Transport

Parents are very welcome to bring their children to school themselves if this is practically possible.  However most pupils travel to and from school in the taxis and minibuses provided by the Local Authority. Transport arrangements are supervised centrally by staff at Shire Hall who are responsible for placing the contracts with transport companies.

We seek to ensure that all pupils enter and leave the premises safely.  Parents collecting their child at the end of the day should join the vehicular queue waiting at one of the exits.  A member of staff will hand the child into your care once you are at the exit.  This is to ensure that pedestrians are not walking across the flow of traffic leaving the school.

It is very important that safe arrangements are made to cater for the needs of each child. Very young children or those with medical conditions who require special supervision are provided with an escort in the vehicle. This may also be necessary if a pupil exhibits behaviour that is likely to distract a driver travelling alone. Some pupils may also need special seating arrangements or to travel in their wheelchair and all should be safely seated in appropriate restraints. Every effort is made by school staff to ensure that transport arrangements work efficiently and that pupils are escorted to and from the vehicles. We are also vigilant about who is collecting children from school. Any parent having a concern about the transport arrangements for their child should discuss this directly with the Transport Section at Shire Hall  (01452 425371).

Transport arrangements are complex and parents are asked to ensure that their child is ready for collection at the appropriate time in the morning and that there is someone at home to meet them on their return from school. It is not usually possible for the vehicles to collect or deliver children to addresses other than those that are the norm. Parents are asked to notify transport staff directly if their child will not be attending on any particular day or if they have made an alternative arrangement. It is also helpful if the school is notified.  Children will not normally be handed over to anyone other than their parent/carer or the usual transport staff without prior notice. Parents should be confident to ask for identification from transport staff and, if in doubt, should ask them to wait while they telephone the company concerned to verify an individual’s identity.