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Code of Conduct for Home to School/College Travel

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk

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Responsibilities of Cambridgeshire County Council

TheCountyCouncilwillprovidefreetransportforpupilsofstatutoryschoolagelivinginCambridgeshire,registeredattheirdesignatedschoolifthisismorethan�milesforprimaryagedpupilsormorethan3milesfor��-�6yearoldsfromtheirhome.(PleaserefertotheHometoSchool/CollegeTransportPolicyforfurtherinformation).

OperatorsworkingundercontracttotheCounty

Council’sEducationTransportService,mustprovidethesafeconveyanceofpupilsbetweentheirdesignatedcollectionpointandtheschoolsite,andviceversa.

TheCountyCouncil’sEducationTransportServicewill:– agreeallroutesandschedules

withtheOperator;– ensurethattheOperator

providesasuitablevehicleandthatalldriversandvehicles

aresuitablylicensedandinsuredfortheconveyanceofschoolchildren;

– ensurethatalldriversandescortsreceiveaCRBcheck.

TheCountyCouncilwillensurethatadequateprovisionismadeforthenumberofbuses,taxis,coachesandminibusesservingtheschoolandthatmanoeuvringofvehiclescanbeundertakensafely.

Contents

ResponsibilitiesofCambridgeshireCountyCouncil..........................................................................................�

Advicetoandresponsibilitiesofparentsandcarers........................................................................................3

Myresponsibilitiesasacyclist.......................................................................................................................4

Myresponsibilitiesasapedestrian................................................................................................................5

Myresponsibilitiesasabususer...................................................................................................................6

Myresponsibilitiesasataxiuser...................................................................................................................7

Advicetoandresponsibilitiesoftheschool....................................................................................................8

Advicetoandresponsibilitiesoftransportsupervisors....................................................................................9

Advicetoandresponsibilitiesofoperators...................................................................................................�0

Advicetoandresponsibilitiesofdrivers........................................................................................................��

3

Advice to and responsibilities of parents and carers

EnsureyourchildhasreadandunderstoodthepupilCodeofConduct(seeseparatedocument)andyouhavebothsignedandreturnedtheappropriatesliptoyourchild’sschool.

Ensurethatyourchildarrivesatthebusstopsafelyinthemorningandreacheshomesafelyfromthebusstopintheafternoon.

Ensureyourchildarrivesatthebusstopatleast5minutesbeforethebusisdueatthatstop.

Ensureunaccompaniedchildrenknowthesafestroutebetweenhomeandthebusstopandthesafestcrossingpointsontheirroute.

Ensureyourchildalwayshastheirbuspassand/orcorrectfaretotraveltoandfromschool.(Transport Drivers/Operators will make necessary checks that

your child is permitted to travel and have the right to refuse to carry a pupil without a pass.)

Teachyourchildtothinkabouttheirownandothers’safetyonthewaytothebusstop,atthebusstopandonthebus.

Teachyourchildtheimportanceofwaitingforthebusinanorderly,courteousandcalmmanner.

Ensureyourchildknowswhattodoifthebusdoesnotarrivewithin30minutesofthescheduledtime,orifaccessontothebusisrefused.

Encourageyourchildtouseaseatbeltwhereprovidedontransport.

Ensureyourchildisawarethatintheeventthatthebushastomakeanunscheduledstop,he/shemustfollowthedriver’sinstructionsandnotleavethevehicle.Ifyourchildleavesthevehicle,theydosoattheirown

riskandneithertheDriver/Operator,norCambridgeshireCountyCouncil’sEducationTransportServiceisresponsibleforthatchild.

Underexceptionalcircumstances,youmaybeaskedtoassistinthetransportationofyourchild.

Ifyourchildbehavesanti-sociallyorcausesdamageatthebusstoporonschooltransport,he/sherisksbeingbannedfromusingthetransportinlinewithCambridgeshireCountyCouncil’stransportpolicy.

Itisyourfinancialresponsibilitytomeetthecostsforrepairorreplacementofequipmentorpropertydamagedasaresultofyourchild’sactions.

Ifyourchildiseithertemporarilyorpermanentlybannedfromschooltransport,itisyourresponsibilitytoensureyourchildcontinuestoattendschool.

Forlostordamagedbuspasses,ifyourcircumstanceschangeandyounolongerrequireabuspass,orifyouhaveanyconcernsorqueriesaboutschooltransport,pleasetelephone:08450455�08

4

My responsibilities as a cyclist

IwillalwaysfollowtheHighwayCode.

Iwillcyclealongdesignatedcycleroutesorontheroadifitissafetodoso.

Iwillusesafecrossingpointsanddismountmybicycletocrosstheroad.

Iunderstandthatformysafetyitissensibletowearacyclehelmet.

Iwillnotspitordroplitter. Iwillnotridemybicycleundertheinfluenceofalcoholorillegaldrugs.

Iwillbecourteoustootherroadusers.

IwillgiveclearsignalstoindicatethatIwishtoturn,changelaneandsoon.

Iwillnotswear,orbeverballyabusivetothoseIamtravellingwithoranyoneelseinthecommunity.

Iwillnotcycleinalargegroup,behaveinathreateningmannerorbephysicallyabusivetothoseIamtravellingwithoranyoneelseinthecommunity.

Iwillnotbullyanyone. Iwillnottrespassonotherpeople’sproperty.

IwillensurethatIcanbeseenbyotherroadusers,byusingbicyclelightsandwearinghigh-visibilityclothing,asappropriate.

IunderstandthatbecauseIliveinacommunity,Ihavearesponsibilitytobehavewell.Iwillneveractinamannerthatmaycompromisethesafetyofothers.

5

My responsibilities as a pedestrian

IunderstandthatbecauseIliveinacommunity,Ihavearesponsibilitytobehavewell.Iwillneveractinamannerthatmaycompromisethesafetyofothers.

IwillalwaysfollowtheHighwayCode.

Iwillwalkonthepavement,awayfromthekerb.

Iwillalwaysusesafecrossingpointsandnotrunacrosstheroad.

Iwillnotspitordroplitter. Iwillnotwalktoandfromschoolundertheinfluenceofalcoholorillegaldrugs.

Iwillnotswear,orbeverballyabusivetothoseIamtravellingwithoranyoneelseinthecommunity.

Iwillnotwalkinalargegroup,behaveinathreateningmannerorbephysicallyabusivetothoseIamtravellingwithoranyoneelseinthecommunity.

Iwillnotbullyanyone. Iwillnottrespassonotherpeople’sproperty.

IwillensurethatIcanbeseenbyroadusers,bywearinghigh-visibilityclothing,asappropriate.

6

My responsibilities as a bus user

IunderstandthatbecauseIhavearighttotravelonhometoschooltransport,Ihavearesponsibilitytobehavewell.Iwillneveractinamannerthatmaycompromisethesafetyofothers.

Before the school journey

Iwillbeatthebusstopatleast5minutesbeforethebusisdueatthatstop.

Iwillwaitatthebusstopfor30minutesbeforeleavingthebusstoptofindanalternativemeansofgettingtoschool.IwillnotifytheschoolthatImaybelate,orasksomeonetodothisforme.

Iwillwaitinanorderly,courteousandcalmmanner.

Iwillkeepawayfromthekerbandwellclearofothertraffic.

Iwillkeepwellclearofmovingschoolbuses.

Iwillonlyboardtheschoolbuswhenitisstationary.

Iwillwaitpatientlyformyturntoboardthebus.

IwillalwaysshowmybuspasstothedriverasIboardthebus.

During the school journey

Iwillfindaseatquicklyandremainseatedandfacingforwarduntilthebushasstoppedatschoolonthemorningjourneyandatmydesignatedbusstopintheafternoon.

Iwillalwayswearaseatbeltwhereprovided.

Iwillneverdistractthedriverorbediscourteous.

Iwillnotbeabusivetothedriver,TransportSupervisororotherpassengers.

IwillfollowanyinstructionsgiventomebyaTransportSupervisor.

Iwilltreatotherpassengerswithcareandrespectandnotbullyotherpupils.

Iwillnotvandalisethevehicleorotherpeople’sproperty.

Iwillnotsmoke,drinkalcoholorconsumeillegalsubstances.

Iwillnotcarryanoffensiveweapon,realorreplica.

Iwillnotthrowobjectsfromorwithinthebus.

Iwillnotleavelitter. Iwillkeepmypossessionsoutoftheaisles.

Iwillnotopentheemergencydoors(unlessinanemergency).

Iwillfollowthedriver’sinstructionsifthereisanemergencyorbreakdown.

IwillreportanyconcernsIhaveabouttheschooljourneytomyschool’sTransportLiaisonOfficer.

At the end of the school journey

Iwillnotoperateanyexits(unlessinanemergency).

Iwillwaitpatientlyformyturntoleavethebus.

Iwillkeepmybelongingswithmeandensuretheyarenotsnaggedinthedoormechanism.

Iwillstandbackfromtheroadasthebusmovesoff.

IfIneedtocrossaroad,Iwillonlydosooncethebushasmovedoffandtheroadisclearinbothdirections.

7

My responsibilities as a taxi user

IunderstandthatbecauseIhavearighttotravelonhometoschooltransport,Ihavearesponsibilitytobehavewell.Iwillneveractinamannerthatmaycompromisethesafetyofothers.

Before the school journey

Iwillbereadyandwaitingforthetaxiatleast5minutesbeforeitisduetoarrive.

Iwilltelephonethetaxicompany,orasksomeonetodothisforme,afterwaitingfor�5minutesforthetaxitoarrive.

Ifthetaxiisdelayed,IwillnotifytheschoolthatImaybelate,orasksomeonetodothisforme.

Iwillwaitinacourteousandcalmmanner.

Iwillkeepwellclearofanytraffic.

Iwillonlyboardthetaxiwhenitisstationary.

During the school journey

Iwillremainseatedandfacingforwarduntilthetaxihasstoppedatschoolonthemorningjourneyandatmydesignateddropoffpointintheafternoon.

Iwillalwayswearaseatbelt. Iwillneverdistractthedriverorbediscourteous.

Iwillnotbeabusiveorshoutatthedriverorotherpassengers.

Iwilltreatotherpassengerswithcareandrespectandnotbullyotherpupils.

Iwillnotvandalisethevehicleorotherpeople’sproperty.

Iwillnotsmoke,drinkalcoholorconsumeillegalsubstances.

Iwillnotcarryanoffensiveweapon,realorreplica.

Iwillnotthrowobjectsfromorwithinthetaxi.

Iwillnotleavelitter. Iwillfollowthedriver’sinstructionsifthereisanemergencyorbreakdown.

IwillreportanyconcernsIhaveabouttheschooljourneytomyschool’sTransportLiaisonOfficer.

At the end of the school journey

Iwillkeepmybelongingswithmeandensuretheyarenotsnaggedinthedoor.

Iwillstandbackfromtheroadasthetaximovesoff.

IfIneedtocrossaroad,Iwillonlydosooncethetaxihasmovedoffandtheroadisclearinbothdirections.

8

Advice to and responsibilities of the school

TheSchoolisresponsibleforthesafetyofpupilsfromthepointofdisembarkingfromcontractedSchoolTransportvehicles,tothepointofre-embarkation.

TheSchooltogetherwiththeCountyCouncil,willmakeeveryefforttoensuresetdownandpickuppointsarewithinoradjacenttoschoolgrounds.

Eachschoolshouldpromoteappropriatestandardsofbehaviourbypupilsontheirjourneytoandfromschool.*

TheHeadteachershouldtakeactiontoaddressunacceptablebehaviouronschoolbuses,orotherwiseontheroutetoandfromschool.*

TheSchoolshouldappointamemberofstafftohaveresponsibilityforhometoschooltransport.Thisperson(tobeknownastheSchoolTransportLiaisonOfficer)willactasthemainpointofcontactforreportingincidentsofmisconductandwillberesponsiblefornotifyingtheCountyCouncil’sEducationTransportServiceofsuchincidents.

TheSchoolshouldprovidetheCountyCouncil’sEducationTransportServicewithcontactdetailsfortheirSchoolTransportLiaisonOfficer,andshouldinformtheCountyCouncilofchanges.

TheSchoolisexpectedtobetheinitialpointofcontactforcomplaintsaboutpupilmisconductoranti-socialbehaviouronallschooltransportandtonotifytheCountyCouncil’sEducationTransportServicesothatawarningorbanningletter(oranyothercauseofactiondeemednecessary)maybeissued.

TheSchoolmustkeepanuptodaterecordofincidentsofmisconductoranti-socialbehaviour.

AcopyofthisCodeofConductshouldbedisplayedwithinschoolandmadeavailable

uponrequesttoparentsandpupils.

*Referenceparagraphs67to73oftheHometoSchoolTravelandTransportGuidancepublishedbytheDfESinMay�007.

9

Advice to and responsibilities of transport supervisors

TheTransportSupervisorisresponsibleforthecareandsupervisionofchildrenwhilsttheyaretravellingtoandfromschool.

AllTransportSupervisorsmustcarryavalididentificationbadgeatalltimeswhilstondutyandmustholdavalidCountyCouncilCRBDisclosureCertificateforthedurationoftheircontract.

TransportSupervisorsshoulddressappropriatelyfortheworkinvolved,includinglifting,ifrequiredtodoso.

Adviceshouldbesoughtfromtheparentsortheschool,asappropriate,overanyconcernsthatmayariserelatingtoanyofthechildren.

TheTransportSupervisormustensurethatallchildrenareusingappropriaterestraints(e.g.boosterseatsorseatbelts)beforethebusbeginsanyjourney.Physicalcontactwithchildrenshouldbekepttoaminimum.

ATransportSupervisor’sdutiesdonotenduntilthelastchildhasbeendischarged.Onnoaccountmustthisdutybedelegatedtoanyotherperson.

Seriousincidentsoraccidentsinvolvingthesafetyofchildren,thevehicleorotherroadusers,mustbereportedimmediatelytotheOperator,whowillberesponsiblefornotifyingEducationTransportandtheschool.

Ifavehiclebreaksdownonajourney,theTransportSupervisorshouldnotallowchildrentoleavethevehicleuntilareplacementarrives,unlessitisdangeroustoremaininitandifthedriverissuesinstructionstothiseffect.

TransportSupervisorsshouldnotprovidefood,sweetsordrinkstochildrenintheircare.

TransportSupervisorsshouldbenotifiedbyEducationTransportofanyemergencyproceduresrelatingtospecificchildrenwithspecialneeds.Incaseswherethisinformationisprovided,TransportSupervisorsmustbereadytorespondtotheseneedsshouldanemergencyarise.

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Advice to and responsibilities of operators

Thesafetyandwelfareofpupilsisofparamountimportance.

TheSchoolTransportOperatorwillbecontractedbyCambridgeshireCountyCouncil’sEducationTransportService,toprovidethesafeconveyanceofpupilsbetweentheirdesignatedcollectionpointandtheschoolsite,andviceversa.

TheOperatorwillberesponsibleforprovidingTransportSupervisorswithappropriatetrainingandsupport.

AllTaxiDriverswillbeCriminalRecordsBureauchecked.ThiswillbeundertakenbyCambridgeshireCountyCouncil.

TheOperatorwillfollowtherouteandscheduleasagreedwithCambridgeshireCountyCouncil’sEducationTransportService.

TheOperatorwillensurethatasuitablevehicleisprovidedandthatalldriversandvehiclesaresuitablylicensedandinsuredfortheconveyanceofschoolchildren.

TheOperatorwillensurethatalldriversareawareoftheirobligations(seeoverleaf).

TheOperatoranddriverwillbeheldresponsible,intheeventofanybreachofthisCodeorofanyaspectofthelegislationgoverninghometoschooltransport.

TheOperatorwillensurethatallschoolbusesdisplaythecorrectservicenumber.

TheOperatorisaskedtoprovideallvehicleswiththemeanstodirectlycommunicatewiththedepotatalltimes.

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Advice to and responsibilities of drivers

Thesafetyandwelfareofpupilsisofparamountimportance.

Thedrivershouldbepresentableandcourteousatalltimes.

He/sheshouldbeinpossessionofanappropriatelicencetodrivethevehiclebeingusedtoconveyschoolchildrenandbeabletoproduceitondemand.

Thedrivershouldensurethathe/sheadherestothescheduledrouteandtimings,asapprovedbyCambridgeshireCountyCouncil’sEducationTransportService,unlessexceptionalcircumstances(e.g.roadclosure)makeadeviationnecessary.Undersuchcircumstances,thedrivermustnotifytheOperatorsothattheschooland/orparentsmaybenotifiedofanydelay.

Thedrivermustneverleaveadesignatedcollectionpointearlierthanthepublishedtime.

Intheeventofavehiclebreakdown,thedrivershouldnotpermitanypupiltodisembarkandmustinformthemofthesituationandanylikelydelay.IfaTransportSupervisorispresent,thiswillbetheirresponsibility.No

transportstaffmaylegallyholdapupilonboardiftheyinsistondisembarking.InthissituationthedrivermustreportthenameofthepupiltotheTransportOperator,whowillinformtheschoolimmediately.

Thedrivermustnotsellorsupplypupilswithgoodsofanykindorstopenrouteforpupilstoobtaingoodsofanykind.

Thedrivermustnothaveanyphysicalcontactwithanypupilexcepttoprovidehelpinemergencyorexceptionalcircumstances(e.g.whereachildtripsleavingorenteringthebus);norenterintodiscussionsofaninappropriatenature.Abreachoftheseconditionswillresultinimmediate&permanentremovalofadriverfromschooltransport.

Onlywhereapupil’ssafetyisatriskshouldadriverpick-upordrop-offapupilatanypointotherthanadesignatedstop.

Thedriverisdiscouragedfromstoppingthevehicleenrouteunlesshe/shehasgenuine

concernsforthesafetyofthepassengers.Ifthedriverdoesstop,itmustbeinasafeplaceandforasshortaperiodoftimeaspossible.Thedrivermustnotifytheschoolandtheoperatorofsuchabreaktothejourney.

Thedriverisresponsibleforpupils’safetyfortheentiredurationoftheirjourney.Thedrivershouldnevertrytoresolveanyactsofmisconduct(unlessapupil’sbehaviourpresentsadangertothevehicleorpassengers),butshouldreportthenamesofthemiscreantstotheschoolattheearliestopportunity.IfaTransportSupervisorispresent,itwillbetheirresponsibilitytotryandresolveanybehaviourissuesthatmightarise.Thedriverhastherighttorefusetotransportsuchapupiluntilthematterhasbeenfullyresolved,butonlyaftercontactingtheschoolorEducationTransportServiceforauthorisation.

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