Travelling on the local service bus to school
Guidelines for pupils and parents
Your bus pass will allow you to travel between home and school free of charge.
The pass will show you which bus service it can be used on.
There is no requirement for local service vehicles to be fitted with seat belts.
Local service buses can legally carry a number of seated and standing passengers. On some occasions pupils might need to stand until a seat becomes available.
You cannot use your pass on any other operator’s service other than the one stated.
School transport routes descriptions and timetables can be found at on our school transport timetables section. Select your school for your bus timetable and route.
Please remember you must carry your pass with you every day and show it to the driver as you board.
Handy tips on catching the bus
- Plan your journey before you set out to school.
- Make sure you know which bus you should catch from which stop and at what time it will arrive.
- Please arrive at the bus stop early so you do not miss your bus.
- Make sure you are standing on the correct side of the road for the direction you want to go in.
- The number on the bus pass will be the same as the service number displayed on the bus.
- When you see your bus approaching you must let the driver know that you want to get on. Signal to the driver by stretching out your arm clearly. The bus may not stop unless you do this.
- Before your stop approaches let the driver know you want to get off. On most buses you can do this by pressing the bell once, if there is no bell then ask the driver next stop please.
- If you are unsure about where to get off ask the driver for help, they will be able to let you know when you are approaching your stop.
Code of conduct for pupils
- Pupils must behave sensibly on public transport in order to protect the safety of themselves and their fellow passengers.
- All pupils must carry their pass and present it to the driver on each journey.
- Keep luggage and bags out of the aisles.
- Pupils must not distract the driver.
- Move well down the bus and never stand near the driver.
- Take care getting on and off the bus to ensure clothing or belongings are not caught in the door.
- Not try to get on or off the bus until it has stopped and not push or rush for the door.
- Find a sensible place to cross the road if necessary and not cross until the bus has moved away from the stop.
- Emergency doors and exits must only be used in a genuine emergency.
- Smoking is against the law on buses.
Advice for parents
You are responsible for your child’s safety while getting to and from the bus stop and whilst waiting to board the bus.
You should encourage your child to behave responsibly whilst waiting for the bus and at all times during the journey.
You must have a plan in place for your child in the event that the bus is late or fails to arrive due to unforeseen circumstances.
Ensure children have clear instructions on who to contact and what to do if there is a problem.
If your child misses their return journey they should return to school and report to a member of staff.
Drop off and pick up times may not exactly match the school start and finish times but will always enable your child to be at school for the full standard school day.
If your child is staying later at school, you will need to make alternative arrangements for them to get home. In some circumstances they may be able to use a later service bus to get home which may incur paying the standard child fare. If this is the case additional fares are not refundable.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I report any problems to?
These should be reported to the school transport team whose contact details are on the back of this leaflet.
What if I lose my pass or it is damaged?
If your child loses their pass, a replacement bus pass can be obtained online. The current cost of a replacement pass is £10.00. In the meantime, your child can obtain a temporary pass from the school office.
What if I move house or change school?
Please contact the school admissions team on 0300 111 8000 or email them at admissions@staffordshire.gov.uk. These changes can affect entitlement to travel and the school admissions team will need to check that you are still eligible for transport. We will then issue a new pass if appropriate.
What if my pass is no longer required?
Please return the pass to the school transport team with a covering letter.
What if the bus is late or there is a problem with the bus?
Please report this to the school transport team so that we can investigate and reduce any future problems.
A bus pass should be regarded as a privilege. Unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated on school transport, and drivers are instructed to report any incidents to the county council. This could result in the temporary or permanent withdrawal of transport. Parents will be held responsible for any damage to the vehicle caused by your child and you may be charged for it.
School transport team contact details
If you have any queries or concerns regarding transport reliability, operational irregularities or behaviour on the vehicle, please complete the contact us form below:
Contact us form
Sign up to text alerts to receive information about your child’s home to school transport
If your child is attending a Staffordshire school, you can sign up to receive free texts alerts for home to school transport, please register your details with our customer alerts service. Please remember to select the school your child attends.
Downloadable version
You can find a downloadable copy of the above information in PDF format.
Local service leaflet (3.25 MB)