All Passengers

• Driver to compete a daily attendance register, in the first week a contact number to be obtained from the responsible adult and included on the register.
• Passengers will be allocated a position in the vehicle and will be required to occupy that seat for all journeys
• Seating arrangements will load from the rear to front in order of pick up. Routes should follow the reverse sequence on the return journey ensuring the same seat is allocated to the same passenger. No person will sit in the seat directly next to the driver.
• Passengers from the same family will be seated together.
• Distance will be maintained wherever practicable but it is accepted that on some routes this will not be possible
• Passengers are encouraged to wear a mask but are not legally mandated to do so on school transport under the age of 11 or where they have SEN statements.
• Passengers over 11 years will be required to wear a mask unless there is an exceptional reason for not doing so.
• Parents will be expected to provide masks, a passenger presenting without a mask may exceptionally on 1st occurrence be provided with a disposable mask for that days travel.
• Passengers should minimise the bags they bring onto the vehicle, bags should be placed under the seat they are occupying wherever possible.

            Walking Passengers

• No passenger should operate the doors of the vehicle, drivers will have to ensure the vehicle is secured by the handbrake, keys removed and the driver to attend to the opening and closing of doors. The exception will be on routes with a Passenger Assistant where they may operate the door but if doing so, only they will operate the door not a mixture of Driver and PA.
• The passengers will be instructed to remain 2 metres from the Driver while they open the door and step back from the vehicle to allow them entry.
• After boarding the vehicle, the driver must close the door, Passengers should not be touching the doors or handles.
• Passengers to apply hand sanitiser on entering the vehicle, they can use their own but the driver must see that them apply it.
• Seat belts to be applied by passenger, where the passenger is incapable a family member will be required to assist. Family members entering the vehicle must hand sanitise before entering and must wear a mask.

            Wheelchair Passengers

• Drivers to wear a mask at all times when in close contact with and Passenger but specifically wheelchair users who are unlikely to be wearing a mask themselves.
• Gloves to be worn, apply gloves when exiting the drivers cab, remove and dispose after completing the loading / unloading following the procedures demonstrated in training, (holding at the cuff)  before re-entering the drivers cab and hand sanitise immediately.
• Parents to clean and spray all high contact points on the wheelchair each morning prior to presenting to the driver.

                 At the school / Centre

• • Waiting / Loading / unloading
  • Drivers should never sit in another driver’s vehicle whilst waiting, breach of this would be a disciplinary matter.
  • Wherever possible drivers should open the doors and step away to allow the boarding and disembarking in the seating plan front to back order.
  • PA or school staff to assist where necessary, particularly with passengers who need seat belt assistance, masks should be worn, where this is not possible drivers need to inform KP / LH so that a specific risk assessment can be undertaken for that pupil.
  • Drivers should not be less than 2 meters from other drivers, PA or staff.
  • Whilst waiting to collect drivers should remain in their vehicle and not stand around chatting to other people, contact with others should be on an entirely necessary basis.

                 Passenger Assistants

• • Should be allocated a seat in the vehicle wherever possible at least 2 metres from the driver and this should be their seat throughout the journey including when no other passengers are on board.
  • Should wear an appropriate facemask provided this is not causing distress to any passenger.
  • Should be provided with a personal supply of hand sanitiser by the local authority and should use this at regular intervals, especially if they are required to assist or come into contact with passengers or their belongings.
  • Should “Partner” with the driver to and should not be changed unnecessarily.
  • Where the LA need to cover an absent PA they should supply only 1 replacement for the entire period of cover, changing PA on a frequent basis should be avoided.

                 Passengers displaying symptoms on the journey

• • If a passenger is showing signs of COVID 19 infection the driver should immediately halt collecting other passengers and contact the office for assistance in communicating with all involved parties, school, parents LA.
  • all pupils currently on the vehicle should be returned home (office assistance is needed to ensure parents will be available) the journey should cease and the vehicle taken out of service for deep cleaning.
  • If a parent is not available to receive a passenger, they should be taken to school where the schools isolation policy will take care of the arrangements for contacting parents and returning the child to their care.
  • where a passenger presents at the end of the school day to the vehicle showing symptoms of COVID 19 travel should be refused, the school will need to make arrangements with parents to collect the passenger. Drivers to inform the office immediately of any refusal to transport.