Do any of you involved in childcare know the Ofsted rules for seatbelts while on coaches/minibuses?

[PussinJimmyChoos]

DS - 4.5 has his first school trip this year...I freely admit he is PFB but I am a tad concerned with the seatbelt issues on the coach used to take the kids to the destination, particularly as they will be on the motorway for part of it

What are the rules regarding this?

I told DH I would quite happily take the high back booster to school for him to use if I didn't think that entire staff
(and playground!) would piss themselves laughing at my PFB'ishness

My DD went on a coach trip at the beginning of primary and loads of the children took booster seats on the coach. Check with his teacher about the arrangements.

As a school teacher I have led trips with Year 1 children (5 -6) and the coaches generally had either lap belts (this was probably a while back, before the recent rules about boosters etc.) or 3 point seat belts. This included an 'official' local authority bus to take children swimming.

I have not experienced any parent requesting to bring a booster seat, but it does seem reasonable when you think about it.

I know highback boosters are safer than just boosters and I wouldn't ordinarily entertain the idea of just a booster seat but in this case, I think its better than nothing at all

I did ask the school what the arrangements were and they said they were using a coach company that had taken the kids on trips before but obviously didn't say anything about what would be being used

Quite relieved to hear other parents gave their kids boosters for the trip actually!

I will ask the school for the name of the coach company taking them so I can check out tthe seat belt arrangements...I know some 3 point seat belts have a special attachment that makes them 'sit' better on the smaller ones

DD has been on school trips since receptiona nd just travelled without a car seat, but with a 3 point harness. Some coaches only have lap belts.

I work in a Y1 class and have never known any child bring, or ask to bring, a car seat with them.

It seems mad though, that generally, parents are so on the ball with car seat safety in cars, for it to go by the wayside on coaches or minibuses...I mean the impact risk is still there isn't it

Have e-mailed the school to ask about the coach company they will use so I can see what their arrangements are

If you travel on a public bus, there is no seatbelt at all. So therefore I would imagine that seatbelt rules are different for public buses (and also trains) than for private cars. Some information from ROSPA and Think! Road Safety with regard to public transport.

DFT has some information about seatbelts in Minibuses and Coaches.

I don't think that Ofsted would have specific rules about seatbelts. Instead they would more likely in my view say that road traffic laws had to be obeyed... thus meaning that coaches would need a seatbelt of some type, as per the DFT document mentioned above.

EYFS Statutory Framework says
"For each type of outing, providers must carry out a full risk assessment, which includes an
assessment of required adult:child ratios. This assessment must take account of the nature of the outing, and consider whether it is appropriate to exceed the normal ratio requirements (as set out in this document), in accordance with providers? procedures for supervision of children on outings. The assessment must be reviewed before embarking on each specific outing."

So seatbelt usage I would guess would fall under the risk assessment. Risks of travel would be needed to be considered.

Thanks NannyNick

Will see what coach company the school are using and what they provide and take it from there...while wondering if the staff are quietly sniggering at me..

This has come up at our school before - the coaches have seat belts and thats all - some parents have pulled their dc out of trips because of it or suggested that the trip not go ahead at all - these are normally parents who's dc dont have to travel on buses at all and those of us who have dcs that have the misfortune to travel by bus all the time (the horror) just got on with it and were thankful our dc were going out to the museum or whatever.

Noone has ever brought a booster seat.

Likewise on the school run pick-up minibuses - they dont have boosters etc.

The problem might come when a different coach is used for the return journey. Where would you keep all the booster seats while you were on the trip?

I don't have a problem with buses as they are in the city...the coach trips are on busy motorways - and imho, carry more risk

This gives you an idea of the paper work and risk assesments that take place before a trip can take place.

I must admit I work mainly in Year 5 and 6. I have never had a booster seat appear for a journey. Not sure what happens lower down the school though. I might ask now!

and tbh - would you want to drop off a booster seat especially a high back one every time they go swimming at the local leisure centre or whatever? And how would parents who dont drive possibly take said item into school?

The schools responsibility is to pick a coach company with a good safety record etc and to ensure that trips dont go ahead when its icy I think.