IMPORTANT
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This email will be used for further instructions and communication throughout the admissions process.

Please note:
Over the course of the year it is at times necessary to send learners home earlier than the scheduled finish time for the day. On these occasions, the buses depart early to facilitate a range of activities at the academy.

Please note:
Over the course of the year it is at times necessary to send learners home before the scheduled finish for the day. On these occasions, the buses depart early to facilitate a range of activities at the academy.

Please note:
Bus times and routes are reviewed annually and are subject to change. It is the academy policy that we operate buses from main towns and cities within the catchment area, stopping at a small number of points along the route to accommodate learners from a wide area. As a regional academy with a large catchment area we are unable to pick up at every village or suburb within the region.

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The Transport Code of Conduct has been produced to assist parents/carers and learners in understanding their rights and responsibilities regarding the use of transport provided by The JCB Academy.
Your son’s/daughter’s entitlement to travel
All learners of The JCB Academy are allocated a place on a dedicated bus route, which entitles them to travel for one return journey each day that the academy is open. If you move address you should notify Learner Reception in order that your son/daughter can be allocated a different route if necessary. If your son/daughter wishes to use an alternative bus, this should be agreed by prior arrangement with Learner Reception at least one week in advance and only in exceptional circumstances. However, due to capacity it may not always be possible to accommodate these requests.
Waiting for the bus

• In the morning, learners should arrive at their bus stop at least five minutes prior to their allocated pick up time.
• In the event that we are notified of a delay, we will send a text alert advising the anticipated time that the bus will arrive: in these circumstances we expect all learners to wait for the delayed bus.
• Should the bus not arrive at the designated time learners should wait a minimum of twenty minutes before returning home and contacting the academy.
• For their own safety, learners should stand well back from the kerb and behave responsibly and safely whilst waiting for the bus.
• We expect that all our learners respect the property of those who live next to, or nearby, their bus stop.

On the bus
Learners must:

• Find a seat quickly and remain in it for the duration of the journey. (learners may be allocated a specific seat or a specific area to sit)
• Sit in an allocated seat if requested to do so.
• If required wear a face mask for the duration of the journey.
• Wear their seatbelt for the duration of the journey.
• Respect the right of other passengers to enjoy a safe and pleasant journey at all times.
• Respect both the driver and the vehicle at all times.
• If instructed by a member of staff, move/remain to/in an allocated seat.
• Wait on the bus in the morning until instructed to leave by a member of academy staff.

Learners must not:

• Consume food.
• Possess or use any vaping/smoking equipment.
• If a learner is found to be vaping on the bus this will lead to a suspension, and immediate bus ban (they will not be allowed to use the service and will need to arrange their own transport to and from the academy)
• The length of the suspension will be up to 5 days (first offence) and at risk of permanent exclusion (second offence)
• The length of the bus ban is down to the principals discretion
• Leave litter on the bus.
• Listen to music without the use of headphones; volume must be kept at a level that does not disturb other passengers or the driver.
• Behave in a way which impacts negatively on the journey for their fellow passengers.
• Move around the bus whilst the bus is in motion.
• Distract the driver in any way.

Addressing poor behaviour
The JCB Academy is committed to providing safe and reliable transport for its learners and we actively encourage learners and parents/carers to report any incidents of poor behaviour on the bus; this can be done in a number of ways:

• By speaking to any member of staff who is on duty on the bus park in the morning or afternoon.
• By contacting the learner’s mentor, assistant head of year or head of year.

We work in partnership with our transport providers and liaise regularly with the drivers to ensure that incidents of poor behaviour are reported and addressed.
All incidents are thoroughly investigated by academy staff and any learner who behaves in a way which is deemed unsafe or disrespectful to other passengers, the driver or the vehicle may have their right to use the academy transport removed. Parents/carers of any learner who damages or vandalises the bus will be liable for any repair costs incurred by the bus company.
Sanctions will be applied in accordance with the academy’s Behaviour Management Policy. Bus behaviour points will be awarded to learners based on the sanction applied:

• A bus detention will result in 10 bus behaviour points.
• An internal isolation issued for a bus related issue will result in 20 bus behaviour points.
• A fixed term exclusion issued for a bus related issue will result in 40 bus behaviour points and a potential immediate bus ban

Bus behaviour points will be accumulated during the year and bus bans will be issued as follows:

• A culmination of 40 bus behaviour points will result in a one week ban.
• A second 40 bus behaviour points will result in longer ban of either 2 weeks or a month long.
• A third 40 bus behaviour points will result in a further ban; potentially for the remainder of the academic year.

The Principal has the discretion to issue an immediate ban should she feel the safety of the learner and/or others travelling on the bus are at risk. In such cases the ban duration will be determined by the principal and could potentially be permanent.
Parents/carers will be informed of any sanctions issued by letter and the accumulated bus behaviour points.
Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring that their son/daughter understands the consequences of poor behaviour on Academy transport.

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