Transporting Children

RELATED CHAPTERS

This chapter should be read in conjunction with the Activities Procedure.

1. General Arrangements

Staff and carers transporting children on behalf of the local authority must be aware that the behaviour of children - regardless of age - can be unpredictable, and transport of children should be carefully planned and risk assessed before it occurs (see Section 5, Risk Assessments, in the Activities Procedure).

Consideration must be given to the likelihood of problems during any journey and the following must be taken into account:

  1. Passenger safety;
  2. Competence of the driver;
  3. Length / duration of journey;
  4. Traffic conditions;
  5. Contingency funds and arrangements in case of breakdown/emergency;
  6. Weather;
  7. Journey time and distance;
  8. Stopping off points for long journeys and toilet breaks - 15 minutes every 2 hours;
  9. Appropriate car seats seat belts or restraints must be used and fastened (see Section 2, Seat Belts and Restraints, for requirements);
  10. A mobile telephone should be carried by each member of staff / carer;
  11. Before starting any journey, the owner of any vehicle must undertake sufficient checks to ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy:

2. Seat Belts and Restraints

The following applies unless the person has a valid medical exemption, from a medical practitioner.

For more information on child car seats and boosters, please see: Child Car Seats – the Law.

Children aged under 8 must not travel unescorted in contracted taxis or with volunteer drivers without an escort.

Employees must only use car seats that have been purchased specifically by Children's Services for the transportation of children.

The driver is responsible in law for making sure that children under 14 years use seat belts or child seat/boosters as required.

For children over 14 years it is the responsibility of the driver to make the child aware of the need to wear a seat belt/ restraint. 

Where a child refuses to wear a seat belt, then under no circumstance must that child be transported.

Since October 2015, it has been an offence to smoke in a vehicle carrying a child or young person under 18 years of age.

3. Transporting Children

Staff will be involved in the transportation of children from and to various settings e.g. school, home visits, activities, court etc.

It is the responsibility of all managers to ensure that staff update changes to their insurance and driving licence and provide copies of the documents.

Additional points should also be noted:

1. Where a Risk Assessment states that two staff should accompany a child, the child should never be left alone whilst on the activity.
2. Under no circumstances must a child be allowed to gain access to vehicle keys. When not in use, vehicle keys must be kept in a safe place. Children may not use the main controls of vehicles, steer cars or use petrol pumps;
3. All vehicle occupants must wear suitable seat belts or restraints at all times when in vehicles (see Section 2, Seat Belts and Restraints);
4. Children, staff/carers and other passengers must not smoke in vehicles;
5.

If there is any likely or known risk to the child or others, e.g. a child's history of violence, the likelihood that the child may abscond or go missing the member of staff should consult their team manager for advice on how to proceed but, as a minimum, should ensure the following:

  1. The child must sit in the rear of the vehicle, and each child must be supervised by a minimum of one member of staff;
  2. Staff must be clear when it may be appropriate to use Physical Intervention and what techniques may be appropriate;
  3. Children must not sit behind the driver or be able to distract the driver;
  4. The member of staff must be satisfied that no items which could be used as weapons are available to the child. These could include tools, aerosols, pens etc.
  5. If it is suspected that the child may have some weapon concealed on their person, this must be discussed with the team manager immediately and before the journey commences;
  6. A plan should be in place for arrival at the destination
    • Will more staff be needed?
    • Is a room available?
    • Is it easy to get the car close to the destination; and
    • Is it possible to avoid other children becoming involved?
  7. If the potential risks cannot be managed safely, the journey must not go ahead or continue.  If necessary, the Police must be called to assist.
6. If a child becomes distressed to the extent that the safety of the vehicle or occupants may be compromised, the vehicle must be stopped in a safe and legal manner. The appropriate emergency support service should be summoned if required;
7. If the safety of the occupants is compromised, with the risk of injury or damage to property, Physical Intervention may be used. If the situation cannot be managed the Police should be called to assist.