All school trips we offer include one or more elements of transport. We help keep you safe by risk-assessing coach transport that we book. Here, you will find more information related to all forms of transport you may encounter on your school tour.

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UK Coach Companies

Adaptable Travel will contact every UK coach company to ensure compliance with all the relevant local and national codes of practice and laws. In addition, we conduct additional safety checks related to driver and coach safety, amongst many aspects.

All UK coach companies used will confirm in writing that they have the relevant motor and liability insurance and an operator’s license.

All UK coach companies will be fitted with seatbelts.

Adaptable Travel will record a signed audit from the coach company owner or manager in the relevant Safety Management System (SMS) file.

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Non-UK Coach Companies

Adaptable Travel will only use non-UK coaches via one of our overseas agents. In all cases, the agents will be contacted to ensure that all coach companies used comply with the relevant local and national codes of practice.

All agents providing non-UK coaches will confirm in writing that all companies used have the relevant motor and liability insurance and operator’s license.

Please note that seat belts are not a legal requirement for non-UK coaches.

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Coach Companies Requested by a Client

All coach companies requested by a client and unknown to Adaptable Travel will be contacted before any bookings are made.

The relevant operations manager will contact them to confirm they have current motor and liability insurance and an operator’s license. Only after these checks have been made will a booking be confirmed.

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Regularity of Coach Audits

All UK coach companies will be audited every three years (at minimum), and all non-UK coach companies will be checked every three years (at minimum) via the relevant agent. Additional audits will take place more frequently if any complaints are received regarding health and safety.

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Airlines

All airlines comply with independently set safety standards, which are impossible to audit because of their technical nature.

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Rail Transportation (Including Eurostar)

Rail transportation companies comply with independently set safety standards that, because of their technical nature, are not auditable.

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Ferries & Eurotunnel

All ferry companies (including cross-channel operators) comply with independently set safety standards, which, because of their technical nature, are not possible to audit.

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Public Transport

The relevant local or national authority determines the regulations governing public transport.

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Management of Transport Audits

A rating will be awarded to all transport audits; the possible ratings are as follows:

PASS

Conforms will all local and national requirements and safety is good. No improvements are required at the time of inspection.

FAIL

Regardless of conformance with local and national requirements, this rating means the transport is below the required standards in terms of health and safety, and as a result, Adaptable Travel will not use it.

If any complaints regarding health and safety are received, the relevant agent or coach company owner/manager will be contacted to ensure the issue is rectified. Depending on the severity of the issue, an additional audit may take place to ensure Adaptable Travel is happy to continue offering the transport.

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