The School Transport Team decides who is entitled to free or assisted transport. We arrange suitable taxi and minibus transport and employ passenger assistants.
We arrange for car seats to be issued and ensure the correct equipment is supplied for transporting wheelchairs. This service is paid for by Plymouth City Council.
Day to day arrangements
Will the driver or passenger assistant come to my door?
No, it is your responsibility to ensure your child goes to and from the vehicle and/or pick-up point. Please make sure your child is ready at the scheduled time.
If your child is not ready the driver is instructed to wait a maximum of three minutes and will then leave. It will then be your responsibility to get your child to school (or other destination).
Persistent lateness or failure to inform us of cancellations will lead to a review of your child’s transport provision.
Will the driver sound the horn to let me know that transport has arrived?
No, the Highway Code states that drivers are not allowed to sound their horns. You should look out for the transport arriving.
Who do I contact if transport does not arrive?
You should contact the Transport Team if transport has not arrived within 5 minutes of the scheduled time quoting your route reference from your letter.
Who do I contact if I need to cancel transport?
If transport is not required for any journey, for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to inform the Transport Team of the changes, who will then inform the passenger assistant and the operator. Schools are not responsible for informing us of your child’s cancellation
Why can’t I tell the Passenger Assistant and/or driver directly or text them?
You must request any changes or cancellations with the Transport Team.
You must not swap numbers with the PAs or drivers and they are also instructed not to do so. This is for the students, Passenger Assistants and Driver’s own Health and Safety and Safeguarding.
Is it possible to change the time that my child is picked up or dropped off?
No, because the route runs in the shortest possible time. It is not possible for these times to be changed to accommodate parents’ other commitments as there are over 800 children on transport each day.
Transport is provided at school times only and will not be provided for extra curriculum activities.
What happens if I am not at home to receive my child?
If there is an emergency and you know you are not going to be at home, please telephone the Transport Team immediately. As a last resort we will take your child to Social Services if we cannot contact you.
If you are regularly not at home to receive your child it is likely that the transport will be withdrawn.
Who do I contact if I am moving house?
Inform the school and the Transport Team. You will need to complete a new application form which is available on the Council’s website. We will reassess your child’s entitlement to free travel and may need to set up new transport if eligible.
This may take a number of working days to complete and cannot be done immediately. Our website will give you our latest completion timescales. During this period, you will have to make your own arrangements to get your child to school during this period.
What do I do if I want my child to be collected or dropped off at an alternative address?
You will need to make any necessary arrangements yourself. The Council provides transport to and from the home address only.
What if my child lives at two addresses?
We only provide transport from one address and this should be your child’s permanent address. If your child lives at 2 addresses, you must nominate one of them as your permanent address for transport and apply from that address.
Who do I contact if my child needs to go to respite care or to a contact centre?
Ask your Social Worker to contact the Transport Team. If you don’t have a Social Worker please contact the Transport Team for further advice.
Please note: large items of luggage cannot be transported on the vehicle and you must make your own arrangements to get this to the respite provision.
How long will transport be provided for and will it change?
We will review transport throughout the school year to ensure we are providing appropriate transport for your child. Changes may happen including different vehicles, different drivers, different Passenger Assistants and routes.
Whilst we endeavour to keep these to a minimum, due to the increasing numbers of student using our service, we may need to do full school reviews of transport during the academic year.
When transport ceases parents must return car seats to Ballard House.
Changes to the normal school day
We are not able to provide transport for school early closures (for example a lunchtime closure at the end of term or exam timetables). You will need to make your own arrangements for your child’s transport home on these days. Schools are aware of this policy.
Mobile phones/iPads/tablets
If mobile phones/ipads/tablets are carried on school transport, Plymouth City Council will not take any responsibility for loss or damage to these items.
You should ensure they are adequately covered on your own insurance.
Any games that are played on these devices whilst travelling must be age appropriate. Please be aware that children of all ages travel on school transport and if a game is deemed to be inappropriate your child may be asked to turn it off during the journey.
It is not is permitted for anyone to take photos or make recordings whilst on school transport.
Health and Safety
Who do I contact if my child is going to change his/her wheelchair?
If your child needs to travel in a wheelchair or buggy, we must arrange for it to be checked to make sure it is suitable for transport. Your child will not be able to travel until we have completed this check and approved the wheelchair or buggy.
An appropriate head rest/support must be provided and fitted for transport.
How can I help ensure that my child travels safely?
You can help us do this by ensuring your child is aware of the following:
- The importance of wearing a seat belt and keeping it fastened throughout the journey
- Not to distract the driver
- Not to throw things in or out of the vehicle
- Not to interfere with the doors or windows
- Eating and drinking are not allowed on the vehicle for Health and Safety reasons
- Bullying, vandalism or bad behaviour will not be tolerated and will lead to exclusion from transport
- Verbal or physical abuse of drivers or passenger assistants will not be tolerated and will lead to exclusion from transport
- Keep us up-to-date with any changes to medical conditions/behaviours
- Let us know what your child likes or dislikes and what they are interested in.
Please note: If your child is left at school (for example refusing to travel or behaviour issues) you will have to make your own arrangements to collect them from school.
All drivers and passenger assistants are Police checked
All the drivers and passenger assistants have had a full Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. They are issued with ID badges which should be worn at all times. Please ask to see this if you are unfamiliar with the person taking your child.
Medication
In the case of medication, controlled medication is not allowed on school transport and parents need to make their own arrangements for this to be given to school staff. We are not responsible for ensuring that medication travels with students.
In very rare circumstances, we may carry lifesaving medication, however, this requires a Risk Assessment, is not administered on transport, and we are not responsible for ensuring that it is being carried.
A student carrying lifesaving medication is given a 999 protocol so that emergency services can administer it.
Application forms and up to date information are available at Statutory school age: www.plymouth.gov.uk/school-transport
Contact information
Telephone: 01752 308770 - Office opening hours 7.30am to 4.30pm (term time) 8.30am to 4.30pm (school holidays)
Email: [email protected] - (this email address can be used for any non-urgent contact and the general response time is 10 working days.)
Text for cancellations: 07800 005336 - Please text your child’s name, route reference and the journeys to be cancelled. If for any reason your child’s transport is cancelled by School Transport, we will inform you by text so you can make alternative arrangements as it is the parents responsibility for your child to attend school.
Please ensure we have your current home and mobile phone numbers in case of emergency.