SEND School Transport Driver
Pay: £13.50–£25.00 per hour, depending on experience, route complexity and responsibilities
Separate negotiated contract rates are available for self-employed Private Hire and Hackney Carriage owner-drivers
Company base: Stoke-on-Trent
Coverage: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire
Job types: Permanent part-time, term-time, flexible and self-employed opportunities
Schedule: Monday to Friday, mainly morning and afternoon school runs
Job summary
We are a Stoke-on-Trent-based specialist school transport provider seeking reliable, patient and professional drivers to transport children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Routes operate across Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire. Drivers will normally transport passengers between their homes and schools or colleges, working with parents, carers, school staff, Passenger Assistants and our transport team.
We welcome applications from:
- Private Hire and Hackney Carriage drivers.
- Experienced school or SEND transport drivers.
- Applicants who do not yet hold a taxi or Private Hire badge.
- Applicants who do not own a suitable vehicle.
- Self-employed owner-drivers with their own licensed vehicle.
- Drivers seeking regular term-time employment.
For suitable applicants, we may be able to provide:
- Guidance and support with obtaining the required driver’s licence or badge.
- Access to a company vehicle, subject to availability, insurance and eligibility.
- Permanent part-time, term-time contracts with regular hours.
- Flexible or relief work.
- Negotiated route contracts for self-employed owner-drivers.
No passenger transport duties can begin until all required licensing, safeguarding, DBS, insurance and contractual checks have been completed.
Pay and engagement
Employed drivers using a company vehicle
Indicative pay rates are:
- £13.50–£15.00 per hour for applicants new to specialist school transport.
- £15.00–£17.00 per hour for experienced Private Hire, Hackney Carriage, school transport or SEND drivers.
- £17.00–£20.00 per hour for complex SEND, wheelchair-accessible or specialist routes.
- Up to £25.00 per hour for emergency cover, short-notice work or particularly complex routes.
Rates depend on experience, licensing status, safeguarding knowledge, passenger needs, route complexity and additional responsibilities.
Permanent part-time, term-time contracts with guaranteed minimum hours may be available. Annual term-time earnings may be spread over 12 monthly payments.
Self-employed owner-drivers
We welcome self-employed Private Hire and Hackney Carriage owner-drivers with suitable licensed and insured vehicles.
Contract rates are negotiated separately for each route and take account of:
- Journey time and mileage.
- Vehicle type and capacity.
- Fuel and running costs.
- Insurance, maintenance and depreciation.
- Wheelchair-accessibility requirements.
- Passenger needs.
- Waiting time and route complexity.
- Contract duration.
All drivers and vehicles must meet the licensing, insurance, safeguarding and contractual requirements of the relevant council or transport contract.
Key responsibilities
- Safely transport children and young people to and from school or college.
- Follow agreed routes, collection times and passenger instructions.
- Treat passengers with dignity, patience and respect.
- Maintain a calm, safe and reassuring environment.
- Work professionally with Passenger Assistants, parents, carers and school staff.
- Ensure seat belts, harnesses, wheelchair restraints and safety equipment are used correctly.
- Follow safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety and data protection procedures.
- Report safeguarding concerns, incidents, delays or changes in a passenger’s wellbeing.
- Complete routine vehicle safety checks.
- Keep the vehicle clean, safe and suitable for passengers.
- Maintain accurate journey and incident records where required.
Working pattern
School transport work normally involves:
- Morning and afternoon school runs.
- Split shifts during school term time.
- Monday-to-Friday availability.
- Early morning starts.
- Regular attendance throughout the academic year.
Applicants using a company vehicle may be required to collect and return it at an agreed location in Stoke-on-Trent.
Routes may operate anywhere within Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire or Cheshire.
Essential requirements
Applicants must:
- Hold a valid full UK driving licence.
- Have an acceptable driving record.
- Be reliable, punctual and safety-conscious.
- Be patient and comfortable working with children and young people with additional needs.
- Communicate clearly and professionally.
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding.
- Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Be willing to complete all required training, checks and licensing procedures.
- Have the legal right to work in the UK.
- Be able to travel to the agreed route start or vehicle collection point.
Self-employed owner-drivers must also hold appropriate:
- Driver and vehicle licences.
- Hire-and-reward or taxi insurance.
- MOT and roadworthiness documentation.
- Any permissions required for the relevant contract.
Safeguarding and checks
Any offer of employment, engagement or route allocation will be subject to satisfactory checks, which may include:
- Enhanced DBS.
- Children’s Barred List check where applicable.
- Right-to-work and identity checks.
- References and employment history.
- Driving licence and licensing checks.
- Medical fitness requirements.
- Safeguarding, SEND and disability-awareness training.
- Wheelchair and passenger restraint training where relevant.
Having a criminal record will not automatically prevent an applicant from being considered. Each case will be assessed in accordance with safeguarding and licensing requirements.
Vehicle and badge support
Owning your own vehicle is not essential.
Subject to availability and eligibility, we may provide a company vehicle.
Applicants without a current Private Hire or Hackney Carriage driver’s licence may still apply. We can provide guidance on the licensing process, including DBS, medical, training and local authority requirements.
The final licensing decision remains with the relevant local authority.
Desirable experience
Experience in any of the following would be beneficial but is not essential:
- Taxi, Hackney Carriage or Private Hire driving.
- Home-to-school or SEND transport.
- Community or patient transport.
- Care or support work.
- Working with children or vulnerable passengers.
- Wheelchair-accessible transport.
- Driving MPVs or eight-seater vehicles.
How to apply
Please apply with your CV or a brief summary of your driving experience.
Please confirm:
- Whether you hold a Private Hire or Hackney Carriage driver’s licence.
- Which local authority issued it.
- Whether you own a licensed vehicle.
- The vehicle type, seating capacity and whether it is wheelchair accessible.
- Whether you require a company vehicle.
- Whether you need assistance obtaining a badge.
- Whether you are seeking employment or a self-employed route contract.
- Your availability for morning and afternoon school runs.
- Your preferred working area.
- Whether you are willing to work across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Safeguarding statement
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable passengers. All drivers and Passenger Assistants are expected to share this commitment.
Pay: £13.50-£25.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
