School transport

This summary sets out the principles gove ing the provision of school transport to pupils by the City of Keuruu. The guidelines also explain the practical arrangements and rules gove ing school transport.

School transport is organised in accordance with Section 32 of the Basic Education Act and the principles set out in Sections 75 and 76, confirmed by the City of Keuruu’s Education Committee in 2005, and Section 87, confirmed in 2008. When measuring the distance to school, the measurement points at schools in Keuruu, as confirmed by the Education Committee in 2011 in accordance with Section 52, are followed.

School jou eys
If a pupil receiving basic education or supplementary education has a jou ey to school of more than five kilometres, the pupil is entitled to free transport. If a pupil receiving pre-school education has a jou ey of more than five kilometres from home to pre-school education, or from day care as defined in the Act on Child Day Care to pre-school education, the pupil is accordingly entitled to free transport from home directly to pre-primary education or from childcare to pre-primary education, and from pre-primary education to home or childcare. A pupil receiving basic education, supplementary education or pre-primary education is also entitled to free transport if, taking into account the pupil’s age and other circumstances, the jou ey referred to above is too difficult, burdensome or dangerous for the pupil. As an alte ative to free transport, an adequate allowance may be granted for the transport or escort
of the pupil. (19.12.2003/1139). The pupil’s daily jou ey to school, including

waiting times, organised in accordance with paragraph 1 above, may take no longer than two and a half hours. If the pupil has reached the age of 13 by the start of the school year, the jou ey to school may take no longer than three hours. (24 June 2010/642).

If a pupil is admitted to a school or place of education other than those referred to in section 6(2), admission may be made conditional upon the guardian bearing the costs of transporting or accompanying the pupil. (19 December 2003/1139).

A pupil waiting for transport must be provided with the opportunity to take part in supervised activities

The best interests of the child When planning, organising
and making decisions regarding basic education, the best interests of the child must be the primary consideration. The guardian of a pupil
who is not entitled to free school transport is responsible for arranging their child’s transport in the way they deem best. Even the guardian of a pupil entitled to free school transport may arrange the child’s jou ey to school at their own expense if they consider that the basic level of school transport provided by the municipality is insufficient. The guardian is primarily responsible for teaching their child to move safely in traffic.
The Basic Education Act and the guidelines approved by the Keuruu City Education Committee set out the conditions under which the municipality will arrange free school transport for a pupil. Pre-school transport is gove ed by the decision under Section 87, confirmed by the Keuruu City Education Committee in 2008.

Pre-school
education: The jou ey to pre-school for pre-school pupils may involve travelling either directly from home to pre-school
or from early years education to pre-school, and, once the day’s pre-school sessions have ended,
retu ing either directly home or to the early years education centre (Decision of the Basic Services Committee, 20 April 2004, § 53). Transport between home and the early years education centre is not organised or reimbursed on the basis of school transport.
Transport for pre-school pupils is required
to take place at regular intervals of at least five weeks. These intervals are determined in accordance with other school transport arrangements. No changes to transport arrangements will be made during these intervals.

Special
needs education Transport requirements for pupils receiving special needs education are determined on a case-by-case basis, although the general criteria regarding the length of the jou ey to school are taken as a starting point

Under the Education Act (Section 32), local authorities are obliged to arrange school transport for pupils whose jou ey to school is longer than five kilometres. School transport may be granted for shorter jou eys at the discretion of the authorities, where the jou ey is considered dangerous, difficult or strenuous, taking the pupil’s age into account.

The pupil’s actual jou ey to school refers to the daily route between home and school that the pupil takes when travelling to school. The length of the school jou ey is calculated along the shortest passable route and public roads from the pupil’s home to the school grounds. (Measurement points at schools in Keuruu, confirmed by the Education Committee on 30 August 2011, § 52). The length of the jou ey to school in Keuruu is verified by the transport planner. On 19 May 2005, the school transport working group submitted a proposal to the Education Committee regarding the criteria for granting transport subsidies to pupils in the Haapamäki and Keuruu urban areas.
The committee noted that, pursuant to Section 32 of the Basic Education Act, the municipality is obliged to arrange free school transport when the jou ey to school exceeds 5 km. Where a pupil’s jou ey to school is less than 5 km, the Education Committee decided on the following criteria for granting transport subsidies: schools in the centres of Haapamäki and Keuruu and village schools in sparsely populated and urban areas.

• Transport allowance for Year 0 for the entire school year, where the jou ey is 3 km or more
• Years 1–2: transport allowance for the whole school year, provided the jou ey is 3 km or more
• Village schools, and schools in Haapamäki and Keuruu in sparsely populated areas
• Transport allowance for Year 3 pupils for the entire school year, where the jou ey is over 3 km, on grounds such as a lack of street lighting
• Schools in Haapamäki and Keuruu town centre regarding urban areas
• Transport allowance for Year 3 pupils during the winter term (1 November–31 March), where the jou ey is over 3 km

Buses are used to transport pupils other than those in pre-school whenever the timetable allows. The Committee for Growth and Wellbeing decides on other transport subsidies on a pupil-by-pupil basis. The municipality is not obliged to arrange school transport for the entire jou ey; transport may be arranged for only part of the jou ey. The kilometre limits represent the longest possible distances that pupils must be prepared to travel by their own means.

If the jou ey to school, or part of it, is deemed dangerous, the local authority is obliged to arrange transport (for the section of the jou ey deemed dangerous) or to reimburse the guardian for the costs of transporting the pupil to school. The danger posed by the jou ey to school is assessed using the Koululiitu programme. The programme takes a comprehensive look at the traffic conditions along the jou ey to school. The greatest weight in the assessment is given to traffic volume and speed limits. In built-up areas, the level of danger is not assessed.

The local authority is obliged to arrange school transport or reimburse the guardian for school travel costs if the jou ey is too difficult or strenuous for the pupil. When assessing the strenuousness and difficulty of the jou ey, the basis used is a statement from a doctor, psychologist or other expert, which the guardian is obliged to obtain. The statement must be renewed each school year, unless it is of a permanent nature. In addition to the reasons and justifications for the need for transport, the statement must specify the period for which the expert recommends that school transport be arranged.

In such cases, the matter is agreed upon separately. The transport/compensation application, together with its attachments, must be submitted to the Growth and Wellbeing Committee of Keuruu Town Council. The school headteacher decides on a pupil’s temporary need for transport during the school day (e.g. due to illness or injury).

Under Section 6 of the Basic Education Act, the local authority must allocate a place in pre-primary education for children entering pre-primary education and a local school for pupils of compulsory school age. The local authority is obliged to provide school transport only to the pupil’s local school. If a guardian wishes to change the pupil’s school to one other than the local school, the guardian is granted the right to do so, but the guardian is obliged to arrange the pupil’s school transport themselves (Basic Education Act, Section 32(3) and Section 28(2)).
According to the regulations approved by Keuruu Town Council (26 March 2007), pupils’ catchment areas follow the school district boundaries.

If a pupil moves within the municipality during the school year and wishes to continue attending their old school until the end of the term or year, school transport may be arranged until the end of the current term, provided that the transport can be combined with existing transport services at no additional cost, or at a cost not exceeding what the transport would cost to the school within the pupil’s own catchment area, assuming the pupil were a transport pupil there. However, separate transport will not be arranged

When a pupil from outside the municipality applies for and is accepted into a municipal school, the pupil’s guardian is responsible for the pupil’s school transport and/or for accompanying them to school (Section 32(3) of the Basic Education Act). The City of Keuruu must treat applicants for secondary school places equally, whether they are residents of Keuruu or from another municipality.

If an agreement is made between the sending municipality and the receiving municipality regarding the provision of pre-primary and basic education (Chapter 8 of the Local Gove ment Act), the parties shall at the same time agree on the organisation of school transport and the sharing of costs in accordance with Section 32 of the Basic Education Act.

Pursuant to Section 39 of the Local Gove ment Act, Keuruu Town Council represents the municipality and exercises its right to speak on its behalf. The Town Council decides on agreements made between municipalities in Keuruu. In accordance with the council’s decision, school transport for pupils from other municipalities must take into account operational and financial considerations, as well as ensuring equal treatment of pupils both amongst the municipality’s own pupils and in relation to pupils from other municipalities (Council Decision 28 October 2024, § 48)

Existing public transport is the primary means of school transport. Other modes of transport, such as chartered coaches and taxis, are used to supplement public transport services. A pupil may have to use several different modes of transport on their jou ey to school. In accordance with Section 32 of the Basic Education Act, depending on timetables, a pupil may have to wait for transport in the mo ing and/or evening. By law, a pupil’s jou ey to school may take a maximum of 2.5 hours per day. However, for pupils who have tu ed 13 at the start of the school year, the jou ey to school, including waiting times, may take up to 3 hours a day. Efforts are made to keep waiting times reasonable. Taxi transport is not provided as a door-to-door service; instead, pupils are picked up and dropped off at a safe location specified by the transport organiser.

The guardian of a pupil entitled to free school transport may be reimbursed for school travel costs if the guardian arranges the pupil’s transport themselves. Decisions on reimbursement are always made on a case-by-case basis for one academic year at a time, and a claim for reimbursement must be submitted separately for each academic year.

The City has insured all pupils against accidents. Liability for compensation applies during actual school hours, during class trips, school camps and school sports events in accordance with the work plans, and in the event of accidents occurring on the direct route from home to school or from school to home. Medical expenses arising from accidents occurring during jou eys to and from school involving a car or other motor vehicle are covered by the relevant parties’ motor insurance. The liability to pay compensation covers immediate and necessary travel, treatment and medication costs. Damage to personal property is not covered, except, for example, the repair of spectacles or the purchase of new ones (if they are beyond repair), where the accident has required first-aid treatment and/or has caused a bruise, scratch or injury confirmed by a nurse or doctor. The insurance does not cover damage caused to a third party by the pupil’s wilful misconduct or negligence; instead, the Tort Liability Act applies to compensation. There is no age limit for liability for damages. No separate transport will

be arranged due to severe frost.

General principles The
school rules apply during the jou ey to and from school and are enforced where possible. However, there are many risks associated with waiting for school transport and getting off the vehicle. Pupils can influence their own safety as users of school transport and public transport. Drivers must be allowed to work in peace. Pupils must not disturb other
passengers either. Sports equipment may be carried in the vehicle for school sports. To ensure that school transport runs as smoothly and safely as possible, pupils and guardians must be aware of the following principles and adhere to them. Use

of seatbelts on school transport

• The driver of a school bus is responsible for ensuring that pupils wear their seatbelts;
• If, despite repeated requests, a pupil fails to follow instructions, the driver of the vehicle is obliged to report this to the school;
• The headteacher will contact the pupil’s parents or guardians, explain the situation and make it clear that the pupil’s defiant and unruly behaviour cannot be allowed to continue, and inform them that the driver may refuse to transport a pupil whose behaviour endangers their own and others’ road safety;
• If the situation remains unchanged, the driver of the vehicle shall report the matter again to the headteacher, who shall then pass the matter on to the transport planner;
• The transport planner transfers responsibility for organising school transport to the parent or guardian. This procedure is based on Sections 29 and 32 of the Basic Education Act. The transport planner informs the school and the driver of the change in arrangements and the date on which it takes effect. Checklist for
  
  parents or guardians
• The City of Keuruu will designate a pick-up point for the child, which may be a bus stop, a junction or another location that is safe in terms of traffic. If the guardian disagrees with the chosen pick-up point, the municipality and the transport operator will jointly decide on the location in accordance with the Road Traffic Act;
• talk to your child about how to behave at the bus stop and in the car;
• make sure your child arrives at the meeting point on time;
• make sure your child’s outdoor clothing has reflectors or that they wear a high-visibility vest;
• notify drivers/the school of any serious health issues affecting the child in relation to transport;
• notify drivers/the school if your child is ill or will be absent for any other reason, so that the car does not make unnecessary jou eys;
• The guardian is obliged to reach an agreement with the transport operator regarding any damage caused to the vehicle by the child. The local authority does not compensate for damage caused to vehicles by pupils.
• In the town of Keuruu, the academic year at Keuruu Co-educational School and Upper Secondary School is divided into terms. If you know that there will be any changes to your child’s school transport needs at the start of the next term, please inform the transport coordinator. This ensures that school transport vehicles avoid unnecessary jou eys. Checklist for
  
  pupils using school transport
• Always arrive on time (at least 5 minutes early) at the agreed pick-up point;
• Wait for your transport at the bus stop or at the agreed meeting point, not on the road;
• Always wear a reflector or a high-visibility vest at dusk and in the dark;
• the bus is not late if it arrives at the stop within 10 minutes of the scheduled time;
• Don’t rush to the car, pushing other passengers aside;
• say hello to the driver;
• Always show your ticket when boarding the bus;
• Always wear a seatbelt;
• behave calmly in the car, observing good manners;
• There are no seats reserved for rucksacks on the bus;
• You must not move from one seat to another whilst the bus or taxi is in motion;
• A bus or taxi driver may intervene in disruptive behaviour occurring during the jou ey as the situation requires;
• check that you haven’t left anything in the car;
• Wait until the bus has left the stop and you can see in all directions before you start crossing the road.
• In the town of Keuruu, the academic year at Keuruu Co-educational School and Upper Secondary School is divided into terms. If you know that there will be any changes to school transport requirements at the start of the next term, please inform the transport coordinator. This will help school transport vehicles avoid unnecessary jou eys (junior high and senior high school pupils can inform the driver themselves).
  
  School transport driver’s checklist
• Remember that you are a support teacher; your behaviour must be exemplary and you must maintain order. Your language must be friendly and appropriate;
• Remember that pupils with special needs often require special attention;
• Remember the traffic rules and how to behave on the road; for school transport, the speed limit is 80 km/h;
  Keuruu City:
  Growth and Wellbeing Services
• try to stick to the schedule and allow for delays;
• Drive calmly into the waiting area;
• pick up the children and drop them off at the agreed location;
• make sure that getting in and out of the car is done calmly and without rushing;
• Make sure the children are in the car and wearing their seatbelts before you set off;
• If you encounter any problems with the transport, please contact the school headteacher or the transport service first