Home to school travel - including behaviour policy

Introduction

This document describes the policy for home to school travel assistance for all children and young people aged 0-25 years. It explains the responsibilities of parents/carers and Cumberland Council regarding school transport, as well as how to apply for school transport and the criteria applied to determine eligibility.

Policy aims

Where children and young people are eligible for transport assistance, our policy recognises that one size doesn’t necessarily fit all and that different families have differing needs. We also want to make sure that young people are best prepared for adulthood.

The policy will:

provide a range of available support to meet differing needs
support some young people with SEND to travel independently

The policy explains how we decide who can get travel assistance and what help is available for children and young people with SEND. It applies to children attending:

mainstream schools and academies
specialist units in mainstream schools and academies
special schools and academies
pupil referral units (PRUs)
sixth-form colleges

Home to School travel assistance aims to:

support those most in need
promote principles of independence
provide the most cost-effective travel assistance
promote and encourage the use of sustainable travel

As a Council, we expect the service delivered to be of a high standard. All children and young people who travel under this policy can expect that those standards will be monitored and maintained.

In this policy we have referred to children of statutory school age (5 to 16 years) as “pupils”, and those over statutory school age as “students”.

Only people living in the Cumberland Council area will be considered for school and college transport assistance.

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Check if your child is eligible for free school transport

Your child or children may be entitled to free school transport if they meet certain criteria.

Your child is eligible if they are of compulsory school age, go to their nearest suitable school and one of the following applies:

they are aged 8 and under and the school is more than 2 miles away
they are aged 8 and over and the school is more than 3 miles away
they wouldn’t be able to walk there safely, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian
they wouldn’t be able to walk there because of their special educational needs, disability or a mobility problem, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian

Entitlement to free transport is linked to your catchment or nearest qualifying school. Children from your area may be attending a school which is not the catchment school.

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Low income

If your child is entitled to free school meals, or you receive the maximum level of Working Tax Credit, then you are entitled to assistance with transport if your child is aged:

8 to 11 years and where the distance is more than 2 miles
11 to 16 years and attending 1 of the 3 nearest secondary schools, all of which must be more than 2 miles but not more than 6 miles from home
11 to 16 years and attending their nearest faith secondary school, preferred by parents on the basis of religion, and which is greater than 2 miles but not more than 15 miles from their home

When choosing a school, you will need to consider the possibility of your income increasing above the threshold.

Should your family income increase above the threshold limit for low income families, the additional transport benefit will continue up to the end of the current academic year in July.

In the following year, assistance will revert to that based on the statutory entitlement.

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Special educational needs (SEN)

A statement of SEN or an education, health and care (EHC) plan may contain details of transport which we consider appropriate to meet a child’s individual needs. If this is not the case, the normal school transport policy will apply.

Having an education, health and care (EHC) plan does not automatically mean that your child will be eligible for travel assistance.

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Faith school

If your child is aged between 5 and 16 years and you apply for a place in a school on the basis of religion (and in the view of the Director of Children and Family Wellbeing the appropriate religious education is not provided in the catchment or nearest school) then transport from the nearest boarding point can be made available, if:

adherence to the relevant denomination can be demonstrated
your child is attending the nearest such school and it is no more than 8 miles away in the case of a primary school and 15 miles for a secondary school
your child is aged 8 and under and you live more than 2 miles from school
your child is aged 8 and over and you live more than 3 miles away, measured by the shortest available walking route

There will be an annual cost of £655 per child payable termly (£258 autumn term, £243 spring term and £154 summer term).

You will not be entitled to free transport for your child if you live within the statutory walking distance and attending a school on the basis of religion where this is not the nearest suitable school. This includes if there is no safe walking route available.

No refund will be made in respect of any unexpired part of a travel pass no longer required.

Low income groups

Children aged 11 to 16 years from low income families attending their nearest faith secondary school preferred by their parents/carers on the basis of religion and, which is greater than 2 miles but not more than 15 miles from their home, are entitled to assistance with transport.

If the family income increases above the threshold limit for low income families, the additional benefit will continue up to the end of the current academic year in July.

In the following year, assistance will revert to that based on the policy detailed above.

It is important to remember that you, and not the local authority, are responsible for your child’s transport to school and you must take this into consideration even if you are currently in a ‘low income group’.

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Exceptional circumstances

There may be rare occasions where the circumstances are such that we will assist with transport to make sure your child can access education.

For instance, a child with a medical condition living below the statutory walking distance from school may be given transport.

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Who is responsible for organising school transport

Organising your child or children's school transport depends on where you live and if you are on a low income.

When you are responsible

If you’re a parent or a carer of a child that is aged 5 to 16 years, then you are responsible for making sure your child attends school and their transport arrangements.

If you choose a school that is neither your catchment or nearest qualifying school, you will be responsible for transport for your child.

This would be a long term commitment for you as a parent or carer and it needs very careful consideration.

When we are responsible

There are 4 categories of statutory school age students living in Cumberland and attending their catchment or nearest suitable school who are eligible for Council funded travel assistance:

children who live beyond the statutory walking distance
children from low-income families (where extended rights apply)
children whose walking route to school is unsafe
some children with special educational needs (SEN), a disability or a mobility difficulty

Suitable schools

The nearest suitable school is defined as 'the nearest qualifying school with places available that provides education appropriate to the child's:

age
ability
aptitude
gender
special educational need

A qualifying school includes:

maintained schools (including academies) or nurseries
special schools approved under Section 342 of the Education Act 1996
pupil referral units
alternative provision academies

A suitable school is not necessarily the most suitable schools for a child. Schools are able to meet a wide range of needs. The nearest secondary school to the home of a child of secondary school age, for example, will almost always be their nearest suitable school (provided it would be able to admit them).

Where children meet the eligibility criteria, we will fund transport to such schools.

Where a child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, the school named in the plan will normally, but not always, be considered to be their nearest suitable school.

Transport

Transport will be provided by the most appropriate means available.

This may be a pass to travel free by public bus or train, or a vehicle which Cumberland Council has under contract from an approved transport operator.

Children who are issued a travel pass on a vehicle privately contracted to Cumberland Council will be restricted to travelling in the morning and afternoon at the standard times.

Children who are issued with a Stagecoach travel pass may be able to travel flexibly for one journey to and one journey from the school daily.

Contact the School Transport team, Education SEND and Inclusion who will advise you of restrictions on your route.

Telephone: 0300 3031591 (choose option 1)

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If your child is entitled to free transport

You will be responsible for supervising your child to and from the nearest pick up point. The pick up point will be located within a reasonable distance of home.

If you believe that a pick up point is unsuitable, for example, due to safety concerns, you can ask us to consider the suitability of the travel arrangements and whether a route safety assessment to the pick up point is needed.

You must also bear in mind that:

their journey to and from school may not be by the most direct route
the journey may involve a number of pick up and drop off points
the arrangements are likely to change from time to time

As a result, it will take longer to get to school than a non-stop journey or the most direct route from the pick up point.

Pick up and drop off times will be planned to take into account school or college start and finish times. Making sure that the child or young person arrives on time. We are unable to guarantee that pick up or drop off times will be compatible with any other arrangements that may be made by parents or carers.

We try to keep the home to school journey time each side of the school day, to no more than:

45 minutes for primary schools
75 minutes for secondary schools

We will always try to offer a solution which does not exceed the recommended maximum journey times. On some occasions, given the challenging nature of Cumberland's geography or as a result of traffic delays, these times may be exceeded.

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Policy behaviour and safeguarding policies

All pupils, parents and carers and transport operators need to adhere to both the behaviour and safeguarding policies.

Introduction

The home to school journey is a statutory requirement for children of compulsory school age living further than the statutory walking distance from the appropriate school for their home address.

In Cumbria this is interpreted as:

a child under 8 years of age attending his/her catchment or nearest school and living further than 2 miles from school
a child over 8 years of age attending his/her catchment or nearest school and living further than 3 miles from school

The Council’s Home to School Transport Team provides home to school transport through a range of contracted services. The contracts are for journeys from home to school and return during term time only.

Operators are required to provide vehicles to meet contract specifications and to provide a safe and reliable journey to and from school.

Schools, pupils and parent/carers are expected to work together to help the Council and its operators to fulfil these roles. This includes the promotion of good behaviour.

The behaviour of the majority of pupils on home to school transport is generally good and does not cause concern. However, as is the case in the school setting, from time to time the behaviour of the minority of pupils is unacceptable. The difference is that whilst the responsibility for the management of behaviour in school is clear, the responsibility during the journey to and from school on school transport is less easily defined.

If the behaviour of pupils is to be positively influenced then the responsibility for behaviour on home to school transport has to be seen as shared and this emphasises the need for partnership. There is a responsibility on the Council, schools, operators, drivers, parent/carers and pupils to make the partnership work.

Instances of good behaviour will be recognised by the Local Authority when the operator conveys this information. This will take the form of a letter of commendation to the child, his/her parent/carer and the school.

This leaflet includes the Behaviour Policy and contains a Code of Conduct for schools, parent/carers and pupils. The policy has equal application to any passenger travelling on a contracted or local bus service.

Behaviour policy

The way you behave says a lot about you. School pupils and college students travelling on contracted transport represent their family, their school/college and the Council and it is important to understand poor behaviour reflects badly on everyone concerned.

This also relates to the Council’s transport operators and it is implicit when an operator accepts a contract with the Council that they understand their role in portraying a positive image of transport in Cumbria.

The Council and schools/colleges are committed to work in partnership with operators, parent/carers and pupils to resolve difficulties involving the transport provided.

The Policy is designed to offer good advice on how to behave in a manner that brings credit to you and the groups you represent:

no smoking including electronic cigarettes
no swearing or verbal aggression
no bullying, fighting, spitting, vandalism
students who have a right to travel on school buses also have a responsibility to behave well
sit one person per seat and do not change seats during the journey
do not shout or disturb the driver - respect that they have a responsible job. (It is a criminal offence to distract the driver)
do not throw things inside the bus or out of the windows
respect the rights of other passengers to travel without fear of bullying or any other form of distress
carry out any reasonable instruction given by the driver

Cumberland Council, schools and operators commit to report and investigate all instances of poor behaviour and to take appropriate disciplinary action, where necessary. This may include:

official warnings
allocation of a designated seat
suspension from school transport for an appropriate period of time
payment for any damage caused

Criminal damage or behaviour will be reported to the Police.

Suspension from School Transport (including Local Bus Services)

Whilst it is important to promote a positive approach to the home to school journey, it is also important to recognise that there will be incidents that warrant temporary suspension from the transport provided. In such circumstances parent/carers are expected to ensure that their child attends school to receive their compulsory education. Circumstances warranting temporary suspension may include a number of the items listed above.

Escalation

Operators, pupils or parent/carers to make the school aware of a problem
The school will seek to provide a local solution
Repeated problems or issues that cannot be resolved locally must be reported to the Home to School Transport Team
The Home to School Transport Team will write to the relevant party informing them of the issue and the expected course of action

Suspension

Failure of the pupil to meet the action required, or repeated incidences will result in a further letter informing the parent/carer/pupil of a one-week suspension
Continued failure of pupils to adhere to reasonable requests for improved behaviour will result in longer term suspension from transport as follows:

remainder of the current half term
remainder of the current term
remainder of the academic year

It is hoped that these sanctions will not be necessary BUT it is important that parent/carers, pupils and operators have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and the consequences of failure to meet reasonable standards of conduct. For any period of suspension, it remains the responsibility of the parent/carer to get their child to/from school.

Travel safely guidance (PDF, 182.53KB)

Safeguarding passengers on council transport (PDF, 413.5KB)

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Code of Conduct

All passengers have a right to travel safely. Poor behaviour is never acceptable and our aim is to raise standards of behaviour on all contracted passenger transport services (including home to school transport).

All parties subject to these guidelines are expected to fulfil their role as described and to promote good behaviour on the home to school journey. This approach will help to create a positive image of passenger transport and will encourage improved attitudes and behaviour. School children are potential future passengers on passenger transport and a good experience of school transport at an early age may encourage future use as a fare-paying passenger.

Guidelines for Passengers/School Pupils and Parent/ Carers

You are responsible for your own conduct when travelling on passenger transport.

Parent/carers have a key role to ensure their child is aware of the importance of appropriate behaviour on school transport. It is vitally important to have the full support of parent/ carers in order to maintain good behaviour. Therefore, parent/carers are requested to take time to read through this document with their child.

Acceptance of the travel pass provided by the Council indicates acceptance of the behaviour policy:

it is your responsibility to ensure that your child is at the departure point five minutes before the transport is due and that young children are looked after until the transport arrives
ensure that young children are met when the transport returns from school
make sure your child has their travel pass with them - operators will make checks
make sure your child knows what to do if the transport is late, or does not arrive
ensure your child knows to behave appropriately on school transport
co-operate with school, the Council and the operator if your child is misbehaving on school transport
immediately notify the transport team of any changes in your circumstances. If your child’s travel pass is no longer required please return it to the Home to School Transport Team
lost or damaged travel passes are required to be replaced at a cost of £13.80

Pupils

carry your travel pass at all times
find a seat and remain seated whilst the bus is moving
use the seatbelt where provided
do as the driver/escort asks you
do not distract the driver as this could cause danger
behave in an orderly manner
be polite to other passengers
enter and leave by the correct door

Take care of your travel pass; it will cost £13.80 to replace.

Guidelines for schools

In securing good behaviour on school transport, schools’ policies for discipline and management of pupil behaviour have a significant impact.

Whilst the degree of control a school can exercise on home to school transport is limited, it is reasonable to suggest that schools have a general responsibility for the behaviour of their pupils where it is obvious that a child or young person is travelling to or from school:

provide adequate supervision at vehicle set down and pick up points and inform operators of any special parking arrangements at your school
wherever possible make sure that private vehicles do not obstruct contracted vehicles set down and pick up points
assist in developing the understanding of pupils (and parent/carers where appropriate) in relation to behaviour on school transport issues
investigate all incidents of poor or unacceptable behaviour
nominate a key member of staff to act as contact in relation to behaviour on school transport issues
to support the Local Authority and operators in seeking improvements to pupil behaviour on transport

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