Teaching staff taking children in their cars without a booster seat.

[LadyLannister]

Wondered if any teachers/teaching assistants could answer a quick question for me? My dc's were taken on a trip with school yesterday, there were about 15 children in total split between 1 teacher and 2 teaching assistant's cars ( 2 of the cars were large people carriers ).
I was a bit surprised that they were to be taken in staff's cars but thought it would be fine as presumably they have some sort of insurance for this. The slip we received didn't mention anything about car seats though, so yesterday morning on dropping them off for the trip I asked a TA whether they needed my dc's booster seats - she looked a little uneasy but said 'no, it's fine'. I genuinely thought that surely they wouldn't take the children without booster seats ( only year 3's so most under 135cm ) so I left it at that. Dc's get home and say that they didn't have booster seats to sit on in the car.
So my question is; is this normal? Would your school allow you to take children in your car minus booster seats? Do you normally have to do some sort of risk assessment to take them out like this?
I'm just curious really, dh was annoyed and wanted to complain but I don't really want to complain about something that has already happened - it's just that I'd like to know the rules for if we're in this situation again. Thanks in advance.

I would very concerned about this! Our school use coaches and if thy used a car I would definitely expect a booster seat! My daughter is yr 3 and pretty short so would definitely need one.

In addition to other points all of our parent volunteers have the relevant checks, you aren't allowed to volunteer your till your DBS is finalised.

My ds's school will DRB check any parents who wants to help.
I would help with school fairs and fundraising events, but didn't want to be a parent helper in school, so I didn't ask for it.( I am not good with children.)
But I was asked personally to accompany school trip to London museum by a teacher, so, I couldn't say no. I questioned about DRB, but HT came out and said she has done risk assessment, and she was happy with me, without valid DRB. I was left alone with Ds+ 3 other children in the huge London museum.

I would be very unhappy about the car seats, even more so as you offered one. Actually I'd want a meeting with the Head - they should know it's illegal!

At my school we have a minibus with seatbelt adjusters so children don't need boosters. Children under 135cm travelling in teacher's cars (insured) sit on booster seats. Parent helpers don't drive children and are never alone with them.

It's illegal.

Planned journey. Not an Emergency. Only child who might be exempt is a child in middle seat if a booster seat can't fit.

I'd be sending a strongly worded email to the head teacher and asking for assurances this would never happen again including updating the school transport policy.

I have recently added an annotation to the annual permission slip that if my daughter is transported by private car or mini bus she will require a high backed seat.

Its a non negotiable for me.

I would be furious if this happened to my dc and I'd asked a TA but been turned down with the implication that they didn't need them because they had the situation sorted - ie they had them.

I would put a formal complaint into the head teacher, copied to the teacher and ta. I would be pointing out very strongly that it was illegal and unsafe so should never have been considered as an option when they did the risk assessment.

This wasn't an emergency trip to the hospital or taking a child home for an unplanned reason- it was planned and they have no excuse. Although you could also argue they should have a couple of spare booster seats for these emergency situations but that's a separate argument.

For the TA to then turn down a booster seat is dreadful.

I would also want clarification that if they have correct insurance in place if they're willing to overlook needing booster seats.

And if another group is being taken this week, I would have the letter there on Monday morning and point out that as they now know it is illegal they have no excuse not to rectify the situation for the next trip.

I'd also talk to other parents and get them to complain too.

I would not let my dd travel without the appropriate car seat. When dd was in nursery if they went on a trip parents would fit the childs own car seat into the mini bus. I would be complaining to the head.

Ditsy - yes you can take them to toilet if they needed. Obviously parents try and stay at toilet door but can help if needed. I have done the trip to history museum the same with 4 children left with me. We had 2 hours to do whatever and meet back. 3 other parents accompany.
Dh and I do actually have police checks for work seperatly, but the school don't know this.
It's a private school if that's any difference

Can I ask why booster seats aren't needed in coaches? I've not got dc so don't know the rules. The our school teachers/tas don't take children in cars. Other parents may car share e.g. if going to a football match and a parent can't make it another parent may offer to take them.

We had this issue with my son's school. It was for a regular outing. The moment I found out (son mentioned it to me), I insisted the school use a booster seat. The teacher said son was old enough to go without a carseat. He was 7yo at the time and was definitely not old enough/big enough to go without it. I provided a booster seat and demanded they use it.

When I brought it up in a meeting later, the teacher lied and said of course I would never take a child in my car without a carseat.

The staff would need additional insurance to cover business use. Some staff at our school do, and the head and deputy always do.

They should have been using booster seats for all who require them as it was a planned trip.

They should have had parental permission.

Any parents with SOLE charge of children should have been DBS checked. We have lot of parent helpers on trips and not all are checked. However they are NEVER given sole responsibility for children and would never be taking them to the toilet, in cars or off in small groups/on their own. Even though I think the checks are very limited in their use (they only tell you if someone hasn't done something YET at time of issue or not been caught) we wouldn't let non checked adults look after children without a member of teaching staff around. Even with checked parents we have this rule though - all groups must be with a member of our school staff.

Absolutely not! Preschool age dd2 is regularly transported in the preschool leaders car but never without a car seat. Sometimes she uses her own car seats, if there are too many kids she asks parents to provide extra seats.

Most coaches around here are lapbelts. Another major issue as booster seats be used on them.

The children are Year 3s most will be 8 now. Some 8 yr olds will be tall enough but some won't. We have one that is smaller than the year 1s! They should measure( Maths exercise) and issue seats to the ones under the height.
Artaudco personally I think it isn't appropriate not sure about the legality of private schools but we would never do that. They can be assisting a member of staff eg lined up outside the toilet while we are in the doorway. We don't allow members of the public in either. We ask them would they mind waiting, most don't, but if they do they we get all the kids out and let the person in. Then the kids wait until they have finished before going back in. Most woman have been understanding I usually say " You'll get more peace. " but I have been shouted at my some men and twice they have pushed past and I had to go in to get the boys out.
Anyone giving say a day of there time for a year or more gets checked but not all but they NEVER have sole charge.