To qualify for Home-to-School Transport, Primary school pupils must reside more than 2 miles from, and attend, their zoned school whilst Secondary school pupils must reside more than 3 miles from, and attend, their zoned school.

These distances are the shortest available route from the pupil’s house to the school gate and can take into account main roads (including dual carriageways), tracks and paths. Pupils will be assigned a collection point, in villages and towns and where safe to do so, pupils may have to walk up to 1 mile to the nearest collection point. Pupils who reside in rural locations are usually collected at the nearest adopted road to them (track end or roadside). School transport vehicles will not use private unadopted roads or tracks. It is the parent’s responsibility to escort the pupil to and from their collection point. Application forms (Form PTU100) are completed by the school.

In the event of adverse weather, transport providers are not obligated to accommodate early closures or delayed openings, parents would be responsible for collecting their child if transport was unavailable.

Please also note that if transport is cancelled by the operator due to adverse weather, and parents choose to transport their child to school, if the school is open, then they are expected to collect them also.

1     Privilege Transport  

Transport provision is also made available for pupils who are not ordinarily entitled to transport. Privilege transport is provided on school transport services subject to spare seating capacity. There are 3 types of privileged transport available.   

In-zone Privileged transport  

Pupils who attend their zoned school but are under the qualifying mileage can apply for In-zone privilege transport. If there is suitable seating capacity available and an existing route, then the application should be approved.  If there is not and there is a safe walking route available to the pupil, then it may be rejected. Please also note that if seating capacity is needed for a pupil who is entitled to school transport, In-zone privilege pupils may be given written notice and removed from transport.  

In-Zone Privilege Transport – Safety 

Pupils who attend their zoned school but do not qualify (due to their residence being under the qualifying mileage) can apply for In-zone privilege transport. If there is no safe walking route available to the pupil, they are guaranteed a seat on transport by applying for an In-zone Privilege pass. A pupil who is guaranteed in-zone privilege transport would not be removed to make room for a pupil who is entitled to school transport.  

Out of Zone Privilege Transport 

There is no transport entitlement to pupils who attend a school which they are not zoned for. Pupils may apply for Out of Zone Privilege transport; pupils are required to meet the nearest available school transport vehicle to them, and it is the parent’s responsibility to bring the pupil to the nearest collection point. Out of Zone Privilege transport pupils may be removed, with written notice, at any time for In-Zone Privilege and Entitled transport pupils. Processing of any new Out of Zone applications received prior to the start of the new term in August does not usually begin until late September. This ensures that all entitled pupils have been allocated and there is a true indication of the remaining available seats. Please have alternative arrangements in place for the start of term and in the event the application is refused.

Applications can be   made by contacting your child’s school. For further information, see the Council website.

https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/school-transport/

or contact school.transport@aberdeenshire.gov.uk 

Local Bus/Registered School Bus Services

Some services operate as registered bus services. These operate on a fare paying basis and pupils will be required to pay a fare to the driver or purchase a season ticket for travel. National Entitlement cards (NEC) can also be used on these services (Young Persons’ -Under 22s Free Bus Travel Scheme)

2     Early Learning & Childcare Transport 

Transport to early learning and childcare settings will not be provided by Aberdeenshire Council.

3     Enhanced Provision and Complex Needs Provision

When it is assessed as being required, Aberdeenshire Council may provide free transport for pupils with additional support needs who attend an Enhanced Provision or Complex Needs Provision which is not their local school.  In certain cases, it will be appropriate for pupils to make their own way to school by public transport and where this is authorised, bus passes are issued.  Where a pupil’s address falls in the delineated area of a resourced school, and is within reasonable walking distance, the Local Authority will consult with Specialist Health Services before deciding if free transport should be provided.   

4     School Closure & Other Emergencies

Head Teachers decide if, and when, schools should close due to bad weather or another emergency. In bad weather they will decide this after receiving information about local weather conditions. This decision can be made during any time, day or night.  These guidelines outline the procedures for dealing with school closures during bad weather or other emergencies.

If children are at school…

School transport contractors have been told not to allow children to walk home alone from drop-off points under any circumstances during extreme weather conditions. If you can’t meet or arrange for your child to be met, the school transport will return them to school or another place of safety.

Public service vehicles – drivers of these vehicles follow a specified route and keep to timetables – they cannot make special arrangements.

If your child attends a Nursery, Primary or Special School, which is to close early, the school will contact you by telephone. If this is not possible the school will contact your named ‘emergency contact’. No child will be released from school without contact being made. It is important contact details are current and the people named are available – particularly during bad weather.

If your child attends a Secondary School, because of the large number of pupils in Secondary Schools, parents will be contacted via text/email to inform them of closure.

If you are concerned about local weather condition, contact the school. You may wish to collect your child yourself and are free to do so provided you make arrangements with the school.

Before the start of the school day…

During bad weather some staff may not be able to get to school or bus routes may not be safe to travel on – so the school may have to close. Headteachers will advise parents and carers using the following communication tools:

Outwith school hours, your local radio station is a good place to find out information on school closures. The following radio stations receive updated information every 30 mins from our website:

·   Northsound 1

FM 96.9

·   Northsound 2

MW 1035 kHz

·   BBC Radio Scotland

FM 92.4 - 94.7MW 810 kHz

·   Moray Firth Radio

FM 97.4 MW 1107 kHz

·   Waves Radio

FM 101.2

·   Original 106 FM

FM 106.3

X

https://x.com/aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire Council Website

https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/Apps/schools-closures/

You can sign up to receive email alerts when your school(s) updates their closure status:

https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/myAberdeenshire/

You also have the option to download the myAberdeenshire app:

https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/appdownload

5     Storm Addresses

When there has been severe snowstorm during the day it may be prudent for pupils who live some distance from the normal bus routes not to attempt to reach their homes but to spend the night in alternative accommodation nearer school. It is the parent’s responsibility to inform school about any pupils who may be at risk in such situations and to provide the name and address of a relative or friend who is willing to provide overnight accommodation.

6     Change of address and Parental Contact Details

To enable us to make easy contact with parents, the school would appreciate if any changes of address, telephone number of circumstances is amended via your parentsportal.scot account (see Menu section ‘Your Account’) or notified in writing to the School Office. It is also important that the school has details of an Emergency Contact should it prove impossible to get in touch with parents in the event of an emergency.