Bus travel

Parents and carers are responsible for how their child travels to and from school. Schools take over responsibility and duty of care for the student once they enter the school premises.

Key road safety message for safe bus travel

  • Wait until the bus has gone and then use a safe place to cross the road.

Referenced from TfNSW Key road safety messages

Transport for NSW's key road safety messages for safe bus travel

Bus travel advice for parents and carers

Schools can support their parents and carers with the department's advice about:

Student code of conduct

When travelling to and from school on public transport students need to adhere to the Transport for NSW Guidelines for Managing School Student Behaviour on Buses and the Student code of conduct for travel by bus and rail.

School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS)

Transport for NSW manages the School Student Transport Scheme to provide eligible schools students with free or subsidised travel on public transport to and from school.

Assisted School Travel Program (ASTP)

Students with a disability who are unable to travel to and from school under the School Student Transport Scheme may be eligible for assistance under the Department of Education's Assisted School Travel Program

Parents can assess their child's eligibility and schools can support students in safe travel to and from school.

School Drive Subsidy

Students may be eligible for a subsidy through Transport for NSW's School Drive Subsidy Program, if you live in an area where there is no public transport.

School-owned buses

Some schools own or manage a bus to transport children to and from school or school events. If so, the principal must ensure the bus:

All school-owned buses must comply with and be fitted with:

  • 40km/h static signage at the rear of the bus
  • flashing (wig-wag) lights as a warning system at the front and rear of the bus including flashing headlights.

Using public transport for school excursions

Department of Education's Duty of care and behaviour management - Questions about child restraints in motor vehicles - child restraints, booster seats and seat belts(Staff only)

Transport for NSW provides information for group travel and school excursions

More information about Excursions for travel.

Informal school bus stops

Informal school bus stops are not sign posted or developed formal bus stops. Transport for NSW, in consultation with Roads and Maritime Services, BusNSW and other bus stakeholders, has developed road safety advice for locating informal school bus stops. This advice has been prepared for anyone involved in selecting or reviewing locations for informal bus stops.

Useful links

Transport for NSW's YouTube videos:


Category:

  • Teaching and learning

Business Unit:

  • Teaching Quality and Impact
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