Safe Behaviour on Buses

Overview of programme

Introduction

A potentially significant safety risk around school bus travel, for both passengers and drivers, is the risk caused by unsafe student behaviour. The Ministry of Education, the Bus and Coach Association, the Land Transport Safety Authority, and the School Trustees Association have been working together to find ways to reduce the safety risk around unsafe behaviour, and we are pleased to introduce to you the Safe Behaviour on Buses programme. This is a package of tools and resources to help schools and bus operators better manage student behaviour.

What is the Safe Behaviour on Buses programme?

Safe Behaviour on Buses is a voluntary programme that is made up of two main parts:

The basis of the programme is an Agreement which is signed up to by the school (which will liaise with caregivers and students) and the bus operator, and where necessary is facilitated by the Ministry through their Service Agents. The agreement outlines each party's roles and responsibilities when it comes to managing student behaviour that is not up to standard. The second part is a set of tools and resources that are designed to give ideas and supporting material on managing student behaviour (e.g. a reference guide to show bus drivers what they can do when misbehaviour occurs, a fact sheet that can be distributed to students and/or caregivers, notes on creating/improving a bus procedure).

The parts of the programme are:

How does the Safe Behaviour on Buses Agreement work?

The Agreement included in this package is a template designed to establish an understanding and agreement between the school and the bus operator as to how student behaviour on buses will be managed. The template can be used as it is, or a school/bus operator may wish to alter it to suit their own individual needs (they may also wish to reflect ownership by replacing the Ministry's logo on the Agreement with their own logo/s).

What are the advantages of the Safe Behaviour on Buses programme?

Schools are already expert in establishing a safe environment for students by managing inappropriate behaviour. The school bus should also be a safe environment, and it is clear that schools are in the best position to determine how unsafe behaviour should be managed when it is reported. Equally, the bus operator and driver have an obligation to support a safe environment for passengers on their bus, part of which involves reporting any behaviour that could be a safety risk. The Safe Behaviour on Buses programme aims to provide an easy way for schools, bus operators and their drivers to work together on minimising the risk of unsafe student behaviour.

Is it compulsory to be part of the Safe Behaviour on Buses programme?

Involvement in programme is voluntary, so if a school already has a system that is working well and a good relationship exists with the bus operators concerned, we encourage this to continue. However, we do suggest that all schools and bus operators could benefit from having a Safe Behaviour on Buses Agreement or similar in place to help reinforce relationships and responsibilities for all those involved with school buses. If a school does not implement the programme, management of student behaviour then falls to the bus operator who is responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles.

How is the Safe Behaviour on Buses programme implemented?

To implement the programme, the school and bus operator will get together to discuss putting the Agreement in place. The needs of different schools and bus operators may vary depending on circumstances, so the Agreement and tools can be altered to reflect these needs. The programme is designed so that it can be self-managed by schools and bus operators, but your local Service Agent is able to provide guidance and assistance if you need it.

We are looking forward to working with you to support safe bus travel.