School transport
This directory page provides links and resources to a range of topics related to school transport. They support schools, transport service providers and the wider community to understand the Ministry’s role regarding transport assistance, to meet their health and safety obligations, and more.
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Further reading on these topics is essential as it regards information and mandatory action for board members and transport service providers. Parents, caregivers and whānau may benefit from reading about transport assistance to understand whether their student is eligible.
- School transport roles and responsibilities
- Eligibility criteria for transport assistance
- Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA)
- Route design
- Managing safety, behaviour and accidents
- Funding
- Information for transport service providers
- School bus tender
- School transport contacts
School transport roles and responsibilities
Delivering our ākonga to school safely and ready to learn involves many parties, who each have an important role to play and responsibilities to meet.
The School Transport Roles and Responsibilities Guide outlines the roles and responsibilities of the school bus operators, schools, caregivers, students and the Ministry to ensure the successful coordination and delivery of school transport services.
School Transport Roles and Responsibilities Guide [PDF, 318 KB]
Eligibility criteria for transport assistance
Transcript: School Transport Assistance video
The Ministry provides school transport assistance to help parents overcome barriers to education and meet their responsibility to get their children to school. The Ministry may provide assistance where distance and/or accessibility may be a barrier for students attending the closest school they can enrol at.
Eligibility for school transport assistance
Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA)
Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA) is a Ministry of Education transport service that assists children and young people with safety and/or mobility needs that prevent them from travelling independently to school.
Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA)
Route design
School transport routes are designed by the Ministry of Education. Transport service providers decide where the safest stops are along the route.
School transport – Routes and stops
Managing safety, behaviour and accidents on school transport
When there is an accident or incident on school transport, it is the driver or transport service provider's (TSP) responsibility to contact emergency services (on 111). The driver will then follow the health and safety guidelines of the transport provider.
Find further information at Accidents and incidents on school transport
Read about keeping children safe at School transport — Safety and behaviour
Funding
Bus Controller Allowance
Information for Directly Resourced schools
Information for Directly Resourced schools
Information for Māori-Medium Schools
Information for Māori-Medium Schools
Information for transport service providers
Automatic vehicle location technology
School bus operators under contract to the Ministry of Education must have an approved vehicle telematics system fitted to their vehicles.
Automatic vehicle location technology
School bus tender
School bus services have been procured for the Ministry’s daily and technology bus services for delivery from Term 1, 2022. The Ministry awarded routes based on best public value, which means considering quality, price and broader outcomes, rather than solely on cost.
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