Information for parents and caregivers
Getting your students where they need to be
Our teams in mid Canterbury and North and East Otago feel proud of their role safety transporting students every day. Pearson’s offers the full range of school transport services:
- Bus services funded by the Ministry of Education
- Direct services on contract to individual schools
- Our Pearson’s Town Bus linking schools across Oamaru
We also provide safe and reliable charter services for school and university trips and camps, sports teams, school field trips and other school events where affordable and efficient transport is required.
School bus safety
As parents or caregivers, you are responsible for getting your child to the bus stop and for teaching them how to stay safe on and around the bus. Ensure they understand some of the basics:
- Waiting for the bus, they should keep well away from the road edge
- Form a single line with younger children first
- Carry their backpack or bag so it doesn’t get caught.
- Let the driver know if they receive any injury or feel unwell, as soon as possible
- Never distract the driver in any way while the bus is moving, except in the event of an emergency.
Once on the bus they should quickly choose a seat and sit down and stay in the seat until the bus has stopped. Guides from the NZ Transport Agency and the Ministry of Education have more information on keeping your children safe.
School bus safety
Our drivers are fully trained in management of emergencies and have set procedures to follow to ensure everyone remains calm and safe. Schools will be your main point of contact.
Questions about school runs?
Our team can get a lot of questions about school bus services that should go, in the first instance, to the relevant school (see below).
- If your child is starting school, your school will be able to advise on all bus transport options in your area.
- The Ministry of Education publishes a list of routes for the school services it funds.
Oamaru
Please contact the School Bus Controller in the first instance regarding all school bus enrolments. Enrolments for the following school year open from 1st October (or start of term four) each year.
Where possible, we strongly encourage families to complete enrolments before the current school year closes. Please do not wait until mid to late January to enrol pupils, as this creates significant workload pressures, enrolment delays, and service disruptions for all involved, and may cause buses to be over capacity.
Early enrolments help ensure routes, seating, and services can be organised efficiently before the new school year begins.
Mid Canterbury
We provide school transport services to Ashburton and throughout mid Canterbury. Our services cover rural areas including Rakaia, Dorie, Wakanui, Longbeach, Hinds, Laghmor and Tinwald.
Timetable and bus route information:
Mid Canterbury School Transport Service
Mid Canterbury Services
Our North and East Otago Services
Code of conduct
Our goal at Pearsons is to provide a safe, comfortable travel experience for everyone. Please take your child/student through the expectations in our Code of Conduct below and sign to confirm that you accept and agree to the Code.
Respect and safety
- All passengers should follow the instructions of the driver and bus supervisor at all times.
- Treat others with kindness and respect. No verbal abuse of students, driver, other parents or teachers or other pedestrians or motorists.
- Bullying is not acceptable in any form, including verbal, by digital device or physical force.
Onboard behaviour
- Remain seated while the bus is moving
- Always wear your seatbelt if one is provided. Students can be fined by police if stopped/checked.
- Keep aisles clear and avoid running, pushing, or standing on seats.
- Keep noise to a reasonable level to avoid distracting the driver. No foul language/swearing/loud or sudden noises/music/yelling
- Do not eat, drink, or litter on the bus. Chewing gum is expressly prohibited.
- Do not damage the bus or its fittings. Any damage may need to be paid for.
- Appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn at all times.
- Do not bring unsafe or hazardous substances on board, by law (no vaping, smoking, lighters, matches, fireworks or explosives, weapons of any kind, poisonous, toxic, flammable items)
- Appropriate clothing and footwear are always required on the bus.
- No roller skates, skateboards or scooters can be brought on our services (safety risks)
Devices and media
- For privacy and other reasons no photos or videos of passengers or bus drivers are to be taken (on or outside the bus) and shared on social media or with media.
Consequences
- Inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated and could mean a student is removed from a bus service temporarily or permanently. You may face the cost of repairing any bus damage.
- Ongoing or serious issues may see action by the school and/or police.
