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