These standards define the specific responsibilities of the council, transport providers and of parent/carers in relation to travel arrangements offered to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Underlying these standards is the principle that if the council agrees to provide travel assistance, it will be provided in a safe and cost effective manner, taking account of the specific needs of the child or young person and with regard to the best use of resources.
Transport staff
The quality of travel assistance to and from school can often affect the emotional welfare and behaviour of children and young people. All drivers and passenger assistants (PA) will:
- show understanding and empathy for children, young people, parent/carers and school staff.
- treat children and young people with respect and dignity.
- greet children, young people and parent/carers politely and ensure that all passengers travel in comfort and safety.
- have undergone a training programme and will be in receipt of disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks.
Passenger assistants will only be provided as part of travel arrangements where a need has been assessed in order to support the safe travel and care of the children and young people on a particular route.
It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to lift their child into and out of their seat if assistance is required. It is the responsibility of the PA to ensure that the passenger is fastened into their seat.
To ensure the safety of passengers, the consumption of food or drinks is not permitted on board a vehicle.
We recognise that change can be unsettling. As a result we will make every effort to ensure continuity, however this may not always be possible due to illness, holidays, retirements and changes to suppliers. Changes may also be necessary from time to time to ensure the efficient use of council resources.
Vehicles
Transport will be provided in accordance with contractual standards and legislation.
All vehicles will be properly licensed and roadworthy, and will offer the standards of comfort and safety as prescribed in relevant legislation. Regular monitoring of quality and service standards will take place in respect of the service provider’s vehicles.
Vehicles will have specialist wheelchair access and wheelchair tie down and occupant restraint systems where necessary.
Travelling times
We will endeavour to ensure that pupils arrive at school ready to learn and recognise that the length of the journey to school, if too long, can affect this. We expect the maximum length of journey for a pupil will be no more than the statutory guidelines. On occasions there are factors outside our control which may affect this, for example unforeseen traffic congestion or bad weather.
In certain circumstances it may be necessary to vary planned routes and this may affect pick up and drop off times. Where this is the case we will always aim to provide five working days’ notice to parent/carers.
These journey times do not apply where pupils are travelling to schools and colleges outside of Trafford.
Vehicle waiting times
It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to bring their child or young person to the vehicle in the morning and collect from the vehicle in the afternoon. When a vehicle arrives at a pick up or drop off point, the horn will not be sounded.
To make sure journey times are kept to a minimum and that all passengers arrive at school or college on time, drivers have waiting time limits as follows:
- If your child is not ready, or not at the agreed pick up point, the vehicle will wait for a maximum of 2 minutes after the agreed pick up time and then set off.
- If the vehicle arrives early the driver will wait until the set time and then a further 2 minutes before setting off.
- If the vehicle arrives late it will move off as soon as all the passengers have boarded.
If the child misses the transport under these circumstances, the parent/carer is responsible for ensuring their child or young person gets to school or college on time.
If more than two occurrences of delay are caused by parent/carers, children or young people not being available at the official time, travel assistance will be reviewed and may be suspended or permanently withdrawn. In such circumstances parent/carers will be responsible for ensuring their child or young person’s regular attendance at school or college.
Absences
Where a child or young person cannot attend school or college on any particular day due to illness it is the parents/carers responsibility to;
- Contact Trafford travel coordination unit (TTCU) the night before travel is required, if it is known that the child will be off school the next day or;
- Contact TTCU as early as possible in the morning of the day the child or young person is due to travel, if they have only just begun to show signs of illness. The office is open from 7am on 0161 912 5055 and you can also contact us by sending a text message to 07860 052684 or emailing ttcu@trafford.gov.uk
When travel assistance is cancelled due to illness, it will only be reinstated when the parent/carer notifies TTCU. This notification should be given on the day before the child or young person is due to return to school.
Where there are more than two occasions of parent/carers failing to cancel travel assistance for their child or young person before it arrives, the transport provision may be suspended for a period of time or permanently withdrawn. Parents/carers will be responsible for ensuring their child or young person’s regular attendance at school or college in these circumstances.
Making alternative arrangements
In the event that a parent/carer is unable to meet their child or young person at the specified time and location, transport providers are required to take the child to the nearest place of safety and notify the Children’s Social Services.
Parent/carers must provide an emergency address, located within one mile of their home address or the pick-up point, where their child can be dropped off in an emergency.
At times, parent/carers may need to make emergency alternative arrangements for the handover of their child or young person to a nominated responsible adult. In these cases parent/carers must notify TTCU in writing either by email or text message and make suitable arrangements to ensure their child or young person’s safety.
Where emergency arrangements are put in place on more than two occasions, travel assistance will be reviewed and may be suspended or permanently withdrawn. In such circumstances parent/carers will be responsible for ensuring their child or young person’s regular attendance at school or college.
In circumstances where vehicles are delayed or late arriving the parent/carer should contact TTCU. If there are more than 3 instances of a vehicle being late in any 4 week period please contact TTCU and we will take steps to directly address the situation with the service provider.
Extra journeys
The provision of travel assistance only applies to journeys to and from school or college at the beginning and the end of the school day. Travel assistance is not provided on any other occasions, for example, travel between schools, sports facilities, for work experience, other curriculum activities and medical appointments.
Where a child attends more than one school, they may require additional transport. The school, which is the child’s main school, will be responsible for arranging and meeting the cost of such transport.
Where a child is based full time at a school, but visits other schools or a Pupil Referral Unit, the school where the pupil is ‘on roll’ will be responsible for arranging transport and for the cost of such transport. Parents/carers should, in these circumstances, address any issues directly to the child’s school.
Travel assistance for parent/carers to attend meetings or events
Where a parent/carer is required to attend school or college for a meeting or event, it is their responsibility to make their own travel arrangements. Parent/carers may be allowed to travel on their child or young person’s vehicle where all the following conditions are met:
- Permission is granted by TTCU prior to the journey as this is essential for insurance purposes.
- There is a spare seat available on the vehicle.
- The vehicle is not diverting from its regular route.
Medical assistance
Passenger assistants are trained in basic first aid and epilepsy awareness. However, in the event of an emergency passenger assistants will contact 999 to request paramedic support.
For more information, see Annex 2 care pathways for complex physical and medical needs.
Safeguarding children and young people
The council’s nominated Child Protection Officer will be advised of any safety issues that may be encountered during the provision of travel assistance. The nominated officer will take appropriate action to safeguard the child or young person as deemed appropriate and in line with council procedures. The school, social workers and other agencies may be contacted depending on the individual circumstances as necessary.
Expected standards of behaviour
A child or young person with special educational needs of disabilities may experience behavioural difficulties as a direct result of their particular needs. In these cases we will make every effort to work with the school, parent/carers and transport providers to manage instances where the child or young person exhibits these extreme behavioural characteristics. Wherever possible these considerations will be taken into account when determining an appropriate and safe form of travel assistance. Specialist advice will always be sought from the child or young person’s school or college regarding whether the behaviour is directly linked to the special educational needs and appropriate action accordingly taken.
It is, however, recognised that general poor behaviour not directly attributable to a child’s particular special educational needs and circumstances cannot be taken into account when determining an appropriate safe travel plan. It is paramount to have and to enforce clear standards of acceptable behaviour in the interests of ensuring a safe journey for all children, young people and staff as well as other road users.
In consultation with schools, we may be required to instigate permanent or fixed periods of exclusion from travel assistance. In the event we are unable to provide safe transport, either on a temporary or permanent basis, parent/carers will be responsible for transporting their child or young person and ensuring their regular attendance at school or college.
When considering whether to exclude any child or young person from travel assistance, we will require written statements from drivers and PAs in relation to the alleged incidents. Consultation will also take place with the head teacher and other relevant specialists.
The application of any sanctions as detailed below does not prejudice the rights of any individual to instigate criminal proceedings against a person resulting from unacceptable behaviour.
Verbal abuse
- The first instance of offensive verbal abuse to staff, other passengers or the general public will result in a formal warning.
- The second instance of verbal abuse will result in a written warning.
- The third instance will result in a five-day exclusion from travel assistance.
Vandalism
The first instance of vandalism to a vehicle will result in five-day exclusion. The costs of making good the damage will be charged to the parent/carer.
The second instance of vandalism will result in permanent exclusion from travel assistance. The costs of making good the damage will be charged to the parent/carer.
Physical abuse
The first instance of physical abuse will result in a two-week exclusion from travel assistance pending full investigation. Travel assistance may be reintroduced when the head teacher and TTCU manager are both satisfied (and in line with school’s specific behaviour policies) that the child’s behaviour has improved satisfactorily. Any further occurrence of physical abuse will result in permanent exclusion from travel assistance.
Feedback and questions
We are always looking for ways to improve the quality of services and feedback from parent/carers is very important and positively encouraged. If you have any comment or a question about the provision of travel assistance or these service standards, please email ttcu@trafford.gov.uk or telephone 0161 912 5055.