Community transport

Services

Community transport - school

School Bus Passes

Summary

The council's public transport section deals with all enquiries, contracts and complaints about mainstream school bus services and passes. The council's education service deals specifically with transport for children with special needs. School bus passes offer free travel to and from school, but are only issued to pupils who live a certain distance away from their school.

Eligibility

Free school transport is provided for: high school pupils who live two miles or more from their catchment secondary school; primary pupils who live more than 1.5 miles from their catchment school. school pupils who are in their critical years (4th - 6th) and have moved to another catchment area, and have attended their catchment school; primary school pupils who are in their last year of primary school and who have moved to another catchment area, and have attended their catchment school; and attending their catchment school but with a medical problem requiring special transport provision applied for via the school doctor.

Service Standards

Process applications within two working days and if appropriate organise transport within five working days;

Advise parents of time and pick up points of transport and of the company's name.

Monitor the operator's performance and ensure that drivers are vetted via Disclosure Scotland;

Liaise with the operator, school and parents to ensure that acceptable standards of behaviour prevail on buses;

Respond to e-mail enquiries within 24 hours and letters within 3 working days;

Process applications for medical assessments for transport within 24 hours;

Carry out route assessments relating to disputes within 15 working days; and

Ensure contract compliance relating to operators' licensing, legality and roadworthiness of vehicles, in conjunction with Department of Transport Vehicle Inspectorate.

Contacts

Education Services, Lindsay House, South Bridge Street, Bathgate. Tel: 01506 776 004 for special needs transport.

Public Transport, County Buildings, High Street, Linlithgow, EH49 7EZ. Tel: 01506 775 283. Fax 01506 775 265; and

Forms