Transportation

PURPOSE

Bus services are a vital part of Happy Hearts Nursery. In order to ensure providing safe and smooth transportation to all our children, Happy Hearts Nursery has a Transportation policy in place which states the clear guidelines pertaining to all transport related facilities.

DEFINITIONS

Attendant – a person who is present on a particular occasion

POLICY STATEMENT

Happy Hearts contracts bus services through Khalifa Al Dhahiri passenger transport, a company approved by both the Ministry of Transportation and by ADEK.

We provide bus pick up and drop off services within the following service guidelines:

• Buses are to be approved by the Ministry of Transport and meet all ministry maintenance and licensing regulations.
• Buses are to be operated by a licensed and qualified driver who knows the UAE driving laws and follows all driving regulations.
• Buses are to be accompanied by a qualified and approved bus attendant (The bus attendant is a staff member of Happy Hearts, trained and certified by DOT in UAE) who manages the students, ensures their safety at all times, and who coordinates with parents and families.
• If parents wish to access the transportation services provided the form for transportation should be filled out and submitted prior to school opening or anytime during the school year that such service is required. Bus services may commence no sooner than two days following the submission of this form.
• To access the buses all transportation and school fees must be paid and up to date as per the fee payment schedule that the school communicated upon registration.
• Bus fees will not be reimbursed for transportation services being cancelled or in case of absence.
• Bus times are worked out to create the greatest efficiency and to ensure proper pick up and drop off safety procedures for all parents and students.

Following guidelines are set down by Happy Hearts for bus attendant to ensure safe and secure bus service:

1. To check that the bus is empty and follow up with the bus driver and conductor in case there are any problems.
2. In case the students are absent the school should inform the parents before the beginning of the first period.
3. The attendance list should be updated, and the bus attendant should be informed of any changes.
4. The students’ misbehavior reports in the bus should be followed up.
5. The bus conductors should make sure that the school buses are free from any sharp equipment.
6. The bus conductors should inform parents timings and drop off locations.
7. Parents must notify the school reception or the bus monitor if the student will not be riding their normal bus home
8. The bus attendant is not allowed to use mobile phones during the trip except for emergency cases.
9. The bus attendant should accompany all students make sure to hand them over to the authorized person.
10. The bus attendant should ensure that the students are safe in the morning when coming to       the school and in the afternoon when returning from the school and also during school activities and field trips.
11. The bus attendant should ensure that all students are seated with seat belts fastened while the bus is moving.
12. Children should not be allowed to walk around or eat and drink in the bus.
13. The bus attendant should assist in evacuation from the bus in emergency cases.
14. The bus attendant only allow students to drop off the bus in their assigned locations.
15. The bus attendant should make sure that students are handed to the authorized guardians or parents.
16. If the parents are not at the assigned point wait for 3mins before leaving the stop.
17. If for some unavoidable reason the bus is running behind schedule or ahead of schedule the bus attendant will notify the parents.
18. The bus attendant should report any misbehavior from the side of the students during the transportation and report this to the senior management.
19. The bus attendant should check the attendance in the morning and afternoon especially when it is time for students’ pick up and drop off. This should be done to check if there is any student hiding behind the chairs or is missing.
20. The bus attendant should help students lift and drop their school bags and place them in the appropriate, safe location.
21. The bus attendant should be trained on fire fighting and first aid procedures.
22. The bus attendant should make sure that the bus drivers are following all the traffic laws and are driving safely at all times. Any concerns regarding misconduct by the drivers, the bus conductors should report to the senior management.
23. The bus attendant should report directly about any type of minor or major accidents to the school senior management.

The Responsibilities of the Bus Supervisor Before morning trip starts:

1. Check to see if the bus is free of any dangerous equipment to ensure the safety of the students.
2. Have the parents’ contact numbers in case of emergency.
3. Have the updated attendance roster to check the attendance.
4. Check if the safety equipment is present and in good condition.

Home pick up

1. To assist the students in getting up on the bus and help them seat in their allocated places and fasten their seatbelts.
2. To arrange the bags in a way that they do not block the aisles.
3. To take the attendance to ensure that everyone is present.

During morning trip

1. To make sure that students are in their seats seating safely during their trip.
2. To instruct students not to touch the safety equipment’s such as: first aid kit, fire extinguisher, glass breaking hammers and emergency doors.
3. To report to the senior management any form of misconduct by the driver.

Arriving at school

1. To inform students to stay seated till the bus stops completely.
2. To take the attendance when each student leaves the bus.
3. To make sure that the bus is empty from students and all their belongings.
4. To inform the management about absent students.

Departure from school

1. To see that students are collected form their classrooms and wait at the assembly point.
2. To arrange the bags in a way to prevent any disturbance.
3. To take the attendance before moving.

Home drop off

1. To assist students to get off the bus.
2. To ensure the road is free from any danger and ensure they are received by their parents (hand-to-hand).
3. To take the attendance again after handing the students to their parents.
4. To make sure that no one is on the bus.

Guideline for the parents:

• Bus Pickup Times are given to each student and must be followed at all times. Buses will wait no longer than 3 minutes for a pick up. Students who are late and hold the bus up for these 3 minutes will be reported to the nursery management who will follow up with parents.
• Afternoon Drop-Off Times are provided for each child. Parents are required to have an authorized adult at the pick-up location for small children. If no authorized adult is there to pick up your children, they will be transported back to school and will wait in reception until you arrange to have them picked up.
• Alternate Drop-Off Arrangements are to be communicated prior to 11.00 pm. on the day these changes are to take place. It is important to make these arrangements with the school reception in advance, so bus attendant knows that your child will not be on the bus for the Afternoon drop-off
• Alternate drop off arrangements for your child should be informed advance to the bus attendant the nursery office. So that the child in included in the bus during the afternoon drop off.
• Parent or any other adult or children other that Happy Hearts Nursery staff and children will be allowed to ride on the school bus.

IMPLEMENTATION DOCUMENTS

Please refer to the following documents to ensure the effective implementation of the policy:

• Bus Supervisor Certificate
• Bus Attendance Sheet