Spend to Save School Minibus Scheme

Minibus scheme enabling schools to provide Home to School Transport solutions for students

Overview of the scheme

Spend to Save is a school minibus scheme offering brand new leased minibuses supplied by Hampshire Transport Management and funded by Hampshire County Council.

Schools operate Home to School Transport for those students identified by Hampshire County Council. In return they receive a fully funded and maintained minibus to use for other activities such as offsite curriculum visits, sporting events and other excursions.

Eligibility

The scheme can be offered, providing there is a financial case, to Hampshire County Council schools, academies and post-16 providers with courses for SEN students where sufficient numbers of Hampshire students are eligible for Home to School Transport.

What is provided

The following is included in the lease charge, paid for by Hampshire County Council and provided by Hampshire Transport Management:

  • Planned vehicle maintenance
  • Breakdown cover
  • MOT
  • Tax
  • Servicing
  • Vehicle safety checks and an annual passenger lift inspection for accessible vehicles
  • Insurance is also included for Hampshire County Council schools (academies and post-16 providers with courses for SEN students need to provide their own)

In addition to paying the lease charge, Hampshire County Council will also offer schools funding to contribute towards the cost of:

  • Driver hours
  • Fuel (for the Home to School Transport element)
  • One off funding for driver licencing (D1) and MiDAS training
  • Contract management (to contribute towards the cost of staff time to manage and operate the service)
Benefits of the scheme
  • A fully funded and maintained vehicle
  • Vehicle livery offering schools/colleges a presence in the community
  • Regular contact with parents
  • Funding to operate Home to School Transport
  • Savings for the County Council’s Home to School Transport budget
School's responsibilities

Schools are responsible for the following:

  • To provide Home to School Transport every day for the students identified by Hampshire County Council
  • Driver recruitment (this includes a back-up in instances of sick and annual leave)
  • Ensure all drivers have the correct licence (D1)
  • Ensure all drivers are MiDAS trained
  • Obtain DBS checks for any driver(s)
  • Obtain a S19 permit per vehicle

Passenger Transport are able to offer advice and support for most of the subjects listed above, however you can also find a range of factsheets here on most of the topics.

 

Contact details

For more information, please contact Passenger Transport on:

Community.transport@hants.gov.uk / 01962 846785