SEND School Transport Passenger Assistant
Pay: £13.50–£17.00 per hour
Job type: Part-time, term-time and flexible relief
Coverage: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire
Schedule: Monday to Friday, morning and afternoon school runs
Role overview
We are seeking reliable, patient and caring Passenger Assistants to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities during home-to-school transport journeys.
You will travel alongside the driver, supervise passengers and help ensure each journey is safe, calm and comfortable.
Passenger Assistants are normally recruited close to the first passenger pickup point or route starting area.
Previous SEND, care, childcare or school transport experience is helpful but not essential. Training will be provided.
Pay
- £13.50–£14.50 per hour for standard routes.
- £14.50–£16.00 per hour for experienced applicants or more complex passenger needs.
- Up to £17.00 per hour for specialist, emergency or short-notice assignments.
Rates depend on experience, training, passenger needs and route complexity.
Main duties
- Supervise and support passengers during journeys.
- Help passengers enter and leave the vehicle safely.
- Ensure seat belts, harnesses and wheelchair restraints are used correctly.
- Follow passenger care plans, risk assessments and transport instructions.
- Provide calm and reassuring support.
- Work professionally with drivers, parents, carers and school staff.
- Report safeguarding concerns, incidents or changes in a passenger’s wellbeing.
- Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
Medication or specialist medical support must only be provided where specifically authorised and appropriate training has been completed.
Working arrangements
The role normally involves split shifts during school term time, covering morning and afternoon school runs.
You will meet the driver at an agreed local meeting point near the route starting area, travel in the vehicle throughout the assignment and normally return to the same local area after the route.
Paid time starts when you report at the agreed meeting point and ends when you return and are released from duty. Travel from home to the meeting point is normally unpaid.
Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be reliable, punctual, patient and caring.
- Be comfortable supporting children and young people with additional needs.
- Have a strong commitment to safeguarding.
- Communicate clearly and remain calm under pressure.
- Follow care plans, risk assessments and instructions.
- Be able to travel reliably to the agreed local meeting point.
- Be available for regular morning and afternoon school runs.
- Have the legal right to work in the UK.
A driving licence is not essential.
Safeguarding checks
Any offer 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.
- Safeguarding, SEND and passenger-safety training.
- Any additional council or contract requirements.
How to apply
Please apply with your CV or a short summary of your experience and confirm:
- Your home area or postcode district.
- Your availability for morning and afternoon school runs.
- Any experience with children, SEND, care or vulnerable passengers.
- Whether you can travel reliably to a local meeting point.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable passengers. All staff are expected to share this commitment.
Pay: £13.50-£17.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
