Private coaches for school trips

The next time you use a private coach for a school trip, take steps with the coach operator and driver to support your commitment to TfL Travel for Life. 

For example, you can:

• Read and follow the advice found in the Selecting a coach operator document
• Identify a safe, designated spot at or near the school where a coach can collect and return pupils and staff
• Suggest your coach operator visits the coach drivers’ pages on the TfL website for advice on driving in London, coach parking locations and live traffic updates
• Make sure a coach parking plan is in place. The driver should be able to confirm that the coach will be parked in a recognised coach facility or designated coach parking space while it waits for you and your pupils’ return
• Encourage your coach operator and driver to ensure the coach’s engine is switched off whilst waiting to pick up pupils, this will also support an anti-idling campaign if you have one. (If the driver doesn’t turn their engine off when parked, make sure you feedback to the operator.)

How to evidence your activity

• Record the feedback from your pupils, parents and staff. Take pictures outside the school of pupils and staff travelling by coach
• Sign in to TfL Travel for Life to add your story to "my activities". Explain the activity, include any risk assessments, photographs of designated pick up points at your schools and written communications with the coach operators