School Transport

Code of Conduct: Home to School/College Transport

Our Commitment

Parents' Code of Conduct 

Travel Behaviour Code 

Our Commitment:

The Council aims to provide the learner transport where it has statutory responsibility to do so for pupils/students to travel to and from a relevant place as determined by the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 in accordance with the Learner Travel Statutory Provision and Operational Guidance 2014. The nature of the transport provided by the council will be via a mode which the council considers will be without undue stress, strain or difficulty such as would prevent pupils/students from benefiting from the education on offer. Pupils/students should be able to travel in safety and reasonable comfort. We will take such steps as we consider necessary to satisfy ourselves of the suitability of both vehicles and drivers/passenger assistants.

  • Parents, schools/colleges and contractors will have access to advice and assistance during normal office hours.
  • Wherever possible, passes required for travel will normally be issued within 15 working days of receipt of an approved request, other than at the start of the academic school year where each authority will distribute the passes in accordance with their own procedure.
  • The Council will ensure that any special equipment, such as harnesses or seats, is provided either by the Council, Operator or Parent as deemed necessary.
  • Routes will be planned to minimise journey times, subject to the provision of an efficient and cost effective service.
  • The Council will facilitate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks at enhanced level to ensure that drivers and passenger assistants are suitable for a post which involves transporting children.
  • Identification badges will be prepared and issued to approved drivers and passenger assistants, who will be expected to display them at all times.
  • The safety and quality of school transport services and routes will be monitored on a regular basis.
  • Vehicles used for school transport may be fitted with CCTV. The footage is confidential but may be used as evidence in cases of misconduct or misbehaviour.

In accordance with the All-Wales Travel Behaviour Code Statutory Guidance, we will:

  • Work with the contractors, parents, pupils/students and the schools/colleges to resolve any behavioural problems which may arise on school/college transport services.
  • Ensure operators and drivers/passenger assistants are familiar with the content of the Travel Behaviour Code through specific training.
  • Work with schools/colleges to raise awareness of the importance of good behaviour and the consequences of failing to comply with the Travel Behaviour Code through staff and pupil Bus Safety training.
  • Expect incidents occurring on Home to School/College Transport to be reported to the relevant Transport Unit.
  • Maintain a log of all reported incidents, investigate each incident in conjunction with the school and other relevant parties and take further sanctions where appropriate.

Parents’ Code of Conduct

  • Parents, Guardians and/or Carers are responsible for encouraging good behaviour and ensuring the Welsh Government’s Travel Behaviour Code is complied with by your child. You are therefore expected to support the Council, the schools/colleges, the operators and their staff in maintaining good behaviour.
  • With regards to the prevention and dealing with Bullying, we will follow specific guidance as set out in the ‘Respecting Others Anti-bullying Agenda’ and ‘The Hate Crime Framework’.
  • If your child is involved in bad behaviour on school transport you will be involved in the disciplinary process at the earliest opportunity.
  • It should be clearly understood in cases of bad behaviour that the ultimate sanction is the removal of the right to receive transport. In that case the responsibility and full cost of providing transport will fall on you. Please read the Parent Guide for further information.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of your children in getting to the school transport in the mornings and in getting from it in the afternoon/evenings. Appropriate supervision arrangements should therefore be made, particularly for primary pupils.
  • In the mornings your child should leave home in plenty on time to get to the bus so that there is no need to rush, particularly if there are roads to be crossed.
  • You should also ensure that your child is dressed appropriately.
  • In the afternoon/evenings, a child who has to cross the road after getting off the bus should wait until the bus has driven off before attempting to cross so that they can see and be seen by other traffic. If meeting your child, wherever possible, you should wait at the drop off point itself, and not on the other side of the road.
  • A primary pupil will normally only be set down at his/her designated stop in the afternoon. Should there be any change to the normal arrangements, for whatever reason, you should inform the driver or the passenger assistant (if one is provided).
  • Where pupils who are taken to their drop off point in the afternoon and are usually collected by a parent/guardian, if there is no one there to collect them, the following procedure will be put in place – i. The driver will wait a maximum of 5 minutes for the parent/guardian to arrive. If there is still no one to collect the child, they will advise the Council’s Transport Unit and their Transport Operator of the situation but in the meantime will keep the pupil(s) on the vehicle and operate the service on its scheduled route so as not to delay other pupils on board. ii. On completion of the route, the driver will phone the Council’s Transport Unit and their Transport Operator for further instructions. In the event of being unable to contact the parent/guardian for further instructions, the driver will contact the police on 101.
  • Please advise the Council’s Transport Unit of any medical conditions that your child has that may affect his/her transport.
  • In cases of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, there may be temporary alterations to the transport provided. In some circumstances it may not be possible to operate a route at all, or to serve only part of the route.
  • If a school/college transport route does not operate in the morning due to inclement weather conditions but you choose to take your child(ren) to school yourself, then you will be required to make arrangements to collect your child(ren) at the end of the school/college day.
  • Please notify the Council’s Transport Unit immediately of any changes to your circumstances such as a change of address. If the bus pass is no longer required, it must be returned immediately to the Council. The continual use of a bus pass when it is no longer valid could be considered fraudulent.
  • Travel passes are valuable and replacements will be charged for. Lost passes should be reported immediately to the Council’s Transport Unit, who will advise you how to obtain a replacement.
  • If you have any suggestions on how the Code of Conduct may be improved, please direct your feedback to the Council who provides the transport.

Wales Travel - Behaviour Code

Parent Guide 

For most learners their journeys between home and school pass without incident or concern. Unfortunatley some journeys are marred by poor, disruptive and unacceptable behaviours that can impact on learners and the wider public. This can be a real threat to saftey and can have tragic consequences. 

The Travel Behaviour Code ('the code') is a statutory code that sets out the standards of behaviour required of learners and consequently promotes the safeguarding of learners. 

The Code applies to all learners up to the age of 19 years and applies to all types of travel to and from school or college, whether or not travel arrangments are made by a local authority. This includes contact buses, public buses, public trains, walking, taxis, scooters and motorbikes, cycling and journeys in cars. it also includes journeys between schools during the day, not just at the beginning and end of the day. 

The Code should form part of a school's behaviour policies and any misbehaviour on the journey to and from school can be dealt with under individual school behaviour policies or by enforcement of the Code or, in very serious cases, by the police. 

Parents of learners should ensure their children are aware of and understand the Code. Parents and learners need to be aware of the implications if a learner does not adhere to the Code. 

A local authority can withdraw and individual's entitlement to free transport, or their school could impose a disciplinary penalty on the learner. In the event that transport is withdrawn, it is the responsibility of the learner's parents to arrange suitable transport to and from the place of learning. 

It is also important that parents are aware of how to report incidents of poor behaviour that impact the safety and well-being of their child - for example, in cases where bullying occurs. 

Parents may be asked to sign Travel Behaviour Contracts. These contracts are between learners, parents, transport operators and local authorities. They are designed to foster a sense of shared responsibility for ensuring safety and to improve safety on the home to school journey on dedicated learner transport. They set out what behaviour is expected of everybody, including their roles and responsibilities. 

Parents and learners in receipt of dedicated learner transport from the local authority sign the contract to state they will comly with The Code and the Contract and that failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of transport. Local authorities and transport operators, in turn, sign the contracts to confirm the actions they will take to ensure safety on the home to school journey. 

Parents have a number of roles 
  • Help their children understand the Code
  • Help their children report incidents 
  • Encourage their children to comply with the Code in order to ensure school transport is safe for all
  • Be aware of the sanctions if the Code is breached, including the removal of transport to and from school and other measures that a school may take if the school's behaviour policy is breached
  • Parents are responsible in law for the learner's continued attendance at school if transport is withdrawn
  • Co-operate with education institutions, transport operators and local authorities 
  • Adhere to signed Travel Behaviour Contracts 
  • Ensure the learner understands the requirement to wear a seatbelt 
Sanctions 

If a reported incident has been investigated and it has been determined that a leaner has breached the Code, the local authority may withdraw the transport it provides. Before a decision to withdraw travel arrangments is made, the learner and the parents of the learner will be given the opportunity to make representations, which must be considered by the local authority. Parents should contact the local authority to find out the process for making a representation as each local authority may have a different process. 

Where the learner is a registered pupil at a maintained or non maintained school or a pupil referral unit, the local authority must consult with the school about the decision to withdraw tarvel arrangments. The head teacher must be given written notice of decision to withdraw learner transport at least 24 hours before the withdrawal takes effect specifying the period for which travel arrangments are to be withdrawn and the reason for withdrawal.

The local authority must give written notice of the withdrawal of travel arrangments to the learner's parents at least 24 hours before the withdrawal takes effect specifying the period for which travel arrangments are to be withdrawn and the reason for withdrawal. 

The local authority should continue to provide transport until the period of the withdrawal begins. However, there may be occasions when it is inappropriate for the learner to continue to travel to their place of learning in their normal way, particularly if they pose a risk or harm to others. In such cases, the local authority must make suitable alternative transport arrangments. 

The period of withdrawal must not exceed 10 consecutive school days, including where these are at the end and beginning of different school terms. The period of withdrawal must not result in the learners having travel arrangments withdrawn for more than 30 days in the school year in which the withdrawal takes effect. 

The local authority and school may decide that it is more appropriate for sanctions to be imposed under the school's behaviour policy. A learner should not generally have sanctions imposed on them for an incident on learners transport under both the Code and the school's behaviour policy. 

When considering whether the learner's parents can reasonably make alternative arrangements, it should be acknowledged that the withdrawal of learners travel would generally inconvenience parents and learners. Inconvenience of itself is not considered a sufficient reason for not withdrawing transport. 

There is no statutory appeals process for the withdrawal of transport by the local authority. However, local authorities 'complaints procedures and education institutions' disciplinary policies should be made available to learners and parents. 

School Bus Travel Behaviour Code

To Be Safe
  • When the bus arrives, wait for it to stop before boarding
  • Get on and off the bus carefully - pushing or rushing can cause accidents 
  • Always wear you seat belt and stay in your seat for the whole journey - it could save your life 
  • On a school bus, stay in your seat for the whole journey 
  • On a public bus, find a seat if one is available 
  • Store your bag or other belongings safely and out of anyone's way
  • Let the driver drive without distraction during the journey 
  • Take care of the bus
  • Never spit or smoke
  • Never be rude to other learners or the dirver 
  • Never interfere with drivers controls or safety equipment 
  • Never throw anything in or from the bus 
  • Only operate the bus doors or exits in an emergency and don't get off the bus until it has stopped 
  • Always follow the instructions of the driver or passenger assistant
  • If there is an accident, stay on the bus until you are told to leave - but leave the bus by the safest exit if it is unsafe to stay on the bus
  • When crossing the road find a safe place where you can be seen by all other drivers
  • Please tell a teacher, parent or driver about any bad behaviour you see

 

 

ID: 10761, revised 11/09/2023
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School Transport

Your child may be able to get free transport to school, depending on how far they live from the school and any additional needs they may have.

To qualify for free school transport your child must:

  • be a resident of Pembrokeshire 
  • be of compulsory school age
  • be attending their catchment area school which is designated by the Council to serve the pupil’s home address, or to the nearest suitable school
  • live at least 2 miles from the school if they’re in primary school
  • live at least 3 miles from the school if they’re in secondary school

You are advised to check if you are eligible for free transport before you decide which school to send your child

For further information: School Transport Information and Application Form

or contact:

Integrated Transport Unit 
County Hall
Haverfordwest 
Pembrokeshire 
SA61 1TP

Tel: 01437 775222
Email: school.transport@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

 

 

ID: 7143, revised 27/03/2023
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School Transport Appeals

This form will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and should be returned to the Integrated Transport Unit (ITU), County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP

or by emailing school.transport@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

School Transport Appeals

School Transport Entitlement Process

 

ID: 6993, revised 27/03/2023
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School Transport Eligibility

Search Address


ID: 7118, revised 09/09/2024
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Education Transport

Pembrokeshire County Council provides a free transport service for learners with certain circumstances and can also provide or help towards transport costs in some other situations. These pages provide details of the arrangements that the County Council has decided will apply to school and college transport services and explains how entitlement is established. You will also find Codes of Practice offering advice on how the journey to and from school or college can be undertaken safely and other useful information.

The County Council seeks to provide a transportation system which carries pupils safely, comfortably and efficiently to and from school so that they arrive ready and able to take full advantage of the education available. The Council transports around 5,500 school pupils to and from schools each day.

Privacy Notice

This notice explains why we collect and keep your personal information, how your information is used and what we do with the information we collect.

ID: 199, revised 27/06/2023
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School Transport Information and Application Form

You are advised to check if your child is eligible for transport before you decide which school to send your child to.


Before applying for your child/rens School Transport please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions of the service below:

 

School Transport Application Form (opens in a new tab)

 

Terms and conditions – Please read

Note: This information is correct at time of publication but may be subject to change as a result of changes in the law or County Council policy.

Introduction

This statement sets out Pembrokeshire County Council’s policy for the provision of home to school / college transport and is in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 (the Measure).

Legal Duties

The legal duties of the Council in relation to school transport are as follows:

  • To assess the travel needs of learners in their authority area;
  • To provide free home to school transport for learners of compulsory school age attending primary school who live 2 miles or further from their nearest suitable school;
  • To provide free home to school transport for learners of compulsory school age attending secondary school who live 3 miles or further from their nearest suitable school;
  • Assess and meet the needs of ‘looked after’ children in the authority’s area;
  • Promote access to Welsh medium education;
  • Promote sustainable modes of travel.

Free home to school transport will be provided according to the Measure and the Council’s policy as set out below.

School Admissions

There are separate applications processes in place for school admissions and school transport. Parents/guardians may express a preference for a school place and the admission authority must meet that preference unless to do so would prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources. However, it is important to note that obtaining a school place as part of the school admissions process does not automatically confer a right to free home to school transport, and parents must check their child’s entitlement for school transport before expressing a preference for a school place.

General policy on providing free school transport

Transport eligibility

Pupils will qualify for free home to school transport if they meet ALL of the following criteria:

  • Are residents of Pembrokeshire (i.e. where Council Tax for registered home address is paid to Pembrokeshire County Council). The “home address” is as defined in the annual “Admission to School – Information to Parents” booklet published by the Council, and a “parent” as defined in Section 576 of the Education Act 1996.
  • Are of compulsory school age;
  • Are attending the catchment area school which is designated by the Council to serve the pupil’s home address, or to the nearest suitable school;
  • Where a child of compulsory school age receiving primary education lives over two milesfrom the nearest suitable school, or;
  • Where a child of compulsory school age receiving secondary education, lives over three miles from the nearest suitable school
  • Transport MAY also be provided for pupils of compulsory school age on the following grounds:
  • Road Safety, where there is no available walking route to school. The walking route between the home address and school is assessed in accordance with the Measure guidelines on the Assessment of risk of walked routes to School.
  •  Medical condition. The Council will consider providing short term transport for pupils where a child requires transport on medical grounds.
  • Learners with Additional Learning Needs/Disabilities - where certain criteria are met. These are identified in section b) Definitions
  • A change of address during the final year of GCSE or A Level courses, in order to ensure continuity of education. Such provision will not continue into Years 12 and 13 where pupils move during Year 11.
  • Extreme and persistent bullying – where supporting evidence is provided detailing the steps taken to resolve the bullying through existing anti-bullying procedures within the school, together with a report from an Education Welfare Officer or the Local Authority’s Inclusion Service or a statement from the school to corroborate the bullying.

Definitions

Residents of Pembrokeshire

where Council Tax for registered home address is paid to Pembrokeshire County Council. The 'home address' is as defined in the annual 'Admission to School – Information to Parents' booklet published by the Council, and a 'parent' as defined in Section 576 of the Education Act 1996.

Compulsory school age

a child reaches compulsory school age in the term following their fifth birthday, with end of term dates being prescribed as the 31st August, 31st December and 31st March. A child ceases to be of compulsory school age if they have attained the age of 16 on the prescribed school leaving date, which is the last Friday in June, or before the next school year. The Council has no legal responsibility to provide transport for pupils under statutory school age and does not normally do so.

Walking distances

Measurement of shortest available distance is taken from the point where the private dwelling meets the public highway to the point where the nearest school entrance meets the public highway.

Catchment area

a geographical area, from which children may be afforded priority for admission to a school. A school’s catchment area is part of the admission arrangements. Each school’s catchment area is published on the Council’s website. It is important to note that School Transport eligibility is determined by the pupil’s home address and not which primary school s/he has attended. Primary feeder schools have no bearing on transport eligibility when transferring from primary to secondary schools and parents should always check this prior to applying for a school place.

Nearest suitable school

The definition of nearest 'suitable school' is where the education or training provided is suitable having regard for the age, ability and aptitudes of the learner and any learning difficulties he or she may have. Deciding which suitable school is the learner’s ‘nearest’ is a matter for the local authority to determine. In Pembrokeshire, a child’s ‘nearest suitable school’ is published as part of the School Transport Eligibility Checker on the Council’s website.

Primary school

a school catering for learners aged 3-11, or 4-11. This definition also covers the primary element of an all-through school, i.e. 3-16, or 3-19.

Secondary school

a school catering for learners aged 11-16, or 11-19. This definition also covers the secondary element of an all-through school, i.e. 3-16, or 3-19.

Safe walking routes

The Council will provide transport where it considers that a pupil cannot walk the nearest available route in reasonable safety when accompanied, if need be, by an adult, and if the alternative route is over the statutory walking distance from the school. In assessing the safety of an available route, consideration is given to the potential risk created by traffic, highway and topographical conditions. Each case will be considered on its own merits.

Medical condition

Transport arrangements may be made where the medical condition of learners either prevents them from making use of the normal transport or the condition prevents them from walking the defined 'statutory distance'. All applications for assistance on medical grounds must be supported by a medical certificate or signed statement from a medical practitioner which must clearly state that the learner is incapable of walking the specified 'statutory distance' to school. Each statement will be subject to a period of review determined by the condition and agreed with the parent at the time of initial award.

Learners with Additional Learning Needs / Disabilities – The Council will provide transport for eligible pupils in accordance with the following criteria:

  • The pupil, because of his or her disability, is incapable of using the usual school transport provided for pupils of compulsory school age receiving primary education or secondary education, as defined above, and is unable to make use of any alternative means of transport such as a family car or Motability vehicle.
  • The pupil lives within two miles of the catchment primary school or within three miles of the catchment secondary school but is incapable of walking to school and is unable to make use of any alternative means of transport, such as a family car or Motability vehicle.
  • The Council’s Inclusion Panel recommends that a pupil should be placed in a school which is not the catchment school and the above criteria are met.
  • Medical advice from the pupil’s Medical Consultant must confirm the above requirements. No other medical professional’s advice will be accepted.
  • Transport is not provided to pupils with additional learning needs or disabilities in the following circumstances:-
  • where parents choose a non-catchment school
  • to attend examinations outside the normal transport arrangements
  • to attend Breakfast and After School Clubs
  • to attend swimming lessons except if the child is a wheelchair user and cannot access swimming lessons otherwise, in which case the Council may pay the parent to transport the child
  • The Council may provide an attendant for pupils with additional learning needs who qualify for transport under the defined criteria. Provision of attendants will take place after consideration by relevant officers of the individual needs of the pupil or group of pupils concerned and the nature of the transport available and is at the discretion of the School Transport Unit .
  • In assessing the travel needs of learners, consideration is given to the potential stress and the amount of journey time. Each case will be considered on its own merits.

Parental Preference for a different school

The Council will not provide transport or make any contribution towards transport costs for pupils admitted as a result of a parental expression of preference for a school which is not deemed as the ‘nearest suitable school’. In these circumstances parents are responsible for making their own transport arrangements and for meeting all transport costs. Parents must consider their child’s transport entitlement before making an expression of preference for a school place.

Siblings

The determination of eligibility for school transport will be limited to the application being made for an individual child, not on the basis of a sibling’s attendance at a particular school or his/her transport entitlement. The only exception to this will be time-limited specific transport arrangements made as part of school organisation proposals.

Concessionary Travel

Pupils who are not eligible for free school transport may be allowed concessionary places on contract vehicles, if there are spare seats available. Concessionary passes are issued on the understanding that the pupils will use one of the existing bus stops on an existing bus route.

Such concessionary places are temporary and tenuous and may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of the Authority. E.g. when seats become unavailable as they are required for new eligible pupils. A minimum of 2 weeks’ written notice will be given, with a letter sent to the home address of the pupil and responsibility for transport then reverts to the parents. The Authority must determine the number of eligible pupils requiring transport in order to identify whether or not spare places are available on contract vehicles. Therefore, concessionary passes are often not issued until a few weeks into the school year. There is a currently no charge for concessionary school bus passes but this may change in the future.

Concessionary school bus passes are for one academic year only and must be applied for each year. The earliest an application can be submitted is 1st May and the deadline for concessionary bus applications is 5pm on the third Friday in August.

In the event that demand for concessionary travel exceeds the available number of spare places on contract vehicles, those who live within the school catchment area but under the statutory walking distance will be prioritised, and other individual cases are considered on their merit with priority being given to cases that would ensure continuity of learning (i.e. those who have been in the school the longest and those studying for GCSE and A Level courses). Final decisions on the allocation of spare places will be made by the relevant Cabinet member.

Transport for learners aged 16+

The Authority will provide discretionary transport beyond the compulsory school age where a Pembrokeshire learner resides over three miles from the catchment school (if there is a sixth form available) or the nearest college where a suitable programme of study is available. The learner must be studying full time and under 19 years of age on 1st September of the academic year in which the course is taken.
Transport will be provided to the catchment area secondary school which is designated by the Authority to serve the learner's home address, or to the nearest suitable college. It is not the practice of the Authority to provide transport on the basis of individual subject choices. Where there is no sixth form available at a pupil’s catchment or nearest suitable school, Pembrokeshire College has been determined to be the suitable place of study for further education.

Transport to Welsh medium provision

Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria identified above, the Council will provide free transport as follows:

Primary provision

Pupils will receive free transport if they live within the designated catchment of a Welsh medium or Dual Stream school, and satisfy the distance criteria outlined above. Pupils who do not live within the catchment area of a welsh medium school will not be entitled to transport but may be able to access concessionary travel.

Secondary provision

There are two schools providing secondary Welsh medium education in Pembrokeshire, namely, Ysgol y Preseli and Ysgol Caer Elen. Free transport will be determined by a pupil’s home address and the relevant school catchment area which serves that address. Both schools have their own catchment areas.

Faith Schools

Normal catchment area arrangements apply. However, the Authority will provide transport to the nearest faith school within eight miles of the pupil's home where the pupil lives outside the statutory walking distance and where admission to the school is on faith grounds as evidenced by a supporting letter from the pupil's local priest/vicar.

Bus Passes

A bus pass will be issued to those pupils entitled to transport, subject to the completion of an 'Application for School Transport Bus Pass' form. For further details on how to apply, please see section 4) Applying for School Transport. Secondary pupils and College students must carry their bus pass daily and must be available for inspection by Authority Officers or contractors' personnel. Pupils without a bus pass may be refused travel. A £5 charge will be made for a replacement bus pass. The application form for a bus pass must be completed and submitted online.

In the case of primary school pupils, they will be issued with a bus pass, but they will not be required to carry it on a daily basis. The Parent/Guardian should present it on the first day of travel so that the driver is aware that they have a pass and are entitled to travel.

Transport to Schools in Neighbouring Local Authority Areas

The Authority will provide transport in accordance with the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 and the Pembrokeshire’s definition of nearest suitable school. .

Nature of Transport Provision

Where transport arrangements are the responsibility of the Council, it will decide the most appropriate type of transport to be provided, or whether to provide parents with an allowance where it is appropriate and suitable.

Codes of Conduct

The Welsh Government has drawn up Travel Codes for all parties involved with school transport and these give advice and guidance on how the journey to and from school may be undertaken safely.

Pick-up / Drop-off points

Due to the rural nature of the County it is not always possible to arrange the routes of vehicles to pass close to the homes of all pupils travelling. Parents may therefore be required to make their own arrangements for their children to get to and from the nearest pick-up / drop-off point. Every effort will be made to keep this distance as short as possible. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that pupils are safely escorted to and from the vehicle.

Pupil Behaviour

Pupils whose behaviour during the journey to and from school is not of an acceptable standard or in compliance with the Code of Conduct may have the agreed travelling arrangements withdrawn and responsibility for transport to and from school will then fall on parents. CCTV cameras will be used on certain vehicles to monitor behaviour. The driver will be responsible for the supervision of pupils on the vehicle during the journey to and from school. The driver will report any incidents of bad behaviour to the Authority and the travelling arrangements may be withdrawn. Smoking and vaping is not permitted on vehicles contracted to the Authority.

Parental Responsibility in relation to School Transport

Parents have the responsibility for:

  • getting their child to and from school, where they do not qualify for transport;
  • ensuring that they are aware of school transport entitlement prior to applying for a school place;
  • applying to the Council for school transport within the set deadlines;
  • ensuring that their child is ready and waiting for transport at the appropriate time and place. The safety of the child is the responsibility of parents before embarking and after disembarking the bus. It is the parent's responsibility to make arrangements for their child to meet the transport provided and for their child to be accompanied to and from the vehicle if required;
  • ensuring that their child's behaviour while using school transport is socially acceptable and complies with the approved Travel Codes;
  • getting their child to and from school where transport has been withdrawn due to bad behaviour;
  • informing the Authority in writing when school transport is no longer required.

Damage

The Authority or Contractors will seek recompense from parents where responsibility for wilful damage rests with their children.

Review of School Transport Routes

The Authority will review routes and transport provision on a regular basis in order to improve efficiency. Route changes may be implemented during the course of an academic year. Determination of the size of bus used for each route will be made based on the numbers eligible for free school transport, not based on numbers including demand for concessionary travel.

Inclement Weather

In cases of inclement weather, or other unforeseen circumstances, there may be temporary alterations to the transport provided. In some circumstances it may not be possible to operate a route at all or to serve only part of a route. If a school/college route does not operate in the morning, due to inclement weather, but parents choose to take their child(ren) to school themselves, then they will be required to make arrangements to collect their child(ren) at the end of the school day.

Applying for school transport

Applications for school transport must be made via the 'My Account' facility on the Council’s website, but not before parents receive confirmation of a school place from the Admissions Service. In order to ensure effective and efficient school transport provision, applications must be received by the following deadlines:

Primary

  • Normal admission: By 31st May
  • All other times: As soon as possible following confirmation of a school place

Secondary

  • Normal admission: By 30th April
  • All other times: As soon as possible following confirmation of a school place 

As part of the application process, the Council will publish a privacy notice which will explain why it collects and keeps parents’ and pupils’ personal information, how it is used and what it does with the information collected.

Transport appeals

In the case of a dispute relating to any decision to award or reject an application for transport or to withdraw entitlement to concessionary travel, an appeal should be made in writing to the Integrated Transport Unit (ITU), using the School Transport Appeal Form

An appeal must be submitted no later than 14 days following the date of notification. Consequently, the Council should ensure that the grounds for appeal are investigated appropriately and that the decision is communicated to parents within 30 days of the receipt of the letter of appeal.

If a parent is dissatisfied with the procedures used by the ITU to deal with their request, they can ask the Director of Education to review the ITU’s actions. If the Director concludes that the ITU has not followed its procedure, has acted unreasonably, or has failed to carry out its statutory duty to deal with the request then the Director can ask the ITU to reconsider its decision. If the parent highlights that the child has ‘ALN’ then the Inclusion Panel may be asked to consider such appeals. If a parent provides additional supporting evidence that was not available at the time of the appeal then this will be considered as part of the review process.

Contact details

Integrated Transport Unit
County Hall
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
SA61 1TP
Tel: 01437 775222
Email: school.transport@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

 

ID: 200, revised 16/09/2024
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