Introduction

It is really important that we know about any problems with school transport, such as a vehicle running early or late, if a vehicle fails to operate and any behaviour issues.

We only know about a problem if we’re told about it. Please give us specific details so that we can discuss any issues with the contractor or the school. If you prefer, you can tell us anonymously. We will deal with all matters reported to us in confidence.

Email us transport@somerset.gov.uk

Behaviour on school transport

We want to provide school transport that is safe and stress-free for all passengers. One of the major worries that parents have is that there will be poor behaviour on school transport. We take this very seriously and we are working hard to overcome concerns. We spend a lot of time working with schools and operators to make sure any problems are dealt with effectively. We will always work with the school involved to try to solve the problem.

We have a co-ordinated approach to addressing behavioural concerns raised by parents as outlined below.

  • Behavioural protocol – A clear system of advice, rules and guidance, designed with schools to make sure that poor behaviour is dealt with consistently, fairly and effectively.
  • Bus passes – All middle and secondary school pupils have been issued with a bus pass to make sure the busses are loaded properly. No passengers can use the bus without this specific bus pass. This improves safety and behaviour. We will take away bus passes from pupils whose behaviour is repeatedly poor or when their actions seriously affect safety.
  • Seat belts – All of our contracted fleets has seat belts, which must be worn by law.
  • Driver training – We aim to have all drivers trained to effectively manage their school run by avoiding conflict and dealing with any problems effectively.
  • Prefect training – Schools that have bus prefects are invited to have their prefects trained so that they can act effectively to report problems.
  • Bus groups – Some schools have active bus groups so that children can report problems and discuss ways of dealing with them.
  • CCTV – Much of the coach fleet we use is fitted with CCTV. Although this does not stop trouble, it provides a reliable and objective ‘witness’ to events, helping to identify culprits and exonerate those who are innocently involved.
  • Supervision – Some buses have dedicated passenger assistants, although these are rare.

If you know about a behavioural problem on school transport, please contact us as soon as possible.

Property left on a school vehicle

If your child has left property on a school transport vehicle, please contact the operator directly to arrange to collect it. If you don’t know who the operator is or want their contact details, please contact us and we will tell you.

Last updated: February 15, 2024

Next review due: August 15, 2024

Back to top