BEHAVIOUR
Guidance notes for student behaviour whilst using any form of transport provision are issued with the pass. These are in regard to the discipline on journeys and rights to refuse travel.
For minor instances of misbehaviour or bullying a warning letter, followed by a temporary ban for repeat occurrences will be sent to the parent or carer, copied to their school. A ban is usually for the period of two weeks.
For more serious incidents, such as violent behaviour, that causes a threat to the operation of the vehicle or damage to the vehicle itself, a ban may take effect immediately after the incident has been reported. In some instances, transport provision may be withdrawn. The MAC Transport Administrator will liaise with the school and the operator as to what action is appropriate following more serious issues.
Where transport provision has been withdrawn, the MAC Transport Administrator may consider reinstating provision after a Review Meeting involving the parents, Head teacher, the operator and a representative from the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic MAC Board of Directors. This may involve a phased reinstatement of transport.
If a pupil or student has been issued with a ban of any length, it is a parent’s responsibility to transport the pupil or student to and from school for the duration of the ban.
PAYMENT
Invoices will be issued to parents/carers in advance of the transport provision commencing.
Payments are to be made as per the Payment option selected.
Parents/Carers experiencing financial hardship should contact the MAC Transport Administrator in good time to discuss the payment plan/s available.
The Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic MAC Board of Directors have the right to withdrawn the transport provision to a student where payment has not been made.
Full payment is required for students wishing to surrender their boarding pass.
Refunds will be issued if the provision is ceased by the MAC Transport provider.
OPERATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
Transport is provided to meet the requirement of attendance and only provided at the beginning and end of the school day.
Pick up and drop off points are made as near to pupils/students home as possible. However, the provider considers it reasonable for pupils/students to walk a short distance to their nearest point.
It is the responsibility of the Parent/Carer to ensure the student arrives at the pickup point.
All applications for MAC transport must be on a standard application form.
Complaints should be raised with the MAC Transport Administrator at mactransport@lourdesmac.org.uk
LOST AND STOLEN PASSES
Passes that are lost or stolen can be replaced on payment of an administration charge of £10
No fee will be taken if a student can confirm the pass was stolen, by providing a crime reference number and detail of the station reported to.
NO PASS, NO TRAVEL
A ‘No Pass, No Travel’ scheme applies to:
- Tackle health and safety concerns about overloaded vehicles
- Prevent unauthorised students from using the provision
- Ensure students use the correct service to which they have been allocated
Drivers are expected to check student passes daily and those not carrying a valid pass should not attempt to board, as they will be refused.
It is the parental responsibility to ensure that their child has successfully boarded school transport each morning.
MONITORING OFFICERS
The MAC Transport and/or the Authority’s Monitoring Officers inspect the transport provision. The primary purposes of these inspections are to ensure:
- Students are using the correct service;
- Unauthorised students are not using subsidised transport services;
- Operators are providing authorised drivers on subsidised transport services;
- Operators are providing appropriate vehicles on subsidised transport services;
- Operators are running to the correct timetable;
- The Authority’s register of students using a particular subsidised transport service is correct.
Monitoring Officers acting on behalf of the Authority may ask to inspect a student’s travel pass, in addition to the standard check undertaken by the driver.
