Their main jobs
- Keeping children safe. Checking seat belts and harnesses, and making sure children stay seated.
- Wheelchair restraints. Securing wheelchairs and the person in them using the vehicle's tie-down system.
- Calm journeys. Following each child's pupil passport, recognising signs of anxiety and helping them settle.
- Handovers. Collecting each child from a named adult at home and handing them to a named member of staff at school.
- Reporting. Telling the office and school about anything that happened on the journey.
Training they need
- An enhanced DBS check with a children's barred list check
- PATS, the Passenger Assistant Training Scheme
- Safeguarding children training
- SEND and autism awareness
- First aid, and epilepsy or rescue medication training where a child needs it
- Wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint (WTORS)
Why the same assistant matters
Children with SEND often find change hard. Seeing the same assistant every day builds trust and makes the journey part of a predictable routine.
Interested in the job? Apply to be a passenger assistant.