School Transport
Terms and Conditions

It is essential that passengers behave in an appropriate manner whilst travelling on our services. By purchasing a ticket, you agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions and the Company reserves the right to refuse travel to any passenger who does not comply.

These terms and conditions may be amended at any time with no obligation to notify customers. The latest version shall apply and supersede any previous terms and conditions in respect of home to school transport.

1.0 Payment Information

1.1. The fare is calculated for the full school year and is not a daily or weekly fare. It must be paid in advance of travel.

1.2. By paying either by direct debit or bank/credit card, you are entering into a contract for the purchase of a full year’s school transport. As such any cancellation will mean that you remain liable for the remainder of the full year (see section 2, Cancellation/Refunds) unless the service is cancelled by Grindles Coaches Ltd (refer section 2.1.)

1.3. Direct Debit instalments will be collected by GoCardless. An initial deposit will be taken at the time the pass is purchased followed by a further eleven direct debit payments on the first day of September through July. If a direct debit is cancelled, the associated pass is immediately voided, no refund of payments already made will be considered.

1.4. A credit reference agency may be used to confirm your address and credit status.

1.5. You are asked to allow 2 weeks for processing your initial Direct Debit application.

1.6. Advanced notice will be given to you by GoCardless prior to taking the first Direct Debit payment from your account (normally ten working days). The advanced notice informs you of the amount, date, and frequency of payment. Where there is any change, a new advance notice will be issued.

1.7. The surcharge for failed Direct Debits is £12 which will be added to any outstanding balance. When a Direct Debit payment fails, then we will attempt to take the payment once more. If the balance is subsequently not paid within 72 hours then the bus pass will be voided with no refund due and the purchaser is still liable for all remaining payments.

1.8. Credit/Debit card payments can also be made via the ShuttleID portal.

2.0 Cancellation/Refunds

2.1. Grindles Coaches Ltd reserves the right to cancel the service. i.e. should the service not be economically viable due to, for example insufficient pass sales or extreme rise in the cost of operation. In the event of the service being cancelled prior to the service commencing in September, a full refund will be issued. Once the service has commenced operation, any refund shall be calculated as pro-rata the number of full weeks of operation remaining in the school year. A school year is defined as 38 weeks of operation. Should the passenger choose to transfer to an alternative service provided by Grindles Coaches Ltd, no refund will be payable.

2.2. Once purchased, passes are non-refundable. The only circumstance under which a refund will be considered is if a child permanently leaves their school for another school of which written confirmation will be required from the departing and receiving schools. Refunds are not calculated on a pro-rata basis. A refund will be calculated based on the number of full weeks of travel remaining in the school year. Each remaining week will be refunded at the rate of £15 per week. Once a request for a refund is received, the pass will be cancelled, and no further travel is permitted using that pass.

2.3. No refunds will be given in the last term of the school year unless the cancellation notice is received prior to the commencement of the term. 

2.4. No refunds will be given to students who are excluded from the service (see section 4.0 Bus Travel Etiquette). 

2.5. No refunds will be given if HM government or school authorities close the school for any reason, this clause supersedes clause 1.1. 

3.0 Boarding Pass/E-Ticket

3.1. Boarding passes/e-tickets will be available in the ShuttleID customer portal immediately after payment or direct debit has been set up.

3.2. Once your boarding pass has been received, your child can commence to use the service immediately.

3.3. Your child must only use the service allocated and must show the boarding pass to the driver on every occasion or they may be refused access. NO TICKET - NO RIDE.

3.4. Grindles Coaches Ltd reserves the right to withdraw the Boarding Pass/E-ticket if false information is supplied, or payment is not received by the due date. In the event of any misuse of the Boarding Pass or if the child/children do not conform to the relevant school’s Code of Conduct for School Transport.

3.5. There is no allowance for non-attendance, be it for sickness, holiday, school outing, work experience or exclusion from school.

3.6. Planned non pupil days have been accounted for by Grindles Coaches Ltd in reaching the annual fare price.

4.0 Bus Travel Etiquette

4.1. Students are expected to behave in a reasonable manner when travelling on the bus. We ask parents to make students aware of our Student Code of Conduct which can be viewed here. By purchasing and using a ticket to travel students agree to the terms set out in our Code of Conduct.

4.2. It is up to the students to ensure that all belongings are taken with them at the end of each journey. The Company accepts no responsibility for any items left on the bus.

5.0 Service Information

5.1. The service will operate throughout the school academic year and will follow the school timetable.

5.2. In the event of a bus failure, an alternative bus will be sought either from our fleet or from other local operators, whichever is available first. The journey will then be completed.

5.3. In the event of a bus failure or delay of any kind, you will be sent a notification via SMS text, so please make sure that you register a mobile number when you enrol.

5.4. Pass holders should be at their allocated pick-up points 5 minutes before the scheduled time.