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School transport and travel policy 2026/27

Read our full policy and provision for home to school transport in Torbay.

Contents

1. Introduction

This policy outlines how Torbay Council will support parents and carers get their children to school and, where support is required, the type of support that will be considered.

The policy also details the circumstances in which the Local Authority (LA) will provide transport assistance for children living in Torbay, where it has chosen to exercise its discretion to do so.

More information on the relevant legislation and the statutory guidance to which Local Authorities must have regard (Travel to School for children of compulsory age, Department for Education, January 2024) can be found on the Home to school travel guidance web page on GOV.UK.

The policy explains when Torbay children will be entitled to travel assistance to and from school. The policy applies to all children living in Torbay from the time they start primary school up to the age of 16. This includes children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), whether they attend a mainstream school, a special unit attached to a mainstream school or a special school.

Generally, it is your responsibility to ensure that your children attend school, and this includes making the necessary travel arrangements. The council also has some legal duties to assist children in certain circumstances.

The term “parent” relates to any person responsible for the child. Transport eligibility (free provision) is provided to the end of the respective educational year in the following cases:

Each year, parents must make a formal application for school transport in all cases including when moving address or changing schools.

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2. Statutory eligibility criteria

2.1 Children of statutory school age

The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (Section 508B) requires local authorities to ensure that suitable travel arrangements for “eligible children” in their area are made to facilitate their attendance at “qualifying schools”.

2.2 Eligible children and young people

The terms “eligible children” and “qualifying schools” relate to the age of the child, the school which the child attends (including cross border schools) and the distance between the child’s home address and the school measured by the shortest available walking route (which may include rights of way).

2.3 Travel assistance given because of distance from home to school

If your child is attending the closest suitable school and is:

  • Aged 7 or below and lives more than 2 miles away by the shortest safe walking route
  • Aged 8 or above and lives more than 3 miles away by the shortest safe walking route

they will be entitled to free travel assistance, usually in the form of a bus pass.

2.4 Additional assistance given for families on low income

Your child is only entitled to transport assistance if he or she is attending the closest suitable school. The closest suitable school is deemed the nearest available school the child could attend unless placed with agreement of the LA at an alternative provision setting due to exclusion or they are a looked-after child. The exception to this is if a child is eligible for free school meals or a parent with whom they live receives maximum Working Tax Credit and is attending the closest suitable school and is:

  • Aged between 8 and 11 and lives more than 2 miles from the school
  • Aged 11 or above and attending any of the three closest secondary schools and it is between 2 and 6 miles from your child’s home address
  • Attending St Cuthbert Mayne School on faith grounds and the school is between 2 and 15 miles from your child’s home address (please refer to section 10 for further information)

they will be entitled to free travel assistance, usually in the form of a bus pass.

2.5 Travel assistance given because of unsafe walking routes:

If your child is attending the closest suitable school and

  • aged 7 or below and there is no safe walking route shorter than 2 miles
  • aged 8 or above and there is no safe walking route shorter than 3 miles
  • the walking route is unsafe even when your child is accompanied by a responsible adult

they will be entitled to free travel assistance. The type of assistance will vary depending on the location. Personal security does not form part of this assessment. Torbay Council assumes the child will be accompanied by a responsible adult. Temporary, occasional closures such as road works or flooding are not taken into account.

2.6 Travel assistance given because of a child’s SEND need:

If your child is attending the closest suitable school and is:

  • Aged 7 or below and unable to walk to school because of their special educational needs or mobility issues, even though they are accompanied by an adult and the distance is less than 2 miles or
  • Aged 8 or above and unable to walk to school because of their special educational needs or mobility issues, even though they are accompanied by an adult and the distance is less than 3 miles (or 2 miles for a low-income family)

they will be entitled to free travel assistance. The type of assistance will depend on the nature of the special educational need or mobility issue. Travel requests in this category will be individually assessed.

We might also decide, in exceptional circumstances, to give your child free travel assistance outside of these rules.

Children are not entitled to transport solely on the grounds that they hold an EHCP. A school that is named on the EHCP will be deemed to be the nearest suitable school unless it was named solely as parental preference.

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3. How we use the statutory eligibility criteria

3.1 How we decide whether your child is attending the closest suitable school:

The closest suitable school is the school nearest to your child’s home address that can meet your child’s needs. The school must take children of the same age as your child and must be able to offer a curriculum that is suitable for your child. For primary aged children, any primary school will be ‘suitable’ unless your child needs to attend a special school due to their special educational needs and/or disabilities and the local authority has agreed that this is the closest school that can meet their needs. The closest suitable school is deemed the nearest available school the child could attend unless placed with agreement of the LA at an alternative provision setting due to exclusion or they are a looked-after child.

For secondary aged children, any comprehensive secondary school is a ’suitable’ school unless your child is unable to attend a mainstream school due to their special educational needs and/or disabilities and the LA has agreed that a special unit or special school is the closest school that can meet their needs.

For children of grammar school ability, a grammar school is also a suitable school but will not be deemed the closest school if another available secondary is closer and can offer an education which is suitable for the child’s age, ability and aptitude. The closest suitable school is deemed the nearest available school the child could attend unless placed with agreement of the LA at an alternative provision setting due to exclusion or they are a looked-after child.

3.2 Parental preference:

If you choose to place your child at a school other than the closest school to your child’s home address that could meet their needs, there is no duty for the LA to provide transport, and the families are responsible for their own arrangements.

The LA will not provide transport if a place was available in a nearer school at the time you applied (for in year applications) or on National Offer Day (for applications into Reception or Year 7).

3.3 Moving house:

Parents are advised to check availability of school places before moving house, as there are no guarantees places will be available in the new catchment area or nearest school. Unless nearer schools do not have places available in the relevant year group, any request for a child to remain at the existing school upon a house move will be considered as parental preference and, therefore, families will be responsible for making their own transport arrangements.

Transport support provided on exceptional grounds will normally cease if a family move to an area served by a school with places available in the relevant year group.

The LA will not provide transport support for children who have been displaced from their home because of family related issues (e.g. family disagreements).

If you move to a different address served by a different school after the closing date for applications to Reception or Year 7 you can change your school preferences. This new application will be used to assess whether your child is entitled to travel assistance. If you move further away and do not change your preferences even though there is a closer school that could give your child a place, they will not be entitled to travel assistance.

If when you apply for a school place you do not request the closest school and it has places, or you turn down an offer of a place at a closer school within walking distance, and then apply for another school later in the same school year when other closer schools are full, your child will not be entitled to travel assistance.

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4. How we measure distances

Walking routes are from where the property meets the adopted road to the nearest available entrance to school grounds as measured using the Torbay Council GIS system. This GIS system measures the distance from home to school according to the shortest available walking routes.

Walking routes may include walking along footpaths, alleyways etc. that are not accessible to cars and other vehicles. We measure walking distances up to 2 miles or 3 miles depending on your child’s age and on whether you are a low-income family.

For longer distances (over 3 miles) we measure the driving distance along roads, and we ignore footpaths.

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5. How we decide on your child’s home address

Your child’s home address is the address where he or she normally lives during weekdays. If there is shared care, the address we use will be the one that was used for your admission application. If this address is no longer relevant, parents will be asked to agree on one of their addresses to be used as the home address. This address cannot be the address of another family member or a childminder.

If there is a shared care order/agreement in place (50/50) both parents must apply separately to be considered for eligibility for transport.

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6. How we decide whether you are a low-income family

To count as a low-income family, you must provide evidence of your financial circumstances. Evidence must be recent i.e. not more than three months old. You must provide evidence to show one of the following:

  • You receive income support.
  • You receive income-based job seekers allowance.
  • You receive the guaranteed element of state pension credit.
  • You receive support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
  • You receive employment support allowance (income based)
  • You are in receipt of income based free school meals (NOT universal free school meals available for all Key Stage One children).
  • You receive universal credit and your net family income is under £7400 per year
  • You receive the maximum level of working tax credit*
  • You receive child tax credit but are not entitled to working tax credit and your household income is less than £16,190 per year*

* You will need to send us a copy of your full tax credit award statement for the forthcoming financial year.

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7. How we decide if your child’s walking route to school is unsafe

We will look at factors such as footpaths, road crossing points and risk factors such as the speed of traffic and fields of vision for the pedestrian. Torbay Council’s Highways department will assess and decide if a walking route is unsafe. We will review the safety of a walking route if changes are made to the roads or footpaths along the route. When we decide if a route is safe, we assume that a responsible adult will be accompanying your child. We would not expect young people over the age of 16 to be accompanied. Temporary, occasional closures such as road works or flooding are not taken into account.

If your child is not attending the closest suitable school, they will not receive travel assistance even if the route is unsafe for them to walk.

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8. How we decide if a child with SEND need is entitled to transport assistance

Children do not automatically receive free travel assistance because they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

We assess all requests individually where children live closer than the normal walking distance and/or where you do not think they can travel by public transport. You must give as much detail as possible on your application form and we will need to see substantial recent evidence from medical or other professionals to show that your child is unable to walk and/or unable to travel on public transport.

You will need to pay any fees charged by medical or other professionals for letters. If this is difficult, we may be able to get the information in another way e.g. if you give permission for us to talk directly to your child’s medical professionals. If there is no other way than a letter, Torbay Council may contribute to the cost if you are on a low income.

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9. How we decide if you are able to accompany your child to school

You will normally be expected to accompany your child to school if they need to be accompanied. We will not provide travel assistance if the only reason you cannot accompany your child is because of work, childcare arrangements, or social arrangements. Transport eligibility will be based on the child’s needs only.

If you are not physically fit enough to accompany your child, we will need up to date medical evidence to prove that you are unable to walk the distance from your home to the school. We will keep this under regular review. We will also ask if there is another family member or carer who could accompany your child and consideration of proximity to school will be considered.

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10. How we decide if your child is attending St Cuthbert Mayne School on faith grounds

When you apply for a place at St Cuthbert Mayne School, you can choose to complete their supplementary form. This form gives information about your child’s religious worship and is sent to their church minister to sign and comment. The school will then decide if you meet the criteria for admission on faith grounds.

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11. Reasons why we might give travel assistance outside of the main rules

We sometimes give discretionary travel assistance in exceptional circumstances, for example:

  • If you normally accompany your child to school but are unable to due to a medical problem and there is no other available family member or carer to support (we will need robust and recent evidence from a medical professional that you are unable to walk to school with your child).
  • If you are placed in emergency temporary accommodation by Torbay Council’s Housing Team and will shortly be returning to the area where you used to live. Home to school transport is only available if the family is confirmed to be in temporary accommodation for less than one school term and the family has a full duty to rehouse. Families who are expected to be in temporary accommodation for more than one term should apply for a local school place.

Where your child is not attending the closest suitable school, support will be temporary and for a short period only. For any assistance given in exceptional circumstances we will keep reviewing your circumstances.

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12. Travel assistance we provide

The mode of transport which is deemed suitable will be decided by the LA.

Normally children who are given free travel assistance are given a bus pass. In some occasions we may provide parents with a bus pass to accompany their child to school.

If your child is unable to travel by public transport, then we may provide taxi or mini bus travel. This will usually mean that your child is collected and taken to school by taxi or minibus, we may provide an escort to accompany your child.

If your child is travelling in a solo taxi, we will expect you to accompany them where they need to be accompanied. However, you will not be allowed to accompany your child on a taxi or minibus shared with other children.

12.1 Travel training

Independent travel training is a free scheme which has been set up by the Transport Team. From Year 9 onwards, if your child has an EHCP, Independent Living and the support for Travel Training consideration will need to be factored into Annual Reviews to support independence and readiness towards preparing for adulthood.

12.2 Fuel allowance:

Sometimes we provide a fuel allowance for you to drive your child to school yourself. The type of assistance will depend on:

  • Your child’s needs.
  • The availability of transport that we can use to transport your child.
  • The cost effectiveness of a particular type of transport.
  • Whether your child can behave well enough to travel in a vehicle with other children.

The fuel allowance rate for parents is paid at 45p per mile. The current process is fuel allowance is paid at the end of each term based on your child’s attendance which is verified and checked with the school. The School Transport Team will calculate this figure.

12.3 Cycle scheme

We are able to offer financial support for cycle purchase as an alternative to a bus pass. A one off payment will be made to a child of secondary school age who completes a cycle training scheme.

12.4 Concessionary seats

There may be spare seats on school transport. We can sell these seats, known as concessionary seats, to pupils who do not get free transport. If your child does not qualify for free transport, they might still be able to secure a seat through this scheme. Please note, if the concessionary seat is required at a later date for a child who meets travel assistance criteria, the eligible child would be prioritised.

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13. Route operation and school transport escorts

We understand that many children like familiarity and routine, but from time to time we may need to change the vehicle your child is travelling on or put them on a vehicle with different children. We will endeavour to let you know in advance if we need to make a change to a route.

Where several children are travelling together in a vehicle, or where a child has complex behaviour or medical needs that may affect them on their journey, we may ask a School Transport Passenger Assistant to accompany the vehicle. Again, there may be times when we need to change the school passenger assistant on the route and should this be a long-term change, an ‘All About Me’ will be provided about the new passenger assistant.

13.1 Car seats and special equipment:

We will need regular information about your child’s height and weight so that we can fit the correct booster seats into vehicles. We may ask for your help in completing a risk assessment for your child before we start to transport them. We will provide special equipment if it is identified in the risk assessment.

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14.1 Medical protocols:

If your child has a medical protocol, we will ask you to share this with us so that we can keep your child safe. The updated protocol must be provided to the Transport Team whenever changed and without this transport may be delayed.

14.2 Alternative addresses:

We are not able to collect from or deliver children to addresses other than their home address.

14.3 Transport assistance for siblings:

Brothers and sisters of a child who is being given transport will not be given travel assistance unless they meet the criteria for assistance, even if they attend the same school. There may be a possibility of a concessionary seat (see section 12.4)

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15. What time of the day travel assistance is provided

We only provide transport at the published start and end times of the school day. School transport is not necessarily from home to school. The LA will nominate pick-up and drop-off points if deemed necessary and suitable. Parents should not assume that a child will be picked up or dropped off at home. Children are expected to make their way from home to a pick-up point and then from a drop-off point to home, accompanied as necessary by a parent or other person nominated by the parent.

We do not provide transport for children to travel between sites during the school day, or for them to attend medical appointments, outings etc.

We do not provide early transport if a child must go home during the school day because of illness.

We are not able to alter transport times because of part-time timetables, exam timetables, parent meetings etc. We are not able to alter transport times because of before or after-school activities or for work experience.

We do not provide transport for attendance at transition, taster, open or induction days at a different education setting. If your child attends school different sites on different days, we will provide transport to the main school site only and the school will be responsible for ensuring your child can get to other sites.

Occasionally we will agree there is a need for a phased induction / transition to a school requiring transport arrangements outside of normal school hours. In these cases, we will make arrangements with you and the school for a set period of time. This will normally be for a maximum of two weeks.

If a school closes unexpectedly, e.g. due to bad weather. Transport will be provided as long as it is safe to do so.

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16. Travel assistance we give to wheelchair users

If your child needs to use a wheelchair, we will make every effort to transport them in their normal wheelchair. To do this we will need to be able to find a vehicle that can accommodate the wheelchair safely. If we cannot do this, we will offer you a fuel allowance to transport your child to school yourself.

16.1 Wheelchair tagging:

All wheelchair transport must be checked and approved before it can be transported. Once this process has been completed a tag will be added to the wheelchair to show that it has been authorised to be transported.

If you plan to buy a new wheelchair for your child, you must contact us to check whether we will be able to transport the new chair. We must inspect and tag wheelchairs before we can transport them so you must let us know as soon as possible if your child’s chair is due to change. It can take several weeks to find a suitable vehicle that is compatible, especially for a large chair.

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17. Travel assistance we provide for students in residential special schools

If your child is a weekly boarder at a residential school that the council has agreed as the closest suitable school, we will provide transport or a fuel allowance for a journey from home to school on Monday mornings and school to home on Friday afternoons (and start and end of term if these are on different days).

If your child boards for longer periods, we will normally either provide transport or give you a fuel allowance for a journey from home to school at the start of each half term and from school to home at the end of each half term.

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18. What we do if your child misbehaves on transport

If your child misbehaves when travelling to or from school on transport arranged by the council, we may alter the mode of transport provided. If the poor behaviour continues, we may only be able to offer you a fuel allowance for you to transport your child yourself or a bus pass for future travel. The council’s School Transport Code of Conduct can be seen at the end of this policy - Appendix B (Page 18).

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19. Travel assistance we provide for post-16 students including SEND students

There is no automatic right to travel assistance for post-16 students. Torbay Council does give assistance in certain circumstances. This is explained in the Local Authorities post-16 transport statement.

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20. How you can apply for travel assistance for your child

Applications can be completed via our online portal.

You must reapply for travel assistance each year, even if your child is already being given travel assistance. We will reassess your application each year in case your circumstances have changed. We will also reassess your child’s transport during the school year if they change their school or their home address.

The deadline date for transport applications for the academic year 2026/2027 is 1st July for you to submit your application to ensure transport is in place for the beginning of term in September, this includes new applications for Primary or Secondary places. If you apply later than this, we will not be able to assess your application until September 2026 therefore transport will not be in place for the start of term. You will be responsible for getting your child to school and the Local Authority will not refund the cost of any transport you put in place while we process your application.
We can only assess your application based on the information and evidence you provide so you should give as much detail as possible on your application form.

The Transport Team have 20 working days from date of application received to process and assess your application and another 10 working days to facilitate transport. During busier periods, these time frames may be need to be extended to allow for volume of applications.

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21. How you can appeal if we refuse your request for travel assistance

If your request for travel assistance has been refused, you can appeal to have your application re-considered.

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22. Close Circuit Television

Transport providers may use CCTV (closed circuit television) systems in their vehicles for reasons of safety and security. The transport providers are responsible for ensuring those systems meet the requirements of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and other national guidance. They may share footage with us in the event of a complaint being received or if they need to notify us of an incident and the viewing of CCTV footage is necessary to assist with any investigation.

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23. Appendix B - Code of conduct for home to school / college transport

The safety and welfare of students travelling on home to school transport is of paramount importance and therefore it is expected that all parties will abide by the School Transport Code of Conduct at all times.

Any incident reported to Torbay Council involving school transport and the behaviour of students using school transport will be taken seriously and must be reported to the transport team who will investigate them, where necessary some cases may be reported to the School or Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) before any action is taken. Where there is a consistent concern or refusal to comply with the School Transport Code of Conduct and A review of the transport provided is undertaken, it will then be the responsibility of parents or carers to ensure that there is a continued attendance at school.

23.1 Responsibilities of Torbay Council

  • To provide transport assistance by the most cost-efficient means for students living in Torbay, who qualify for free travel under the Home to School Travel and Transport Policy.
  • Provide a safe journey on all home to school transport routes between the designated pickup point and the school site, and vice versa.
  • Ensure all Operators are procured through the Dynamic Purchasing System
  • Ensure that the Route Operator provides a suitable vehicle and that all drivers and vehicles are suitably licenced and insured for the conveyance of students. Agree all routes and schedules with the Route Operator.
  • Ensure all Drivers and School Passenger Assistants have the appropriate DBS check.
  • Ensure all Drivers and School Passenger Assistants are issued with a Torbay Council Identification Badge (Devon County identification may be used by some Drivers / Escorts).
  • Provide a pass for students entitled to transport assistance who travel on Stagecoach public buses or the Brixham College bus.
  • Monitor contracts with Route Operators to ensure contract and law compliance.
  • Carry out risk assessments where appropriate to establish suitability of provision and routes.
  • To ensure there is a robust complaints procedure in place.
  • Investigate all complaints, liaising with schools and Route Operators, where necessary, and respond to all parties advising of the outcome.
  • Ensure that all confidential information is handled in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR responsibilities of the Route Operator).

23.2 Responsibilities of the Route Operator

  • To provide students safe travel between their designated collection point and the school site, and vice versa.
  • To provide vehicles and drivers that meet all legal and contractual requirements.
  • To have appropriate employers’ liability, public liability, and vehicle insurance cover.
  • Ensure they hold an appropriate operator’s or local authority licence where applicable.
  • Comply with all terms and conditions of the contract.
  • Ensure all drivers and school passenger assistants hold a valid Torbay Council or Devon County Council Identification Badge
  • Ensure that all drivers are issued with the most up to date route and schedule.
  • Ensure that no changes are made to the schedule without approval from the School Transport Team. This includes location of designated pick up and drop off points.
  • Immediately inform Torbay Council where a serious incidence has occurred.
  • To notify Torbay Council of any incidents of unacceptable student behaviour as soon as possible
  • Ensure that all confidential information is handled in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

23.3 Responsibilities of the Passenger Assistant

  • Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times
  • Always be presentable and courteous.
  • Hold a valid Torbay Council Identification Badge and be able to produce this when requested.
  • To undertake Torbay Council’s mandatory training including Safeguarding
  • Follow the route and schedule as agreed and not deviate from this without prior authorisation, unless exceptional circumstances (e.g. a road closure) make a deviation necessary – they should notify the Transport Team in these circumstances so that the school and/or parents may be notified of any delay.
  • In the event of a vehicle breakdown, maintain a safe environment for all passengers and contact the Transport Team.
  • To be responsible for the safety of the students for the entire duration of their journey
  • Unless there are genuine concerns for the safety of the students on board the vehicle, the vehicle should not be stopped. If stopped, it must be in safe place and for as short a period of time as possible and the Transport Team must be notified of such a break to the journey.
  • Serious incidents or accidents involving the safety of children, the vehicle or other road users must be reported immediately to School Transport Team.
  • Must not provide food, sweets or drinks to students in their care.
  • Seek immediate advice from the Transport Team where a serious incident occurs.
  • Ensure when transporting a primary aged student or student with Special Educational Needs they are handed over to an appropriate responsible adult before leaving designated stop (school, home or bus stop).
  • Can refuse to transport a student whose behaviour would put the driver, passengers and any other road user in danger for the immediate short term and until further guidance has been received from School Transport Team.

If the student's behaviour on the vehicle presents a danger to themselves or others, transport may be changed e.g. a fuel allowance offered. We will work extensively with the parent/carer and school before changing transport. The parent/carer has a responsibility to manage the student's behaviour and if the mode of transport is changed, it does not excuse the student from attending their education setting.

The Passenger Assistant’s duty of care does not end until the last student has been discharged. On no account must this duty be delegated to any other person. Passenger Assistants are responsible for ensuring that a seat belt or safety harness provided for passengers has been secured.

Passenger Assistants are not responsible for escorting students from the vehicle into home or into school premises. Passenger Assistants are not permitted to lift or assist by manually handling passengers in or out of vehicles.

23.4 Responsibilities of parents

Home address collection/drop off:

  • Please be ready with your child 5 minutes before your collection time, transport will arrive outside, please support your child to get to the transport safely. (Passenger Assistants will not be allowed to leave the vehicle)
  • The vehicle is only permitted to wait for 5 minutes to keep up with its schedule, so please try to be prompt.
  • If your child is of Primary School age, has SEND, additional needs and hold an EHCP, they must be met at the home address by a responsible adult.

Designated stop collection/drop off:

  • Please be ready at your designated stop with your child 5 minutes before your collection time.
  • The vehicle is only permitted to wait for 5 minutes to keep up with its schedule, so please try to be prompt.
  • If your child is of Primary School age, or has SEND, additional needs and hold an EHCP, they must be met at the designated stop by a responsible adult.
  • If your child can get to/from the designated stop independently, please teach them how to do this safely.
  • Please read the ‘Transport Rules’ help sheet with your child and ensure they understand and follow these rules for safe travel.
  • Parents are not allowed on the bus; the Passenger Assistant will fasten seatbelts and harnesses (if needed) and take care of your children while they are on transport.
  • Report any concerns or incidents, directly to the School Transport Team. (Email or phone)
  • Report any changes to your circumstances to the School Transport Team. (Email or phone)
  • If your child behaves inappropriately or unsafely on transport, then they may not be able to stay on their bus or taxi while this is investigated, and we explore alternatives. In this case, it is your responsibility to ensure that they continue to attend school while the issue is being resolved, which we will support you with, by providing a bus pass or petrol allowance.
  • If your child causes any intentional damages to the transport, you will be financially responsible for any repairs/replacement of equipment.
  • Please do not let your children carry anything which may be harmful to themselves or others, while travelling on transport.
  • Please behave respectfully and appropriately towards the Passenger Assistant and driver.

23.5 Responsibilities of the student

  • Please read and follow the ‘Transport Rules’ help sheet provided. This will keep yourself and other passengers safe on the journey.
  • Please be ready on time for your transport to arrive.
  • Please listen to any advice or instructions from the Passenger Assistant or driver.
  • Please stay in your seat, with your seatbelt or harness (if needed) fastened, during your journey.
  • Please behave respectfully and appropriately towards the other passengers, Passenger Assistant and driver at all times.
  • Please look after your personal belongings while you are on transport and take them with you when you leave.
  • Please let the Passenger Assistant know if you are having a problem while you are on the transport, they will help you.
  • Please speak with your Parent if you have had a problem while on transport, they will speak with the School Transport Team to try and fix the issue.
  • If you do not follow the 'Transport Rules', you may not be able to stay on your bus or taxi while this is being investigated, but you will still have to attend school, which we will support you with, by providing a bus pass or petrol allowance.
  • If you cause any intentional damages to the transport, your parent will be financially responsible for any repairs/replacement of equipment.

23.6 Complaints and concerns:

If at any time, you wish to report an incident involving the behaviour of an adult or student in connection with school transport you should email the School Transport Team at Cstransport@torbay.gov.uk

All complaints regarding passenger or parent behaviour received by Torbay Council will be investigated and, if necessary, they will be passed for further investigation to the School, Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) or the Police.

23.7 ‘No Pass No Travel’ guidance for parents, carers and students

  • Where a bus pass has been issued it MUST be shown in order to travel.
  • If a student who is entitled to travel is unable to produce a bus pass because they have forgotten to carry it, or the pass has been lost or stolen, the appropriate bus fare must be paid.
  • If a pass has been lost or stolen a replacement can be purchased. A replacement pass incurs an administration fee of £10, which must be paid at the time of request. Requests for replacement passes should be sent to: Cstransport@torbay.gov.uk
  • Out of date passes will be confiscated.
  • If transport is no longer required, please return the pass to: School Transport Team, 2nd Floor (Room SF338) Electric House, c/o Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay, TQ1 3DR

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Resources

Transport rules

I will be ready on time for my bus/taxi to arrive.

 

I will stay seated and wear my seatbelt or harness during the journey.

 

I will be kind to the other passengers.

 

I will be respectful to the School Transport Escort and driver.

 

I will not damage the bus/taxi.

 

I will not eat or drink on the bus/taxi

 

I will listen to the School Transport Escort and driver and follow the instructions they give me. 

 

I will let the School Transport Escort know if I have a problem on the bus/taxi.

 

I will not throw anything on the bus/taxi.

 

I will not bring anything onto the bus/taxi which may be harmful to myself or other passengers.

 

I will keep my belongings safe and take them with me when I leave the bus/taxi.

 

The School Transport Escort and driver are here to keep us all safe.

 

If I don't follow these rules my transport may be changed.

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