Freedom of information response
Travel to school for children of compulsory school age
In June 2023, the Department for Education published updated statutory guidance on 'Travel to school for children of compulsory school age'. I am submitting the following Freedom of Information request to find out how the local authority is implementing the guidance. Please can you provide information on the following:
1. 'Local authorities should ensure that drivers and passenger assistants working on dedicated school transport have undertaken appropriate training and that this is kept up to date. It is for the local authority to decide what training is required, how it will be delivered and how often it should be refreshed.'
Are you using an external provider to provide training or is it being provided internally? If internal, which team is delivering this training? If external, are you using an accredited training provider?
2. How regularly is the training reviewed and refreshed?
3. Which job role within the local authority is responsible for deciding which training will be used?
4. How are meet and greet sessions between transport providers and passengers monitored?
5. How much budget is allocated to safeguarding training for school transport providers?
In June 2023, the Department for Education published updated statutory guidance on 'Travel to school for children of compulsory school age'. I am submitting the following Freedom of Information request to find out how the local authority is implementing the guidance. Please can you provide information on the following:
1. 'Local authorities should ensure that drivers and passenger assistants working on dedicated school transport have undertaken appropriate training and that this is kept up to date. It is for the local authority to decide what training is required, how it will be delivered and how often it should be refreshed.'
Are you using an external provider to provide training or is it being provided internally? If internal, which team is delivering this training? If external, are you using an accredited training provider? All Thurrock licensed drivers, as part of their license conditions, are required to undertake safeguarding and child exploitation training, and this is provided internally by children’s social care and taxi licensing. All other training is organised by the transport operator as part of the contract terms and conditions.
2. How regularly is the training reviewed and refreshed? The council is currently reprocuring the transport contract and is in the process of deciding what mandatory training will be required for drivers and passenger assistants. This will be monitored through contract management reviews.
3. Which job role within the local authority is responsible for deciding which training will be used? The School Admissions & Transport Manager will be responsible for this.
4. How are meet and greet sessions between transport providers and passengers monitored? Meet and greet sessions are organised directly by the operator with families and monitored by the operator.
5. How much budget is allocated to safeguarding training for school transport providers? Delivered internally by children’s social care at no cost, so a budget is not applicable. Future training courses will be charged to the operator. A budget will be set for this once the appropriate courses have been identified.