Free school transport

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While it is your responsibility as a parent to ensure that your child receives an education, we are happy to help get your child to school, safely and on time. School crossing patrols are provided and we operate a home to school transport policy that is one of the most generous of all Scottish local authorities.

• Find out if your child is eligible for free school transport
• When to apply
• What will happen next
• The appeals process
• Your responsibilities
• Your child's responsibility
• Complete and print out an application form

Please note: The two mile safe walking distance to secondary schools referred to on page 4 of the online application form above, will change to three miles. If your application is for transport at the beginning of school session August 2010. You can find more information on bus travel in Renfrewshire from Traveline Scotland website.

Policy on assessment of safe walking routes (pdf - 23KB)

Important information regarding changes to home to school transport, includes maps and assessments of walking routes to school.

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Free school transport will be provided if your child:

• Lives more than one mile away from his or her local primary school by the shortest safe walking route.
• Lives more than two miles away from his or her local secondary school by the shortest safe walking route.( This will change to three miles at start of Autumn term in August 2010 for secondary pupils)
• Has been recommended on health grounds by a designated medical officer.
• Has been assessed to attend a school to meet the requirements of his or her additional support needs. (These assessments involve psychological services, who also recommend appropriate transport arrangements.)
• Has to walk a route which, after seeking advice, is considered by education and leisure services to be unsafe for children.

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What free school transport means

Education and leisure services identify the need for the provision. For primary and secondary school pupils, Renfrewshire Council works with Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT), who engage the operators to provide free school transport. For those pupils with additional support needs, education and leisure services make the necessary arrangements.

The chosen forms of transport depend upon a variety of factors and are decided by Education and Leisure Services, after taking account of all circumstances. These decisions may result in any of the following being used:

• Dedicated school contract bus (service solely for pupils).
• Bus pass on a local service bus (either a commercial or subsidised local service also carrying members of the public).
• Train pass on a public train service.
• Taxi or private hire car or minibus.
• The council's own school transport vehicles.

Free transport normally covers one return journey: to school in the morning and home at the end of the school day. No additional provision is made, although special arrangements may be applied, where possible, to cover pupils taking part in school activities after the end of the normal school day.

Parents of pupils wishing to return home for lunch have to make their own arrangements. Children finishing early who are not collected by parents are supervised until the end of the normal school day.

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When to apply for free school transport
If your child is due to start primary school, you should apply when you enrol them. If your child is going to secondary school , you should apply in the February of the last year at primary school. You can apply at a later time but there could be a delay while arrangements are being made.
If you move home at any time of the year , you can apply or reapply for free school transport

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What will happen when we receive your application
We will tell you the outcome of your application by letter. Staff will be happy to discuss any matter connected with your application with you
If your application relates to a child already attending school, and the application is successful, we will try to tell you about the arrangements before the end of June, although there may be a delay into the summer holiday period

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Appeals
If you wish to appeal against any decision made regarding your application for free school transport, you may do this by completing the appeals form template below, printing and returning to the address below no later than 19 April 2010.
Grounds of appeal are limited to :

• The application of Council policy
• The classification of the route as safe for the purpose in terms of section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and the Guidelines on Assessing Walking Routes to and from School

Appeal request form (pdf 56KB)
Appeal procedure(pdf 24KB)

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Director of Education and Leisure
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1LE


Responsibilities of parents or guardians
We ask you to encourage your child to behave properly and safely when boarding, travelling on and alighting from the transport. As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for ensuring that your child arrives at the pick up point in time.

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Pupil behaviour
Misbehaviour could result in your child losing the right to free transport. The responsibility of ensuring safe and acceptable behaviour remains yours while your child is travelling in the vehicle provided. In any instance of misbehaviour, the driver may retain children's tickets or passes, for the purpose of identifying the pupils involved. The incident will be reported to the driver's supervisor and details will be sent to the head teacher. Parents will be invited to an interview with the head teacher and asked to give assurances on their child's future good conduct, before the free travel pass is returned. During this period parents or guardians will be responsible for making their own arrangements for transporting their child to school

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If you would like more information or want to comment on eligibility, please contact us:

• email: schools.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• telephone: 0141 842 5604
• fax: 0141 842 5699
• write to:
  Education and Leisure
  Renfrewshire House
  Cotton Street
  Paisley
  PA1 1LE
  

You may complete and print out our online school transport application form.

Please note: The two mile safe walking distance to secondary schools referred to on page 4 of this online form will change to three miles if your application is for transport at beginning of school session August 2010

If you are unable to link to this document for any reason, forms may also be collected from schools or request in writing to the address above

Comments on the transport service can be made to Strathclyde Passenger Transport
Parents who have a concern or complaint regarding the provision of school transport should contact the school their child attends by telephoning and providing details, which will be recorded and submitted to SPT.

Parents may also complain directly to SPT in writing to reinforce their concern. SPT will respond directly to parents and will advise the school on the outcome of their investigations.

SPT is responsible for placing primary and secondary school contracts and for their day to day operation. SPT actively monitors the performance of school transport contracts through the deployment of a team of specialist inspectors. To assist with its monitoring, SPT welcomes any issues of concern raised by schools or parents. These should be made to:

Strathclyde Passenger Transport
Public Transport Officer
Consort House
12 West George St
Glasgow
G2 1HN


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