the two day training provided by DMBC and subsequent refresher courses. All Drivers and Escorts should carry photo identification at all times. In the interest of health & safety you must wear the high visibility vests provided when on duty. Appendix 3 Any defects on the bus must be reported immediately and all paper work must be completed at the appropriate time. You must treat all pupils with respect, remembering that they are all individuals with their own characters and special needs. In all circumstances, be polite to parents and to any member of the general public you come into contact with whilst carrying out your duties. Remember to give parents any letters etc you have been asked to deliver. It is sometimes vitally important that parents get information on a particular day. Do not discuss or give advice on pupil s progress, behaviour, health etc with parents/carers. You are not qualified to do this and it may lead to misunderstandings and difficulties for you and school. Do not carry verbal messages from parents/carers to school. Ask them to write the message in the Home/School Book. If they cannot or will not do this, ask them to telephone school. You may need to explain politely that you have a number of children and things to think about and verbal messages may be forgotten or the meaning get lost in translation. If you are carrying medication to and from school it must be safe and the children must not have access to it. Do not accept children onto school transport if they are fitting, not fully conscious eg not fully recovered from a fit, or are known to be suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea or any other infectious illness or if they are agitated and in an uncooperative state. Contact school if in doubt. Make sure straps, harnesses etc on wheelchairs are fastened correctly before the wheelchairs are put on the bus. If you are not sure about this ask the parent/carer or class teacher. Ensure that wheelchairs are correctly positioned in the school bus and that the correct wheelchair restraints and belts are used and securely fastened.

Children whether ambulant or in wheelchair must not be left unattended whilst loading/unloading a bus. School bags should not be placed where they can cause an obstruction or fall on people. Nothing should be carried loose in the bus which in the event of an accident could be thrown about or hit anyone. All children must be secure in their seat belts, ramps and doors secured and the escort is seated before the bus starts on its journey. Inform school via the mobile phone if there are any problems during the journey eg. Child continually fitting, bad traffic hold ups which will cause the bus to be late at its destination, parents not at home to receive their child etc. In the event of an emergency, pupils must remain on the vehicle unless it is unsafe for them to do so. In the event of a medical emergency depending on the seriousness of the emergency either school or the emergency services should be contacted immediately. If it is a minor emergency school will provide advice. If it is a major emergency school should be notified as soon as it is possible and safe to do so. Children persistently misbehaving on the bus should be reported to the school office. Incidents must be reported to the Transport Manager and incident forms completed with 24 hours. All messages must be reported to the school office as well as to the appropriate teacher. Drivers must not exceed speed limits at any time. 50 mph is the maximum on dual carriageways and motorways. Buses carrying wheelchairs must not exceed 40 mph. Buses must not be reversed unless an escort is at the back looking through the window as a guide. Food or drink (including sweets) are not to be consumed by staff or children on school transport. Under no circumstances should Drivers or Escorts smoke whilst in the vehicle, on council premises, on duty or whilst wearing their high visibility vests and/or names badges.

Child Protection The role of the Driver/Escort In the event of a suspected child protection issue transport staff would be expected to report concerns to Linda Redfern who is our Child Protection Officer. Under no circumstances must they question the child. The following information is intended to offer advice on how to respond to children who may disclose a problem, or whose behaviour may suggest that abuse is taking place. If you suspect that abuse is taking place: Report immediately any issue of concern raised by a child. Listen to the child and take what they say seriously. Make factual notes as soon as possible including date, those present and what was said. Be honest and do not let the child think that you can sort out the issues. Explain that you will pass the information onto someone who can help. Tell them it will be dealt with confidentially and that you cannot keep secrets. Use words that the child is familiar with. Do Not Make promises you cannot keep. Ask leading/probing questions. Delay taking action. To ensure and minimise the risk of misunderstanding arising Drivers/Escorts must never: Discuss the circumstances of children transported with others, ie with other children transported on behalf of Doncaster Council or other adults who are not involved with the care or education of children. Become over-friendly in any way with children or engage in any form or relationship, infatuation, or crush or show favouritism. Touch a child, other than for safety reasons. Administer medication. Photograph or video children in your care on transport. Contact pupils on the internet eg facebook, bebo etc. Make phone calls or send text messages to children in your care on transport. Swear, make personal or humiliating comments, even if you are provoked. Offer cigarettes. Smoke in vehicles or in the presence of children being transported. Offer gifts (Guidance should be sought from care professionals/parents) Show children videos or pictures on mobile phones.