School transport

School transport is provided to children who:

• live more than two miles from their catchment school by the shortest available route or
• are required to travel to school using a route that has been assessed as being unsafe under Section 4 of the Transport Policy or
• have additional support needs.

If there are any spaces remaining on contracted vehicles after all entitled pupils have been allocated a space, these are allocated through the Privilege Pass Scheme.

School transport can be provided using existing public transport, contracted buses, taxis, or through parental mileage contracts. The means of transport is determined by Stirling Council.

Read the seatbelt declaration.

How do I apply for ASN transport?

1. A discussion at a staged intervention meeting will decide whether to request transport.
2. The school will submit the ASN Transport request form including whether an escort is required.
3. The ASN transport officer will authorise the request.
4. ASN transport will be reviewed regularly at staged intervention meetings.

What happens next?

1. The ASN transport officer will be in touch to tell you the name of the transport operator and escort if applicable.
2. The operator will contact you with the pick-up and drop-off point and estimated collection time.

Please note the pick-up and drop-off times may vary as the route is altered, or other pupils are added or removed from the route. The operator will keep you informed.

Your responsibilities

• Parents/carers are responsible for the safety and care of their children at the pick-up and drop-off point.
• Parents/carers are responsible for good timekeeping - transport should be consistent to within a few minutes on either side allowing for traffic or weather conditions.
• Parents/carers must ensure there is a responsible adult at home or drop-off point. If there is no responsible adult at home time, and parents or carers cannot be contacted, operators are advised to contact either the headteacher or the ASN transport officer for advice. They will then attempt to contact you, or your emergency contacts so that arrangements can be made for you to pick up your child.

Further information:

• Transport Guidance for Parents and Carers
  Guidelines for Transport Contractors, Drivers and Escorts

Educational experiences for pupils outside the classroom is an essential part of the school curriculum. Schools, Learning and Education supports establishments in seeking to maximise the opportunities for all pupils to enjoy a variety of educational excursions.

There are many types of experiences that can be undertaken:

• cultural visits
• outdoor activities
• environmental projects
• national awards such as ASDAN, John Muir or Duke of Edinburgh Award
• residential excursions at home and abroad.

Schools are encouraged to examine the opportunities they provide, as well as seeking to match it to the needs of individual pupils.

Rights, responsibilities and behaviour

All children who travel on council-provided school transport must adhere to the Pupil Acceptable Standards Statement (PASS). This details the rights and responsibilities of children using the provided services.

Failure to adhere to PASS may result in the withdrawal of entitlement to transport services.

Read the Pupil Acceptable Standard Statement (PASS).

Where home to school transport is provided by private contract buses or taxis, there are sometimes additional spaces available on these vehicles after all transport has been allocated. We allocate these spaces through our Privilege Pass scheme.

If your child is not entitled to school transport, you may be able to apply for a Privilege Pass. This is a concessionary space that may be granted after we have first met the needs of all children who are entitled to school transport.

Applications

Applications for Privilege Passes for session 2023/24 are now open. Our Privilege Pass leaflet has been updated to reflect recent changes in legislation. Our criteria for awarding Privilege Passes has also changed to accommodate this change in legislation.

Applications are usually open between 1 and 31 May, with any applications received after 31 May dealt with on a case by case basis.