School traffic safety team manual

Training manual to assist School Traffic Safety Teams maintain their outstanding safety record.

Print version: Bus wardens (PDF, 42 KB, 3 pages)

Bus wardens

Setting up a bus warden team

The school, in consultation with the local PEO, parents and bus operators, decides if a bus warden system is needed. Once the decision to have a bus warden system is made:

a roster of suitable students will need to be established. The number of bus wardens on each bus will depend on the size of the bus. Smaller buses may manage with one warden, while larger buses may require two
signed permission from parents or guardians will need to be obtained (see the sample letter, Appendix 12)
a date for bus warden training with the PEO will need to be arranged.

All members of the team must be present on the training days. Schools may consider using the Code of conduct for students travelling on the school bus (see Appendix 13).

Bus wardens

Bus wardens should be responsible senior students who are reliable and live (preferably) near the end of the bus route. They should not need to be reminded that it is their turn to be on duty.

Bus wardens have many responsibilities. These are:

to other students: bus wardens help them travel to and from school safely
to parents: bus wardens help look after their children
to the bus driver: bus wardens notify them of any passenger changes and make sure that they are not distracted by children on the bus
to the school: bus wardens set a good example to the community.

Rosters

The school sets the roster for bus warden duties. This will depend on the bus timetable and on the bus wardens’ personal commitments such as extracurricular activities.

The uniform

There is no uniform for bus wardens.

Other knowledge

Bus wardens need to know the location of the emergency exits and the first-aid kit on the bus. They should know some basic first aid in case of emergency. If a cellphone is available, they should be trained in calling for help.

Overview of training

Organising the training day

The school principal is responsible for ensuring that bus students know the basic safety procedures. However, the training of bus wardens provides a good opportunity for the PEO to give more specialised instruction, particularly in emergency procedures.

The principal and the PEO arrange a date for the training day. They also need to liaise with the bus operator to ensure that a bus is available for the practice day. The school’s bus controller should be present when bus wardens are being trained.

If there is no member of staff available with first-aid training, it may be appropriate to invite St Johns or Red Cross officers to assist with this.

Training day

The PEO will ensure that the buses are roadworthy and that loading and unloading sites are correctly sited and appropriately signed. They will explain the importance of the bus wardens’ role with emphasis on trust, teamwork, reliability and responsibility. They will discuss what to do if anyone is unable to carry out their duty, will show the training video and establish procedures for dealing with emergencies. In particular they will focus on how to:

locate and operate (within reason) the emergency exit. This should be shown using the actual buses used
find and use the first-aid kit
report an incident to the emergency services, eg location, casualties etc.

In addition, the PEO will also describe any behaviour that would need reporting to the supervising teacher and how this should be done. The supervising teacher should closely supervise new bus wardens on the job before they start their duties.

Travelling to school

When the school bus stops to pick up children, the bus
warden ensures:

an orderly entry onto the bus
that all children are seated (or standing if necessary) and remain seated until the bus stops
that all school bags and other packages are stored either under the children’s seats or on their laps (or on the floor if they’re standing)
that aisles are kept clear (unless children are standing)
that any children standing remain behind the driver’s seat area usually marked by a line on the floor
that any misbehaviour is noted and reported to the supervising teacher.

The bus warden should take a seat near the back of the bus so they have a clear view of all children. If there are two wardens, the second warden should sit close to the front door.

Travelling home from school

The bus warden works closely with the school’s bus controller to ensure that students assemble in the agreed assembly area. They conduct a head count to find out if any children are missing and why. The warden needs to ensure:

an orderly entry onto the bus
that the bus driver is told about any passenger changes by the school’s bus controller
that all children are seated (or standing if necessary) and remain seated until the bus stops
that all school bags and other packages are stored either under the children’s seats or on their laps (or on the floor if they’re standing)
that aisles are kept clear (unless children are standing)
that any children standing remain behind the driver’s seat area usually marked by a line on the floor
that any misbehaviour is noted and reported to the supervising teacher
that disembarking children remain seated until the bus has stopped
that children exit the bus in an orderly manner
that children needing to cross the road wait on the kerb or shoulder of the road, as far away from the road as possible
that children cross only after the bus has left and visibility in both directions is not obstructed.

The bus warden should sit near the back of the bus so they have a clear view of all children. If there are two wardens, the second warden should sit by the front door. If there are very young children on the bus that need to cross the road from the bus stop, the bus warden should get off with them and escort them across the road.

Emergency procedures

In an emergency the warden should assist the bus driver by following these steps:

1 Protect the scene

All older children should be sent 100–200 metres in either direction to warn approaching vehicles of the danger ahead so that children are not put at further risk.

2 Assembly

All uninjured children should be assembled in a safe area away from the crash scene and supervised (preferably) by an older student.

3 Ascertain number of injured

The scene should be surveyed quickly to determine what emergency assistance is needed, eg is anyone trapped? how many are injured?

4 Seek assistance

Two children should be sent to seek out a house, phonebox or any other means of alerting the emergency services. Police should be called on 111.

5 Administer first aid

These are the basic requirements of first aid:

Any child who appears unconscious should be attended to immediately.
Ensure that the person is breathing and clear airways if necessary.
If they are breathing do not move them. Cover the person with a coat to help maintain body heat even on a hot day.
When all unconscious victims have been attended to, check any others for loss of blood.
If the victim is bleeding profusely from an open wound, arrange for someone to apply pressure with thumbs above the cut. Maintain this pressure until help arrives.
Do not move the victim unless there is an immediate danger of fire. No attempt should be made to move anyone who is incapable of moving themselves.

Related appendices:

Appendix 12: Bus warden letter to parent or guardian

Appendix 13: Code of conduct

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Page updated: 19 January 2005