Transport Policy

Student Behaviour on the School Bus

1. Always wear the seat belt and do not move around the bus.
2. Students should refrain from using inappropriate language and misbehaviour towards other students, bus driver and the attendant.
3. Treat the bus driver / attendant / transport staff with respect and follow the instructions.
4. For safety reasons, eating and drinking on the bus other than water will not be permitted. Do not litter the bus.

Consequences of Inappropriate Student Behaviour

1. Zero tolerance policy on misbehaviour. Misbehaviour is a serious offence which can lead to termination of bus service and disciplinary action by school authorities and, if repeated, dismissal from school.
2. If a student breaks any rule, the bus assistant will report their name to the transportation department. The incident will be entered in the Student's School Calendar and reported to their respective class teacher.
3. Every bus will have a Yellow/Red card system. This will be given to students based on their behaviour on the bus.
4. Damages if any will be collected from the Student/Parents.

General

• Transport services provided follow guidelines of regulatory authorities.
• Transport staff are trained and hold an RTA school bus driving license and driver's training course.
• Buses are installed with GPS and a Video Surveillance System. All bus attendants have mobile phones.
• There is a Transport In-charge for school whose name and contact details are available on the Transport Registration Form/Communicator.

Transport Guidelines

Clear designated pickup and drop off points will be listed. The travel time may vary depending on the number of students / change in route.

It is the responsibility of the parent(s) to ensure that their child/children is/are at the pick-up point at the designated time. Buses will not leave from collection points ahead of schedule. However, buses will not be able to wait at pick-up points after the scheduled time. Due to traffic delays, buses may arrive at pick-up points and drop-off points behind schedule.

Parents of all students will be issued Parent's ID cards. It is essential to produce the Parent card to receive the student at the drop off point.

The students can be received by the parents / relatives / parents of other students / maids or any other authorized adult with the Parent's card. The replacement cost of the card will be AED 30.

Children with contagious diseases are not permitted to travel in the bus. A clearance certificate should be handed to the School Doctor on the day the child returns to school.

All vehicles, drivers and passengers are insured and the company's liability is limited to the comprehensive compensation paid by the insurance company as per the terms of the insurance policy.

Parents shall compensate the company for any damages on the bus or to other travelers as a result of inappropriate behaviour and actions by their child.

Transport services may use the e-mail id / mobile number of the parents for conveying messages / sending newsletters / circulars.

Transport services reserve the right to decline services. Allocation is based on the availability of a seat in the bus plying in the area.

Students Drop Off and Collection

FS1, FS2 and Years 1 to 3:It is mandatory for an adult with the Parent card to be available; if not, the student will be brought back to the school. The transport representative will contact the parent and confirm whether an adult will be available if the student is brought in the afternoon trip. If so, the FS student will be sent along with the other students in the afternoon trip. Otherwise, the parent must collect the student from the school. Stay back charges will apply. A charge of AED 50/ - per hour, per student will apply for taking care of the students at the school. Parents will need to sign a consent form for students to be dropped without the presence of an adult. If the above is not strictly followed by any parent, the students will be brought back to school and it would be the responsibility of the parents to collect the students from the school. In such cases a charge of AED 50/- per hour, per student will apply for taking care of the students at the school.

Absentee on Day/Return Trip

Parents are required to inform the Transport In-charge / HOD if a student will not use the transport service. If a student does not want to use the return trip on any particular day, the parent should send an e-mail to the Transport In-charge / HOD.

Registration & Payment of Fees

The request for transport services should be submitted by duly filling in the form. The parent needs to complete and submit the same along with the payments at the school cash counter. The seat on the bus will be confirmed only after the payments are done. The transport fee will be refunded as per KHDA guidelines.

Transport fee is applicable and charged for ten months in an academic year; these fees are to be paid in 3 instalments. It is mandatory to submit PDCs for the 2nd and 3rd Instalment along with the payment for the 1st instalment.

Full payment for each term should be done irrespective of the number of working days.

School Smart ID Card

Every student will be issued a school identity card to take the Electronic Attendance, which must be carried daily for the safety of the students. Replacement RFID bus Identity card will be charged at AED 30/ - per card.

Dishonour of Cheque

AED 250 will be charged in case of dishonour of cheques and only cash payments will be accepted in such cases.

Change of Residence/Route

In case of change of residence/route, the transport service will be subject to the availability of seats on established routes. Area change form must be submitted 30 days in advance. Status of the request will be informed to the parent within 2 working days after submitting the form to the Transport In-charge.

The new fees will be applicable with immediate effect. The parent is expected to pay the difference in fare before using the new route.

Transport Discontinuation

The discontinuation request for transport facility will not be considered during the term and in case the facility is not used, no refund will be granted.

Discontinuation of transport facility for the ensuing term should be intimated in the specified form (available at the Transport Department) at least one month before the end of the previous term.

In case of temporary discontinuation due to long leave for more than a month on medical grounds etc., a letter should be submitted along with the discontinuation form to the Transport department, which is subject to approval of the competent authority.

No temporary discontinuation is permissible for the months of December and June.

Transport Fee Refund

1. All refunds of transport fees will be worked out based on KHDA guidelines.
2. Fee refund is applicable only when more than one term has been paid and the facility is not used for succeeding terms.
3. In case of temporary discontinuation on medical grounds, the fee paid can be adjusted for the next term/month, if approved by the competent authority.
4. In case of discontinuation for any reason other than at the end of the academic year, a 'service charge' of AED 50/ - is applicable. This charge will also be applicable for return of Post Dated Cheques.
5. Fee refund is not applicable in case a student is temporarily suspended from use of bus service.
6. Refund shall be made only through account payee cheques (in the name of the parent who had initially paid) and not in cash. In cases of payment done by the company, refund will be made to the company.
7. Any adjustment for fee waiver / change of area shall be done by the third working day of the subsequent month.