ÖйúPÕ¾

Page contents

• Keep your contact details up to date
• If your child's needs change
• Get ready for the first day
• When to tell the transport provider your child won't need transport
• Report problems
• Passenger assistants
• Help your child travel safely
• Your responsibilities

Keep your contact details up to date

Let us know straight away if your phone number, email or home address changes.

This helps us contact you quickly if there is a problem with your child’s transport.

If your child's needs change

Update your application or ask for a reassessment.

Tell us if your child’s medical or behavioural needs change, or if they start a new school or course.

Follow these steps to help everything run smoothly.

Get ready for the first day

Before term starts, we’ll send you details about your child’s travel. This includes:

• the type of transport (bus, taxi, minibus or travel allowance)
• pick-up and drop-off times
• the name of the transport provider
• contact details in case of delays

Please:

• take your child to meet the vehicle in the morning and collect them in the afternoon, always from the same side of the road where the vehicle stops
• make sure your child is at the pick-up point at least 5 minutes early
• talk to your child about how to stay safe on the journey

When to tell the transport provider your child won't need transport

Tell the transport provider as soon as possible if your child will not be travelling. This helps us plan and keep services running smoothly.

You must let us know if your child:

• is ill and staying at home
• has a medical or therapy appointment during school hours
• is going on a school trip or off-site activity
• is being taken to school by someone else
• is walking or cycling to school
• is on a part-time timetable or phased return
• is staying at a different address and does not need transport from there
• is excluded or suspended from school
• cannot attend because the school is closed, for example on inset days or strike days

Report problems

Tell us if:

• the driver or helper does not have a badge
• the transport is often late
• the driver or helper changes more than 3 times in a term
• you have any other concerns

Passenger assistants

Passenger assistants are not provided automatically. We look at each case individually.

We may provide a passenger assistant if:

• your child needs rescue medication
• your child’s behaviour could put themselves or others at risk
• the number of children on the route means extra support is needed

We review arrangements during the year. If your child no longer needs support, we may remove the assistant.

Passenger assistants:

• wear an ID badge from ÖйúPÕ¾
• look after children during the journey
• check children are on the return journey
• make sure only children with a place use the vehicle
• stay with children if there’s a problem

If you want to talk to us:

Help your child travel safely

What your child should know

Make sure your child knows:

• what to do if the vehicle is late or does not arrive
• the safest route home and how to cross the road safely

How to behave on the journey

Talk to them about how to behave on the journey. They must:

• wear a seatbelt if one is provided
• stay seated during the journey
• wait sensibly away from the road
• keep their belongings with them and not block exits or gangways
• take all their litter home
• wait for the vehicle to move away before they cross the road at a safe place
• keep their ticket with them

What not to do

They must not:

• distract driver except in an emergency
• push or rush when getting on
• make lots of noise or play music
• smoke, vape, eat or drink
• throw things from the window

We may withdraw transport if your child misbehaves or puts others at risk. You may have to pay for any damage your child causes.

Your responsibilities

Please:

• tell us in writing which responsible adult near your home will look after your child if you’re not there. Include their name, address and contact details
• tell the driver and helper if your child is not returning home on the vehicle
• collect your child if they are unwell at school - we do not provide extra trips
• collect your child if their behaviour means the vehicle must return to school
• call transport company as soon as you can if your child is sick or cannot attend school
• tell the driver or helper if your child has a difficulty on any day
• if we provide a taxi from your home, be available at pick-up and drop-off times or sign a waiver to accept responsibility
• treat drivers, helpers and office staff with respect