Behaviour on Home to School and College Transport policy

This policy explains the behaviour expected from pupils and students using Home to School and College Transport.

It also explains the responsibilities of parents and carers, schools, transport operators and the Council.

Home to School Transport

Home to School Transport is a statutory requirement for children of compulsory school age who live further than the statutory walking distance from the appropriate school for their home address.

This means:

a child under 8 years old who attends their catchment or nearest school and lives more than 2 miles from the school
a child over 8 years old who attends their catchment or nearest school and lives more than 3 miles from the school

From September 2027, there is a policy change and eligibility will be based on nearest school only.

Our Integrated Home to School Transport Team provides transport through a range of contracted services.

These contracts cover journeys from home to school and back during term time only.

Transport operators must provide vehicles that meet the contract requirements. They must provide a safe and reliable journey to and from school.

Schools, pupils, parents and carers should work with the Council and transport operators to promote good behaviour.

Responsibility for behaviour on home to school transport is shared between:

the Council
schools
transport operators
drivers
parents and carers
pupils

When a transport operator tells us about good behaviour, we will recognise it. We will send a letter of commendation to the child, their parent or carer and their school.

This policy applies to passengers travelling on contracted and local bus services.

Behaviour on school and college transport

Pupils and students travelling on contracted transport represent their family, school, college and the Council. Transport operators represent transport in Cumbria.

The Council and schools and colleges work with transport operators, parents, carers and pupils to resolve problems involving school transport.

When travelling, you must:

not smoke, including electronic cigarettes
not swear or use verbal aggression
not bully, fight, spit or vandalise property
behave responsibly
sit one person to a seat and not change seats during the journey
not shout or disturb the driver
not throw anything inside or outside the bus
respect the right of other passengers to travel without bullying or distress
follow reasonable instructions from the driver

Distracting the driver is a criminal offence.

The Council, schools and transport operators will report and investigate poor behaviour. Where necessary, disciplinary action may include:

an official warning
being allocated a designated seat
suspension from school transport for an appropriate period
payment for any damage caused

We will report criminal damage or behaviour to the Police.

Suspension from school transport

This includes local bus services.

Some incidents may result in temporary suspension from school transport.

If your child is suspended from school transport, you are responsible for making sure they continue to attend school.

What happens when there is a behaviour problem

Transport operators, pupils, parents or carers should tell the school about the problem
The school will try to resolve the problem locally
Repeated problems, or issues that cannot be resolved locally, must be reported to the Integrated Home to School Transport Team
The Integrated Home to School Transport Team will write to the relevant person about the issue and explain what action is expected

Suspension process

If a pupil does not take the action required, or there are repeated incidents, we will write to the parent, carer or pupil to confirm a one-week suspension.

If the pupil continues not to follow reasonable requests to improve their behaviour, they may be suspended for:

the rest of the current half term
the rest of the current term
the rest of the academic year

We hope these sanctions will not be necessary. However, everyone must understand their responsibilities and what may happen if reasonable standards of behaviour are not met.

During any period of suspension, the parent or carer remains responsible for getting their child to and from school.

Code of conduct

All passengers have the right to travel safely. Poor behaviour is not acceptable.

Everyone covered by this policy should understand their responsibilities. This approach helps promote good behaviour and a positive experience of passenger transport. A good experience of school transport may encourage children to use passenger transport in the future.

Parents and carers

Parents and carers play an important role in making sure children understand how they should behave on school transport.

Please read this policy with your child.

Accepting a travel pass provided by the Council means accepting this behaviour policy.

You must:

make sure your child is at the departure point 5 minutes before the transport is due
look after young children until the transport arrives
make sure young children are met when the transport returns from school
make sure your child has their travel pass with them, as transport operators will check passes
make sure your child knows what to do if the transport is late or does not arrive
make sure your child knows how to behave appropriately on school transport
work with the school, Council and transport operator if your child misbehaves
tell the transport team immediately if your circumstances change
return your child's travel pass to the Integrated Home to School Transport Team if it is no longer needed

It costs £16.10 to replace a lost or damaged travel pass.

Pupils and students

You are responsible for your behaviour when travelling.

You must:

carry your travel pass at all times
find a seat and stay seated while the bus is moving
use the seat belt where one is provided
follow the driver's instructions
not distract the driver, as this could cause danger
behave in an orderly way
be polite to other passengers
use the correct door when entering and leaving the vehicle

Take care of your travel pass. It costs £16.10 to replace.

Schools

Schools have an important role in supporting good behaviour on school transport.

Schools should:

provide adequate supervision at vehicle pick-up and drop-off points
tell transport operators about any special parking arrangements at the school
where possible, make sure private vehicles do not block pick-up and drop-off points used by contracted vehicles
help pupils, parents and carers understand appropriate behaviour on school transport
investigate incidents of poor or unacceptable behaviour
nominate a member of staff as a contact for school transport behaviour issues
support the Council and transport operators in improving pupil behaviour on transport

Contact us

Integrated Home to School Transport Team
Telephone: 0300 303 1591 (option 2)
Email: school.transport@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk