Transportation Policy

Purpose: Transportation is a common component of many Day Care Facilities. A Better Choice developed this policy to indicate compliance with certain requirements stated in licensing rules regarding vehicles, driver safety, and general supervision of children. A Better Choice transports to and from school, from home to daycare and daycare to home.

The center will maintain a file of the following: 

A current list of the children transported and methods of taking daily attendance.

The schedule of the bus route, including approximate pick up and drop off times.

The name of each driver and type of license held, and the date of expiration of each license. 

The center will review the plans periodically with parents so that the children are picked up and dropped off at times consistent with school routines. 

Parents will notify the center of changes in delivery or pick-up times and locations. If you fail to contact the center concerning your child’s pick up from school there will be a $5.00 charge. 

Parents must request in writing any changes, at least five days in advance, the need to either temporarily discontinue or reinstate the service. 

VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE

The center has required vehicle liability insurance with minimums of no less than those required by the state of Tennessee Department of Child Care Licensing.

INFORMATION IN CHILDREN’S RECORDS 

 The following information will also be required: 

Written parental authorization to transport the child to and from the center.

Written parental authorization for the child to participate in and be transported for field trips and other activities.

Written transportation plan for children, as specified above.

Name, address, and telephone number of persons authorized to receive the child if the child is dropped off at other than his own residence. 

CHILD TRACKING PROCEDURE

            A Better Choice Childcare Center shall implement a procedure to ensure that the number, names and whereabouts of children in care are known to assigned child care workers. In order to track children being transported and ensure that their whereabouts are documented from the time the child is picked up until that child is relinquished to the responsible caregiver A Better Choice Childcare Center will keep a written attendance checklist to make sure that all children are accounted for by name and sight at each transition, inclusive of each time a vehicle is exited. If the driver is transferring the children to another caregiver, A Better Choice Childcare Center staff will be sure the driver acknowledges the transfer before leaving the child. 

PROCEDURE IF CHILD IS ABSENT WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION

      If a child who is scheduled to arrive at A Better Choice Childcare Center does not arrive within 15 minutes after the specified time on the written agreement signed by the parent, and A Better Choice Childcare Center has not been notified in advance of the child’s absence, A Better Choice Childcare Center will attempt to contact the parent or guardian to determine the child’s whereabouts. 

If a child is expected to arrive at the center from someplace other than home (e.g., school, head start, etc.) and does not arrive as scheduled, A Better Choice Childcare Center will immediately attempt to contact that facility, and the parent if necessary, to determine the child’s whereabouts. 

STAFFING AND GROUPING

            STAFFING REQUIREMENTS – 9 OR MORE CHILDREN ON FIELD TRIP. When 9 or more children are on a field trip there shall be at least 2 child care workers accompanying the children and the staff –to-child ratios shall be maintained. At least one of the child care workers shall be a child care teacher. 

VEHICLE

VEHICLE  USED BY THE CENTER  

The vehicle is licensed and registered in accordance with state laws.

Children may not be transported in a truck except in the cab.

The vehicle is in safe operation condition and inspected at six-month intervals on forms provided by the department.

The vehicle is equipped with a first aid kit which meets state status.

The vehicle is clean, uncluttered, and free of obstructions on the floors, aisles, and seats.

If the center charters transportation services, the center obtains evidence that vehicles used and drivers hired comply with licensing rules.

Vehicle passenger doors shall be locked at all times when a vehicle transporting children is moving

Children under age of 13 may not ride in the front seat of a vehicle. 

VEHICLE CAPACITY AND SUPERVISION

UNATTENDED CHILDREN may not be left unattended in a vehicle. 

ADDITIONAL ADULT SUPERVISION

When children are transported in a vehicle, there shall be at least one adult supervisor in addition to the driver in either of the following circumstances:

3 OR MORE CHILDREN UNDER 2 OR WITH A DISABILITY There are more than 3 children who are either 2 years of age or have a disability which limits their ability to respond in a emergency.

10 OR MORE CHILDREN UNDER THE 5 There are more than ten children under five years of age in the vehicle. 

RELEASING A CHILD AFTER TRANSPORTING

After transporting a child to his or her destination, an adult shall wait until the child enters the building or is in the custody of an adult designated by the parent, unless otherwise authorized by the parent of the school age child               

VEHICLE CAPACITY

A seat in the vehicle shall be provided for each child. In a vehicle not required to have seat belts, the manufacture shall determine the capacity of the vehicle

 

CENTER RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILD DURING TRANSPORTATION

A Better Choice Childcare Center shall be responsible for a child between the time the child is placed in a vehicle until the child reaches his or her destination and is released to a person responsible for the child.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION IN VEHICLE

The following emergency information shall be carried in the vehicle for each child transported

(The form Transportation Permission )                       

PARENT CONTACT:  An address and telephone number where a parent or other adult can be reached in a emergency.

PHYSICIAN CONTACT:  The name, address and telephone number of the child’s physician or medical facility.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL CONSENT:  Written consent from the child’s parent for emergency medical treatment. 

REPORTING VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

The center administrator shall submit a copy of any accident report to the department within five days of the occurrence of an accident involving a vehicle transporting children.                

PROCEDURE TO ENSURE CHILDREN EXIT THE VEHICLE

A Better Choice Childcare Center shall develop and implement a procedure to ensure that all children exit the vehicle after being transported to a destination.

Upon picking up kids from home/school attendance will be taking. The person who the child is picked up from will sign the attendance sheet. Once the child has arrived at his/her destination the person who receives the child will sign off as well.

Once all the children have exited the van and enter into their proper destination the driver proceeds to the rear of the Bus/ Van, checking for sleeping children.

The driver will make any necessary notes and document the time that he/she last checked the Van/Bus . After the driver is done another staff from A Better Choice will also go check the Bus/Van to ensure that there weren’t any over sites.

REGULARLY SCHEDULED TRANSPORTATION                

When regularly scheduled transportation is provided by the center, the center shall maintain the following information in writing at the center and in each vehicle.               

List of children transported on file

Route and stops on file

Authorized person to receive child on file

Procedure if no one home to receive child on file

Procedure for children with disabilities

Contracted / Chartered Vehicle Contact                

CAR SAFETY SEATS

CHILDREN UNDER AGE 1 OR UNDER 20 POUNDS

Each child who is under 1 year of age or who weighs less than 20 pounds shall be properly restrained in a rear facing individual child car safety seat when being transported in a vehicle as specified by state law.

CHILDREN AGE 1 TO 4 OR 20 TO 40LBS

Each child who is at least 1 year of age but less than 4 years of age or who weighs at least 20 pounds but less than 40 pounds shall be properly restrained in a forward- facing individual child car safety seat when being transported in a vehicle.            

BOOSTER SEAT RESTRAINTS- CHILD AGE 4 TO 8 OR UNDER 80LBS OR 4’9”

Each child who is at least 4 years of age but less than 8 years, weighing not more than 80 pounds or taller than 4 feet 9 inches shall be properly restrained in a shoulder – positioning child booster seat when being transported in a vehicle.

SEAT BELT USE

Each child who is not required to be transported in an individual child car safety seat or booster seat when being transported in a vehicle shall be properly restrained by a seat belt. Each adult in the vehicle shall be properly restrained by a seat belt. Seat belts may not be shared.

SEATING IN SCHOOL BUS OR VEHICLE BUILT TO SCHOOL BUS STANDARDS

Children transported in schools buses or vehicles built to school bus standards shall be properly seated according to the manufactures specifications.

DRIVERS OF VEHICLES

Rules regarding drivers of vehicles that deliver children

MINIMUM AGE At least 18 years of age. 

DRIVER RECORD- OBTAIN AND REVIEW A Better Choice Childcare Center shall obtain a copy annually of the driving record for each driver of a center-provided vehicle and shall place the record in the staff file. A Better Choice Childcare Center shall review each driving record to ensure that the driver has no accidents or traffic violations that would indicate that having children ride with the driver could pose a threat to the children. 

PROHIBITIONS

A driver whose driving record poses a threat to the children may not transport children.

DRIVER QUALIFICATIONS- EXPERIENCE

At least one year of experience as a licensed driver. 

The center will monitor to ensure that each driver holds a valid Tennessee operator’s license. An applicant for the driver’s position must present proof of proper licensing. 

The center will maintain a list of several substitute drivers to take the place of regular drivers if he/she is ill or otherwise absent. 

SAFETY MEASURES 

The center will maintain required safety measures for transporting children include:

Smoking is prohibited in the vehicle while children are being transported

Children will always wear seat or safety belts.

Doors are locked any time the vehicle is in motion.

The driver or adult supervisor is to see that the children remain seated while the vehicle is in motion.

No more than 3 persons, including the driver, may occupy the front seat of the vehicle.

The driver is to conduct evacuation drills of the vehicle at 3-month intervals.

The center will provided orientation to the driver about the content of these rules prior to the first actual pick-up drive and the enrollment conference.

The administrator will be responsible for the monitoring of transportation rules.

The center will hold the director/driver responsible for supervising and verifying the vehicle evacuation drill. Such drills will be documented on a log sheet and kept on file at the center. 

It is the responsibility of the child’s parent/guardian to arrange any transportation between A Better Choice Child Care and their assigned school each year. A Better Choice is required by the State to have a “Day Care School-Age Agreement” form on file for each child traveling to A Better Choice from a separate location other than home. This is in addition to the above form and this form does not do anything to change your child’s drop off and pick up points. This form only gives us permission to place your child on the bus and/or take your child off the bus transport. 

Parents are to let A Better Choice know if their child will not be in attendance at A Better Choice to avoid undue concern over unaccounted for children. 

 

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING A BETTER CHOICE CHILDCARE FOR ALL YOUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS