Frequently asked questions about the School Travel Service

Distance is measured by the shortest reasonable walking route, by which a child may walk safely.

In cases where extended rights apply, and the child is travelling more than two miles, but no more than six (or 15 if the preferred school has been chosen based on grounds of religion or belief), then the shortest route will be measured along road/driving routes.

An appropriate school is the nearest qualifying school with places available that provides education appropriate to the child’s age, ability and aptitude. It must also support the child's Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Qualifying schools can be:

• Community, foundation or voluntary schools
• Community or foundation special schools
• Non-maintained schools
• Pupil referral units
• Maintained nursery schools
• City Technical Colleges (CTC)
• City Colleges for the Technology of Arts (CCTA)
• Academies, including free schools and University Technical Colleges (UTC)

An independent school can also be qualifying where it is assessed as being the nearest, most appropriate school, and is named in a child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

We will assist with travel to or from a school or education setting either at:

• The start and end of their school day
• At the start and end of their scheduled hours, if on a reduced timetable
• At the start and end of their provision periods as agreed by Southampton City Council, if attending a residential provision

We will not offer school travel support to and from after school events, for example sports events or breakfast clubs.

Where appropriate and reasonable, parents or carers may be expected to take their child to and/or from a pick-up or drop-off point. These points will be within one mile of the child’s home address.

Parents or carers are responsible for the safety of their child until they board and after they exit the vehicle. If the parent or carer is not at the drop-off point to meet their child they will be placed into the care of the Duty Social Worker at Children's Social Care. The parent or carer may be responsible for any additional expenditure incurred.

We are committed to identifying sustainable modes of transport for transport assistance where appropriate and suitable for the child or young person. It will also be decided which the most cost-effective method is.

Examples of the types of transport considered include, but are not limited to:

Independent travel training

If they are a Year 9 student and above with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and/or disabilities, children and young people will be assessed for independent travel training. This allows students to have the confidence and ability to travel independently.

Walking escort

An escort may be provided to accompany a child on their walk to their school or education setting, where walking is an appropriate means of making the journey, and the parent or carer consents to the arrangement.

Transport escort

Passenger escorts are provided in individual cases where the local authority feels it is necessary to meet a child’s individual needs. The role of the passenger escort will be to provide general supervision and ensure that a child’s journey to and from school is safe.

Bus or rail pass

A bus or rail pass, allowing the child or young person to use these services. 

Taxi

A taxi to bring the child or young person to or from their destination.

Personal Transport Budget 

A travel budget may be provided to enable parents to make their own arrangements for their child to travel to and from their education setting.

The School Travel Service is a Southampton City Council service and delivered for the Directorate of Children’s Services and Learning.

The service uses several different types of vehicle depending on a number of factors. The vehicle could be a:

• Taxi
• Minibus
• Coach
• Wheelchair accessible bus

The School Travel Service work closely with staff from the Special Educational Needs Team and Schools to decide what type of vehicle may be appropriate.

In certain circumstances expenses may be paid if you wish to use your own transport to take your children to and from school. If you wish to make your own arrangements, you should discuss this with the School Travel Service.

Once travel arrangements have been made, it is not possible to guarantee that the same vehicle, operator, driver or escort will always be used and therefore you should be aware that it may be necessary to make changes at any time.

The School Travel Service will notify you of any changes by telephone, email or letter. We may also assess your child for Independent Travel Training. The School Travel Service will discuss this with you, where appropriate.

A Passenger Assistant (PA) will be provided to accompany your child to and from school if it is felt that there would be a risk to the health or safety of your child or other children on the vehicle without one.

PAs are required to stay in or close to the vehicle at all times as they are responsible for all of the children on the vehicle. Therefore they are unable to enter children’s homes to collect them or drop them off.

It is your responsibility to take your child out to the vehicle in the mornings and collect your child from the vehicle in the afternoons, if you feel that the child needs to be accompanied to or from the vehicle.

If your child is new to school travel in a council provided vehicle, or if you wish to give the PA up to date information about your child, you can ask the PA for an appropriate form on the first morning. This form will help the PA get to know your child and ensure that they are equipped with all the relevant knowledge to make the journey to school both safe and enjoyable.

If a PA is unable to work, for example due to sickness, and it is not possible to find a replacement, the transport may have to be cancelled. If this happens, every effort will be made to inform you as early as possible. If you decide to take your child into school using another means of transport, please ensure that you are able to collect your child at the end of the school day in the event that the School Travel Service is unable to find another PA to cover in the afternoon.

Drivers are not employed by Southampton City Council. They are provided by the transport operators contracted by us. 

These drivers must all hold either a Private Hire, Hackney Carriage or Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) License and have undergone an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Some children are picked up and dropped off from their home. This may be due to their personal circumstances or because of the type of vehicle they are travelling in.

Larger vehicles may pick up and drop off children at a central point. In these cases the parent carer is responsible for the safety of your children between home and the pick-up/drop off point.

If you have waited more than 15 minutes after the pick-up time and no transport has arrived, you should contact the School Travel Service for information.

We provide assistance for journeys from home to school. We are unable to provide assistance for journeys:

• To a school other than your child’s designated school or the nearest appropriate school named in their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• To work experience placements
• To dental or hospital appointments
• At times other than the normal school start and finish times
• In the event of sickness, where your child has to be collected from school (or returned mid-week if attending a residential school)
• To or from a venue that is not your normal home address, for example, a childminder's house or a respite care placement

Please note: These conditions may not apply if your child’s transport has been agreed by a Social Worker.

We take every precaution to ensure your child's safety while they are travelling on a council School Travel Service vehicle. In particular we ensure that:

• Passenger Assistants (PAs) have received an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check 
• PAs carry ID cards issued by Southampton City Council and wear high-visibility vests
• Drivers, PAs and transport operators are aware of their duties and responsibilities, particularly in the event of an emergency
• PAs receive regular training, including in first aid and manual handling
• You are informed in advance of any changes in transport arrangements
• Children are never left alone at drop-off points unless you have given written permission to the PA for this to happen

For reasons of health and safety your child must:

• Not smoke on school transport
• Not eat or drink on the vehicle
• Not stand up in the vehicle while it is moving
• Use their seatbelt at all times

You may be held responsible for any damage caused by your child and be asked to reimburse the operator accordingly. Persistent disruptive or violent behaviour may result in your child’s exclusion from the transport. Should this happen, you will then be responsible for taking your child to and from school.

You can play an important part in ensuring the smooth running of your child's transport arrangements by:

• Advising the School Travel Service of any changes to contact details, such as changes of address and telephone numbers
• Making sure that your child is ready five minutes before the pick-up time. Transport will only wait for three minutes after your child’s agreed pick up time
• Always being at the drop-off point to meet your child, or making arrangements for a responsible adult to meet your child on your behalf* 
• Informing the School Travel Service, Passenger Assistant (PA) or operator as soon as possible if your child is ill or unable to travel for any reason
• Advising the PA if you are aware of any problems affecting your child on a particular day
• Ensuring that your child is aware of the appropriate behaviour whilst travelling
• Providing the PA or the School Travel Service with the name, address and telephone number of a responsible person who can take responsibility for your child in an emergency, if you are not available

*If there is no one at the drop-off point to meet your child, you will have to meet any additional expenditure involved in ensuring your child's safe return. In such cases we reserve the right to contact outside agencies, such as Children’s Services and the Police, as necessary.