A new school minibus opens up a world of travel opportunities for your school, some of which you will not have considered until you have your own minibus. It is though a serious undertaking and before delivery, you should understand about drivers, licencing, permits and servicing
Driver’s responsibility
Volunteering to drive the minibus makes you responsible for it being roadworthy. Any mechanical faults, when being used on the road, may lead to you being fined. You are also responsible for ensuring that the minibus is properly insured, its policy must cover all drivers, its uses and be correct for the number of passengers it will carry. It is a legal requirement that the minibus is comprehensively insured
Training
Your training should include a formal VOSA 
certificate of competency but you should also get to know the minibus, how any additional equipment works and have emergency procedures in place
Safety checking
As the driver, you should ensure that the formal maintenance regime in place for your minibus is adhered to. Weekly checks and pre-journey checks should also be carried our without fail. Vanlease UK have a service schedule available if you would like it
Permits
Education and benefit to community organisations are covered by section 19 permits. All forms can be accessed on-line and from your local Traffic Area Network. Under the sec.19, there is a small tolerance for charges without entering the criteria of an operator’s licence
Licence considerations
Should you volunteer, then ensure that: A Section 19 has been obtained. Any driver has the correct licence to drive the minibus and be at least 21. The licence must have been held for a minimum of two years and the minibus must have less than 17 seats
Seatbelts
Checking all seatbelts should be part of your safety inspection routine. They should be worn at all times and the driver has a legal duty to ensure that this is the case
