Anyone have experience of getting a school bus service up and running?

[maggiepy]

Would love to hear from you if you have started up a bus service to get kids to their local school. A group of us mums are going to see if this would be possible where we are. It's a long walk to our nearest secondary, no local buses go direct, the roads are vile for cyclists and our roads are badly clogged. A bus would make sense from many angles. All hints and tips, experiences good or bad would be appreciated.

My DD goes to school on a minibus organised by a friend. The minibus is owned by a local man and a single bus is the extent of his firm. There was already a local firm providing a full size coach to the school but it was a bit rowdy for our DC (who went to a junior school associated with a senior school with pupils from 7-18 on same bus).

The bus was filled by children we already knew, almost all younger than secondary. Parents had to commit to a whole year and this was paid by two cheques - one for September and a second post-dated for February. The cost is approx £5 per child per day but the school is 15 miles away. There are no refunds if you don't use the bus for a journey. So far there has always been children waiting for seats - I'm really not sure what would happen if someone bailed out and cancelled the february cheque.

One of the challenges was there is a lot of pressure on parking near the school and it was hard for the driver to find a location to collect the children without having to get there really early or pay for parking.

If its state and your nearest and more than 3 mile walk your lea shoud provide transport.

Thanks Mysteryfairy, that's really helpful.
Just under the 3 miles titchy