What happens if a school is closed?

If a school is closed as a result of bad weather the school will update our school closures system on a daily basis. Please note, the system resets the school status to open at 9.00pm every night. The system then sends an email to everyone who is registered to receive updates. Transport providers have been instructed to monitor the website so they can establish the transport requirements for the following day.

What happens when school transport cannot be provided?

If a transport provider is unable to offer school transport e.g. in the event of snow or ice, they will contact our transport team. Our team will then inform the school, who will then pass on the information via Parent Mail, their website, or Facebook and Twitter. The ways in which schools get in touch with parents will differ. For Special Education Schools (SEN), our transport team will contact parents / carers directly by telephone, as well as informing the school.

Currently we help almost 7,000 pupils with transport from home to school or college. They travel in a variety of vehicles under contract to us or on local bus and train services.

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Home to School Transport Policy which was adopted in March 2010 details may provide free transport, or help meet the cost of travel, between home and school.

Central Bedfordshire Council's Post 16 Transport Policy for 2012/13 that was adopted in August 2011, provides free or subsidised transport for students who are in Council care, with specific educational needs or medical needs and from low income families.  The Policy sets out the eligibility criteria for students aged 16 or those up to 18 on 1st September 2012 who are starting a new course.  Applications for students entering the second or third year of a course will be assessed using the eligibility criteria included in the Post 16 Transport Policy for 2011/12. 

Central Bedfordshire Council is required to develop a Sustainable Modes of Transport strategy which aims to assess the travel and transport needs of all pupils, and to promote sustainable travel. The strategy aims to improve educational choice by providing details of safe and sustainable travel available to parents and pupils. By encouraging more sustainable school journeys there will be less congestion around schools, less pollution and more parents and children getting exercise.

In addition this document will be incorporated into Central Bedfordshire’s Local Transport Plan 2011-2026.

School transport sustainable modes of travel strategy (PDF 3.7MB)

School transport sustainable modes of travel strategy - summary leaflet (PDF 225KB)

All pupils who use school transport provided by the Local Authority (LA) are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct.

Pupils who fail to abide by the Code of Conduct when using school transport provided by the LA may be banned from using the school transport for a set period. It will be the responsibility of the pupil's parent, carer or guardian to arrange school transport to and from school for this period of time. This means it's in the best interests of parents, pupils and staff to become familiar with and abide by the Code of Conduct.

CBC school transport code of good conduct (PDF 14KB)

You can plan a journey in a number of different ways to suit your needs through Transport Direct

The simplest way to search is using the door-to-door journey planner, which searches for up to five journey options - by joined-up public transport or by car. You can plan from postcodes, places, stations and even local attractions.

During bad weather some head teachers may decide to close their schools and / or some school transport may not be able to run. The new State of Schools portal will allow parents, pupils and school staff to see if their school has been affected by any bad weather.

You can fill out the following form online or by hand. Once the form is completed please send to:

School Transport Entitlement Team
Central Bedfordshire Council 
Children's Services
Watling House
High Street North
Dunstable
LU6 1LF

Academic year 2012/13

Assistance with home to school transport related to family income 2012/2013 - plus Guidance Notes (PDF 47KB)

Post 16 Transport Application Form and Guidance Notes 2012/13 (PDF 62KB) (PDF 62KB)