TRANSPORTATION OF CHILDREN TO TRIPS/TOURNAMENTS

 

The issue of transporting children to and from their sports activities safely can present challenges for sports clubs. Many sports clubs could not operate without the good will of volunteers and parents/carers ensuring that children are transported to and returned home from events in a private car or minibus.

 

It is reasonable for clubs and activity organisers to place full responsibility on parents for ensuring appropriate transport arrangements are made. Where parents/carers transport their own children, or make private arrangements with other parents/carers to deliver or collect their children, they are responsible for their children’s safety and for the suitability of any travel arrangements.

 

However, where the activity deliverer, club or coach is organising transportation of its young members and asks or requires parents to transport other people’s children on the club’s behalf the organiser has a responsibility to take reasonable steps to safeguard these young people by ensuring that the names driver has been DBS checked and holds a current driving license and tax. 

 

In the event of an emergency hospital visit or when the parent does not pick up their child it may be inevitable that children are transported alone in a car. In this incidence the adult will be DBS checked and have a valid driving license. In the events of a non emergency written parental/carer consent must be sought before taking a child alone in a car.

 

Travel Guidelines

 

 Establish the suitability of any driver. Any adult member of our club who has volunteered for driving will have been DBS vetted and hold a valid UK driving license. All parents who volunteer will hold a valid driving license and written consent will be sought from those parents who are not present.

drivers will be DBS checked.

 Parents/carers should be informed of transport arrangements including the person who will be transporting their child, the reasons why and how long the journey will take.

 A person other than the planned driver should talk to the child about transport arrangements to check they are comfortable about the plans.

The Chief Instructor of the club must check the driving license of all volunteer drivers and ensure they have valid car insurance, MOT and driving licence prior to carrying any passengers.

 We advise the individual/driver to check with their own insurance company if they want to use their car as part of their paid/volunteer role.

 Organisations/clubs should try to ensure there is more than one child in the car.

 When transporting children after a training session coaches/volunteers should alternate which child is dropped off last. Ideally two children would be dropped off at an agreed point such as one of their family homes.

 The person who returns the children to the agreed point, such as family home, should be alternated; this would reduce the risk of any one individual frequently being alone with a particular child or group.

 The driver must have a point of contact and mobile phone should they break down and the driver must have contact details of the children they are carrying. 

 Ensure that children are aware of how to keep themselves safe and know that they have someone to turn to or report any concerns they may have. If a culture of safety is created within the club then the child is more likely to talk to another person if they are feeling uncomfortable about a situation.

 Late collections can present clubs and coaches with particular difficulties. Parents/carers should be provided with guidelines addressing the issue and outlining their responsibility and the consequences of late collections. Clubs should have contact numbers for parents/carers and if possible be provided with an alternative contact number. Parents/carers should have a contact number for the club/coach to inform them of emergencies and possible late collections. There will be two adults at all times with any children who are waiting for their parents after a trip. 

 Children should wear seat belts at all times. The following is guidance regarding the seat-belt law which was introduced in September 2006. Children must have an appropriate child restraint or seat belt when traveling in a car or goods vehicle.

 Under 12 years old or 135cm tall must use the right type of booster chair or booster cushion.

 Older children should use an adult seat belt

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Sometimes parents/carers may be asked to drive a minibus on behalf of the organisation/club. The Chief Instructor will check that they are DBS checked and have teh relevant licenses for driving the vehicle.  Passengers on minibuses will be required to wear seat belts where fitted and the driver will be responsible for making sure that children under 14 use their seat belts. If seat belts are fitted on a bus, passengers must use them. The driver will be responsible for letting people know that they must use seat belts.

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