Parents and carers are responsible for how students travel to and from school. Schools take over responsibility and duty of care for the student once they enter the school premises.
Public transport
Bus travel advice for parents and carers
Schools can support their parents and carers with advice about:
Student and parent obligations for safe travel using public transport
When travelling to and from school on public transport students need to adhere to the Transport for NSW Guidelines for Managing School Student Behaviour on Buses and the code of conduct for travel by bus and rail.
The code covers areas including:
- safety and behaviour requirements
- the comfort of other passengers
- carrying passes
- protection of property
- consequences of misbehaviour.
School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS)
Transport for NSW manages the School Student Transport Scheme to provide eligible schools students with free or subsidised travel on public transport to and from school.
Assisted School Travel Program (ASTP)
Students with a disability who are unable to travel to and from school under the School Student Transport Scheme may be eligible for assistance under the Department of Education's Assisted School Travel Program
Parents can assess their child's eligibility and schools can support students in safe travel to and from school.
School Drive Subsidy
Students may be eligible for a subsidy through Transport for NSW's School Drive Subsidy Program, if you live in an area where there is no public transport.
School-owned buses
Some schools own or manage a bus to transport children to and from school or school events. If so, the principal must ensure the bus:
- is used in accordance with the legislation covering all vehicles licensed to carry 10 or more persons, including the driver. Refer to Duty of care and behaviour management - Questions about child restraints (Staff only)
- adheres to the department's Excursions Policy Implementation Procedures (Section 9).
All school-owned buses must comply with and be fitted with:
- 40km/h static signage at the rear of the bus
- flashing (wig-wag) lights as a warning system at the front and rear of the bus including flashing headlights.
Using public transport for school excursions
Department of Education's Duty of care and behaviour management - Questions about child restraints in motor vehicles - child restraints, booster seats and seat belts(Staff only)
Transport for NSW provides information for group travel and school excursions
More information about Excursions for travel.
Informal school bus stops
Informal school bus stops are not sign posted or developed formal bus stops. Transport for NSW, in consultation with Roads and Maritime Services, BusNSW and other bus stakeholders, has developed road safety advice for locating informal school bus stops. This advice has been prepared for anyone involved in selecting or reviewing locations for informal bus stops.
Useful links
- Useful forms and information (TfNSW)
- Transport travel information, trip travel (TfNSW)
- Transport school travel information (TfNSW)
- School Opal card (TfNSW)
- Buses and coach services in NSW (TfNSW)
- Bus safety issues around schools (TfNSW)
Transport for NSW's YouTube videos: