Passenger transport

You can expect us to:  

• provide safe and problem free transport which is on time
• have journey times to a Leeds school of no more than 1 hour and 15 minutes
• provide vehicles that are clean and comfortable with the right seatbelts or restraints
• employ polite and knowledgeable staff
• have staff and contractors that will carry a private hire or hackney carriage identity badge or a Leeds City Council identity badge
• have drivers drivers wearing the Leeds City Council corporate uniform
• make sure all drivers and passenger assistants have had a satisfactory enhanced disclosure check for criminal convictions
• make sure all passenger assistants have undertaken the Community Transport Association’s Passenger Assistants Training Scheme (PATS)
• make sure our own drivers are trained appropriately and that training is reviewed regularly
• make sure taxis and private hire companies who work for us deliver to our standards
• make sure that all drivers and passenger assistants tell us about any accidents or incidents
• make sure all our drivers and passenger assistants are issued with a handbook of guidelines to ensure consistency of service

We will:  

• consult with parents and carers periodically on service delivery and welcome your feedback
• provide up to date information to drivers and passenger assistants about client’s individual needs
• inform parents/carers of any changes to transport arrangements at the beginning of the academic year, giving two weeks notice wherever possible. Other changes will be notified as soon as practically possible
• let you know by telephone or text message if we are not able to come because of bad weather and you will be responsible for your child's journey to and from school that day
• arrange replacement transport if it breaks down on the way to or from school and let you or the school know your child will be late

Parent and carers

You can help us by:  

• let passenger assistants or escorts know each morning if there are any particular changes or issues that may affect behaviour or well being on the vehicle
• watching for the arrival of the vehicle and ensuring that your child is ready on time and brought to the vehicle by a responsible adult each morning as we will only wait for 5 minutes
• making sure that there is a responsible adult to meet your child from the vehicle in the afternoon
• letting us know as soon as possible if your child cannot go to school for any reason by telephoning us on 0113 378 1820 to avoid any unnecessary delays to the rest of the routes
• encouraging your child to behave well on school transport
• letting us know of any changes to wheelchairs or any other equipment used in transportation, telephone us on 0113 378 1820
• completing and returning the Transport Application Form with important information about your child's needs on transport

If transport is late

Please telephone us on (0113) 378 1820 if transport has not arrived on time. We will ask for:  

• your password or other ID security check
• the passenger name
• name of the school or establishment the child attends
• the normal pick time
• the name of the contractor, if you know it
• a contact number so we can call you back

Dropping a child home

We always expect that a responsible adult will be at the address where we drop a child. We will never leave a child unattended if no-one is home. The driver or assistant will try to contact you by telephone. If they're not able to contact you, they will:  

• alert the school the child may need to be returned to to staff there
• contact us to make us aware to find an emergency drop off address from the Transport Application Form
• leave a note through your door to drop other children off and return once again to the address afterwards
• take the child to school or a social services office if al contact fails

A note will be left for you with contact details and it is your responsibility to to arrange to collect your child. These arrangements are in place to cover emergency situations and we reserve the right to pass on any additional costs involved to he customer.  

Passenger luggage and equipment

We cannot carry suitcases or large items of luggage or equipment on our transport. Parents must make sure that only one soft bag or holdall is provided which can be kept under the seat. Separate arrangements should be made for any additional luggage or equipment.   

Equipment that we do not allow on transport includes:   

• knives and other weapons
• cigarette lighters
• matches
• fireworks

The safety of our staff and children is very important and we will not allow pupils to use our service if they do not follow the rules. We will report this to the school, parents and sometimes the police.   

Pupils

Pupils can help us by:  

• wearing the seat belt provided (or any other prescribed restraint or harness) at all times whilst in the vehicle
• remaining in their seats at all times when the vehicle is moving
• not eating or drinking in the vehicle
• behaving well whilst in the vehicle
• co-operating fully with the passenger assistant or driver