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School transport contracts information

How to become a school transport operator

Important update for new and existing school transport providers

The current Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) agreement for client passenger transport services will end in April 2026.

We will be moving to a new Open Framework Agreement, which will open for applications in autumn 2025.

Closing date for current DPS applications

We will stop accepting applications for the current DPS on Monday 30 June 2025.
Any applications received after this date will not be reviewed or processed.

Information session for new and current  providers

Find out about becoming a school transport operator on our new Open Framework Agreement.

  • When: Wednesday 9 July
  • Where: on Microsoft Teams

The session will cover:

  • The structure of the new contract
  • What you need to qualify and how quality will be assessed
  • Key dates for the change from DPS to the new framework
  • Other important information for providers

See the pre- market engagement notice

How to attend

To attend the event, respond by Friday 4 July 2025 via the portal or email:

Please include the following details in your response:

  • Name of attendee(s)
  • Job title(s)
  • Organisation name, address, and contact details

Note: Maximum of 2 attendees per organisation

Drivers and passenger assistants

All drivers and passenger assistants involved in the transportation of children and vulnerable adults, on contracts issued through the Council need to be vetted through the Surrey School Travel and Assessment Team (SSTAT) Identity Badge (AIB) scheme. Only drivers and passenger assistants working for approved SSTAT operators will be accepted to apply for an AIB.

Driver or passenger assistant application process

All new applicants will need to complete the online booking form to arrange an appointment at Fairmount House, Leatherhead for an Authorised Identity Badge Appointment. Please ensure all applicants are aware of the approved documents list as issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service. Only documents on the list will be accepted as forms of identification.

Upon issue of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure the individual can register for the DBS Update Service. From there onwards the individual can apply to renew their Authorised Identity Badge online.

Please note: If any part of the process is failed, or information not provided, the application will not be successful. If you have any doubt about the suitability of an applicant to work with children and vulnerable adults, please refer to the Suitability Guidelines (PDF) for information on how applications are assessed.

Passenger assistant (PA) information for operators

If there is a passenger assistant on the school transport you provide, they must first be cleared through the Surrey School Travel and Assessment Team (SSTAT) authorised accreditation scheme and must wear their SSTAT authorised ID badge when carrying out the role.

We expect PAs to:

  • be particularly vigilant when children leave the vehicle
  • take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of the children when entering or leaving the vehicle. They are not responsible for helping children before they board or after they have left the vehicle. If the vehicle arrives at the school early, children should be kept on the vehicle.
  • report all behaviour problems to the headteacher.
  • keep the child on the vehicle if they are not met and do not normally make their own way home and call the school/Pupil Services for further instructions, at the end of the route. If the Escort does not contact either, they should take the child to the nearest police station as soon as possible and report the situation.

PAs should not:

  • leave the vehicle to collect children. The vehicle may wait three minutes only beyond the planned pick-up time.
  • allow children to be collected from or set down at unauthorised stops. The route must not be altered without prior permission from our Transport Co-ordination centre. The vehicle must keep to scheduled times. Any vehicles running early must wait until the scheduled time to continue to the next point.

In the event of a major incident affecting school transport

If there is a major incident different organisations take on the following responsibilities:

  • Emergency Services - are responsible at the scene of the incident for all aspects.
  • Surrey School Travel and Assessment Team (SSTAT) - is responsible for liaising with the emergency services and the relevant transport operator so that there is a central source of information about the incident. Operators must complete the SSTAT accident/incident report form.
  • The school - is responsible for contacting parents of children involved in the incident, making arrangements to deal with children brought into school from the incident, ensuring with the Local Education Authority and the emergency services that all children on the service are accounted for.
  • Our Contact Centre - is responsible for dealing with telephone enquiries from parents unable to contact the relevant school.

Files available to download

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