Highfields Independent School and Day Nursery Mini Bus Policy

Transcription

1 Highfields Independent Schl and Day Nursery Mini Bus Plicy Last Reviewed: Nv 2015 Apprved n: Cmmittee Respnsible: Pupil and Persnnel Next Review: Nv 2017 Apprved by: Full Gvs

2 Highfields Schl is cmmitted t taking all reasnable precautins t ensure, s far as is reasnably practicable, that thse emplyees wh drive the minibus as part f their jb are prtected frm any freseeable risks t their health and safety. Purpse and Objectives Driving a minibus requires additinal skills t be able t handle the vehicle safely as the weight and the size f the vehicle are cnsiderably greater than a family car. In additin, the driver takes n the respnsibility fr the safety f the passengers. Althugh rare, serius, smetimes fatal accidents have ccurred when educatinal establishments use minibuses. It is t minimize the risk f such accidents ccurring that this plicy has been prduced. The plicy will enable staff t appreciate the risks assciated with driving a minibus and t ensure that they are aware f, and understand the safety precautins necessary t reduce thse risks t an acceptable level. It will als prvide details f the emergency prcedures required shuld smething g wrng. This plicy applies t: Any minibus wned by Highfields Schl Any minibus hired fr teaching, research r ther schl activities. Minibuses which are defined as vehicles cnstructed r adapted t carry mre than eight, but nt mre than sixteen passengers, in additin t the driver. This plicy shuld be read in cnjunctin with any ther schl plicies that relate t the use f vehicles and the Child Prtectin Plicy. Respnsibilities: The Headmaster is respnsible fr: Ensuring this plicy and cde f practice is cmmunicated t and fully understd by all staff, gvernrs, parents and students. Checking that all prcedures are adhered t Ensuring that the plicy is implemented Frmally agreeing which emplyees are allwed t drive the minibus Reprting any accidents t the Gverning Bdy. The Headmaster is respnsible fr: Drafting apprpriate plicies and prcedures as required. Setting up and maintaining apprpriate vehicle management and bking systems including: The checking f licences Maintenance f vehicle lgs Liaising with persns bking the transprt Ensuring the relevant Jurney Reprt Frms are cmpleted and kept. Ensuring that the servicing and maintenance schedules are cmpleted satisfactrily as per the manufacturer s guidance and legal requirements, and n time Ensuing that vehicle licence, tax and insurance is in place at the right time

3 Ensuring all drivers hld an apprpriate clean driving licence fr the type f vehicle they will be driving subject t the Headmaster s discretin, and that all drivers have held a full and apprpriate driving licence fr at least three years Ensuing that all drivers are apprpriately trained t drive the specific schl vehicle and knw the schl plicy n: Pre-use checks Vehicle and driver s lgs Lad carrying fr the particular vehicle Driving limits It is the respnsibility f the drivers t: Ensure they are qualified t d s Will be expected t cmplete a familiarisatin training curse and as sn as practicable reasnable cmplete the MIDDAS training curse Have a valid driving licence Hld an authrisatin t drive certificate issued by the schl. Cmply with the safe prcedures and cntrl measures identified in the minibus plicy and cde f practice. Liaise with the persn wh has bked the minibus and the Headmaster as apprpriate Maintain the Vehicle and Driver Lg as required Make the necessary pre-use checks and initialing the check list Ensure that the lad capacity and passenger numbers are nt exceeded Knw and fllw the schl plicy n driving times and limits Ensure all passengers knw the safety requirements (e.g. seat belts) and required behaviur en rute. Ensure that the Headmaster, r persn in charge in his absence, knws the destinatin and if pssible the rute and the timings Ensuing the persn bking the vehicle signs the Jurney Reprt Frm at the end f the jurney. Reprt any prblems immediately t the Site Manager Nt knwingly place themselves r their passengers in a psitin f unnecessary risk. Persns bking the minibus are respnsible fr: Fllwing the schl plicy Liaising as apprpriate with the Headmaster and driver Ensuring that the driver knws and implements the plicy Making a Jurney Reprt n the schl frm at the end f the jurney Reprting any incidents r any ther useful infrmatin t the Headmaster. Servicing and Maintenance The minibus must be serviced and maintained strictly accrding t the manufacturer s service maintenance schedule. The servicing and maintenance must be carried ut by garages apprved by the Gverning Bdy.

4 Daily and weekly maintenance checks will be carried ut by the Site Manager. The Site Manager must pay particular attentin t the legal requirement that the vehicle is in a radwrthy cnditin. The fllwing must be checked at regular times: Fuel system; seatbelts; steering; mirrrs; brakes; tyres; lights; indicatrs; exhaust emissins and r ther functins determined by the Site Manager. The Site Manager will keep an up- t-date maintenance lg. Pre-use checks must be made befre each jurney under arrangements made by the Headmaster. A list f pre-jurney checks will be kept in the vehicle r with the Schl Office. The driver must initial the checklist n cmpletin f each pre-use check All drivers must be aware that the driver is respnsible in law fr ensuring that the vehicle is radwrthy befre starting the jurney. Wh may drive the schl minibus All drivers f schl vehicles must be schl emplyees r thers apprved by the Gverning Bdy, and: Hld a full and apprpriate driving licence fr three years r mre Hld a clean driving licence apprpriate fr the type f vehicle they are driving Have satisfied the Headmaster that he/she is cmpetent n the Schl s wn vehicle Have satisfied the Headmaster that he/she has full knwledge f the schl s plicy and prcedures fr vehicle management, bking and driving. Fitness t Drive All drivers f the minibus must be aware f the legal requirements demanded in respect f driving and the use f alchl r drugs. On all jurneys drivers, must take a break f at least 15 minutes after every tw and a half hurs f driving. Where the jurney is mre than 24 hurs schl drivers must take a daily cntinuus rest perids f nt less than 12 hurs in additin t the 15 minutes after every tw and a half hurs. Fr lnger jurneys (e.g. When the vehicle is used n field trips, residential r visits abrad) the Headmaster will ensure that the driver(s) knw the current regulatins. There must be tw adults n each jurney. Vehicle and Driver Lgs must be kept up-t-date and will be checked by the Site Manager wh has the authrity t stp a driver frm driving fr any reasn until the Headmaster has made a decisin n his/her fitness t cntinue driving. Equal Opprtunities The schl will have regard t the need t ensure reasnable access t the schl curriculum and facilities fr students and emplyees with disabilities.

5 The schl will take accunt f ther needs f disabled passengers. Reasnable adjustments will be made by authrity f the Headmaster t ensure that disabled passengers are able, as far as reasnably practicable t have the benefits f using the transprt prvided. Mnitring and Review The Headmaster with the aid f the Site Manager will mnitr and review the plicy and arrangements annually and submit and changes/amendments t the Pupils and Persnnel Cmmittee fr re-apprval. T be read in cnjunctin with the Minibus Cde f Practice plicy. Headmaster s signature: