Transport

Parents are very welcome to bring their children to school themselves if this is practically possible. However, most pupils travel to and from school in the taxis and minibuses provided by the Local Authority. Transport arrangements are supervised centrally by staff at Shire Hall who are responsible for placing the contracts with transport companies.

We seek to ensure that all pupils enter and leave the premises safely. Parents who park off site and walk should use the pedestrian gate and zebra crossing to access school. Parents who drive their child to school should join the vehicular queue and a member of staff will receive your child or hand them over at the end of the day. This is to ensure that pedestrians are not walking across the flow of traffic coming into or leaving the school. Please be aware that there is a 5 mile per hour speed limit on site.

It is very important that safe arrangements are made to cater for the needs of each child. Very young children or those with medical conditions who require special supervision are provided with an escort in the vehicle. This may also be necessary if a pupil exhibits behaviour that is likely to distract a driver travelling alone. Some pupils may also need special seating arrangements or to travel in their wheelchair and all should be safely seated in appropriate restraints. Every effort is made by school staff to ensure that transport arrangements work efficiently and that pupils are escorted to and from the vehicles. We are also vigilant about who is collecting children from school. Any parent having a concern about the transport arrangements for their child should discuss this directly with the Integrated Transport Unit at Shire Hall. Their contact details are 01452 425000 and email itu@gloucestershire.gov.uk.

Transport arrangements are complex and parents are asked to ensure that their child is ready for collection at the appropriate time in the morning and that there is someone at home to meet them on their return from school. It is not usually possible for the vehicles to collect or deliver children to addresses other than those that are the norm. Parents are asked to notify transport staff directly if their child will not be attending on any particular day or if they have made an alternative arrangement. It is also helpful if the school is notified. Children will not normally be handed over to anyone other than their parent/carer or the usual transport staff without prior notice. Parents should be confident to ask for identification from transport staff and, if in doubt, should ask them to wait while they telephone the company concerned to verify an individual’s identity.