Safeguarding Policy of Z Coach & Tours Ltd

1. Policy Statement

Z Coach & Tours Ltd is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in our care. We recognise our duty of care under the Children Act 1989 & 2004, Education Act 2002, Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018), and Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024). Our priority is to ensure that every child travels safely, with dignity and respect, under the supervision of responsible, trained, and DBS-checked staff.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all Z Coach & Tours Ltd employees, drivers, and contractors who come into contact with children during transport to and from school or educational trips.

3. Our Commitment

We are committed to:

Providing a safe and reliable transport service for school children.
Ensuring all drivers and staff hold Enhanced DBS clearances.
Conducting 6-weekly vehicle safety checks as required by UK transport law.
Providing regular safeguarding awareness and refresher training to all staff.
Maintaining clear communication with parents, carers, and schools.
Investigating all complaints or concerns promptly and fairly.

4. Code of Conduct for Students

To ensure safety and respect on all journeys:

Children must arrive at their pickup point before the scheduled time, ready to board (not waiting in cars).
No chatting in group messages while coaches are moving. Parents will be notified if the service is delayed by more than 10 minutes.
Students must remain seated with seat belts fastened at all times.
Fighting, bullying, swearing, racism, or any antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated. Breaches may result in immediate suspension and may be reported to the school safeguarding officer.
If any issues arise: speak first to the Coach Captain, then the Driver. If unresolved, parents may contact Sabbir Zamee, who will investigate and mediate with all parties. If unresolved, it will be escalated to the school’s safeguarding officer or relevant authority.
Each student is responsible for keeping their seat area clean and using the bins provided.

5. Safeguarding Responsibilities

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

Sabbir Zamee

Managing Director, Z Coach & Tours Ltd

📧 Email: [email protected]

💬 WhatsApp (preferred & quicker): +44 7908 212505

The DSL is responsible for:

Receiving and acting upon safeguarding or child protection concerns.
Keeping accurate and secure records of incidents.
Liaising with parents, schools, and local safeguarding partners when necessary.
Ensuring all staff understand how to identify and report concerns.

6. Recognising and Reporting Concerns

If a member of staff suspects a child is at risk of harm, neglect, or abuse:

They must report immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
The DSL will record and assess the concern.
Where necessary, the DSL will refer the concern to the child’s school safeguarding officer or the local authority in line with statutory guidance.

All safeguarding concerns are treated confidentially, with information shared only when necessary to protect a child.

7. Training

All staff and drivers will:

Receive induction training on safeguarding and child protection.
Be briefed annually on updates to safeguarding policies and relevant legislation.
Understand how to respond to allegations, disclosures, or signs of abuse.

8. Whistleblowing

Z Coach & Tours Ltd encourages staff and parents to raise any safeguarding concerns without fear of reprisal. Concerns about a member of staff’s conduct should be reported directly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or, where appropriate, to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

9. Record Keeping

All safeguarding and behavioural incidents will be recorded securely and retained in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. Records will only be shared with appropriate authorities if necessary for safeguarding purposes.