Before your child travels
- Keep your contact details up to date so we can reach you quickly.
- If your child has a medical condition, send us their latest care plan.
We want every child to travel safely and confidently. This page explains what to do if something goes wrong and how to report a problem.
Page contents
- If the vehicle is late or doesn’t arrive
- If the vehicle breaks down or is in an accident
- If there’s an emergency
- If bad weather affects transport
- Report a problem or incident
If the vehicle is late or doesn’t arrive
If the vehicle is more than 30 minutes late in the morning, your child should go home
If the vehicle is more than 15 minutes late in the afternoon, the school will contact us and arrange another vehicle if needed
Your child can wait at school and call home if needed (if it doesn’t stop others using the phone)
Your child may leave with a trusted adult if you’ve given permission
If the vehicle breaks down or is in an accident
Your child must:
- follow instructions from the driver or passenger assistant
- only leave the vehicle when told
- stay with the vehicle until another one arrives or a trusted adult collects them
We will:
- contact you as soon as possible
- keep your child safe while they wait
- arrange alternative transport if needed
If there’s an emergency
- The driver or passenger assistant will follow safety procedures
- They’ll call emergency services if needed
- We’ll contact the school, and they’ll contact you
- The school will look after children brought in from the incident
- The school will work with us and emergency services to make sure everyone is safe
If you can’t reach the school, you can also Contact us about school travel
If bad weather affects transport
Bad weather can affect school transport. Drivers must decide if it’s safe to run the full route or part of it. They may need to change or cancel the journey.
If your child’s morning journey is cancelled, assume the afternoon journey is also cancelled unless the transport provider tells you otherwise.
If you take your child to school yourself, make sure you’ve arranged how they’ll get home before you leave them.
Travel by taxi or minibus
- The driver must tell you if the route is cancelled or changed.
- Make sure the driver has your contact details.
- If you’re not sure if the route is running, contact the transport operator.
Travel by school coach
- If the route is cancelled or changed, the coach company will tell the school and the ßÙßÇÂþ» School Travel and Assessment Team (SSTAT).
- To check if the route is running, contact your child’s school or the coach company.
Travel by public bus, including school buses
- Contact the bus operator or check their website to see if the service is running.
- If your child lives on a minor road, tell them to wait on a main road. Buses may not use minor roads that haven’t been cleared or gritted.
- For more help, see the bus service disruption due to bad weather page.
Travel by train
- Contact National Rail Enquiries to check for delays or cancellations.
- Call 08457 484950 or visit the .
Report a problem or incident
Tell us if:
- the driver or helper does not have a badge
- the transport is often late
- the driver or helper changes more than 3 times in a term
- you have any other concerns