Transport

South Lanarkshire Council has a policy of providing school transport to Secondary pupils who live more than two miles by the recognised shortest walking route from their catchment school.

The provision of transport could be reviewed at any time. Parents who consider they are eligible should obtain an application form from the school or Education Resources, Hamilton, Phone 0303 123 1023 or web www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk. 

These forms should be completed and returned before the end of March for those pupils starting the school in August to enable the appropriate arrangements to be made. Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year and will be considered by Education Resources.

A privilege transport scheme is operated for mainstream school contracts where a pupil is not entitled to free school transport. Privilege transport will only be granted providing there is spare capacity on an existing school contract and will be from and to designated pick up and drop off points. Privilege transport will not be provided where a service bus is used on the school run. Any spare capacity will be allocated using agreed priorities. For more information on school transport contact Education Resources Phone 0303 123 1023.

(ii)      Pick-up points

Where school transport is provided it may be necessary for pupils to walk a certain distance to the vehicle pick-up point.  Walking distance in total, including the distance from home to the pick-up point and from the drop-off point to the school in any one direction, will not exceed the authority’s distance limit for school transport.

It should be noted that it is the parent’s responsibility to ensure their child behaves in a safe and acceptable manner while travelling in and alighting from the vehicle. 

Misbehaviour can result in your child losing the right to school transport.

Parents are asked to note that South Lanarkshire Council does not provide transport for those pupils who attend school via a placing request. 

Details of routes and pickup points for contract transport can change. Parents will be notified either by Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive or the school.

Any parents with a complaint or a concern about transport should contact the school where all complaints are logged and may then be forwarded to Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT). 

SPT are the organisation responsible for monitoring the contracts awarded for transport.

• SPT – 0141 332 6811
• SLC TRANSPORT HELPLINE – 01698 717713

The telephone numbers of the current school transport contractors are:-

Change of Address

It is essential that if you change address you obtain a new application form for free school transport and return it as directed. This will enable SPT to ensure that transport is available for your child from your new address. Failure of parents to follow this procedure has caused difficulty in the past since bus lists could not be kept up-to-date and sufficient seats were not available as a result. 

Your co-operation in this will be much appreciated.