School bus attendant

School bus attendants monitor the activities on schoolbuses to ensure and supervise the students’ safety and good behaviour. They help children on and off the bus, support the driver and provide assistance in case of emergency.

School bus attendants typically do the following:

• Know the proper use of securing devices for safety restraints, wheelchairs and seat belts.
• Assist the driver in the proper loading and unloading of passengers.
• Maintain student discipline.
• Supervise and assist students in transit.
• Report any concerns regarding students to the driver and to the appropriate building staff.
• Know the school bus evacuation procedures and be physically capable to evacuate students in
  an emergency.
• Learn the bus route and provide route information that includes driver directions for the best
  way to reach a location, for a substitute or newly assigned bus driver.
• Occupy a seat that provides the best opportunity for student supervision while the bus is in
  motion

The following job titles also refer to school bus attendant:

school bus transportation aide
school bus transportation attendant
school bus chief attendant
school bus transport aide
school bus transportation assistant
school bus assistant
school bus aide

School bus attendants are typically required to have at least a high school diploma. Some employers may prefer candidates who have completed a course in customer service or another related field.

School bus attendants typically receive on-the-job training from their new employer. This training may include learning the routes and schedules of the bus routes, how to operate the bus and how to clean the bus.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

School bus attendant is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to school bus attendant.

bus driver
trolley bus driver
tram driver
child care worker
private chauffeur

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of school bus attendant. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of school bus attendant with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

ski instructor
aviation safety officer
activity leader
sport facility manager
snowboard instructor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of school bus attendant.

• Health and safety measures in transportation: The body of rules, procedures and regulations related to health and safety measures intended to prevent accidents or incidents in transportation.
• Passenger transport regulations: Have knowledge of passenger transport conventions and regulations.

These skills are necessary for the role of school bus attendant.

• Cooperate with colleagues: Cooperate with colleagues in order to ensure that operations run effectively.
• Apply conflict management: Take ownership of the handling of all complaints and disputes showing empathy and understanding to achieve resolution. To be fully aware of all Social Responsibility protocols and procedures, and to be able to deal with a problem gambling situation in a professional manner with maturity and empathy.
• Monitor student’s behaviour: Supervise the student’s social behaviour to discover anything unusual. Help solve any issues if necessary.
• Assist passengers: Provide help to people getting in and out of their car or any other transportation vehicle, by opening doors, provide physical support or hold belongings.
• Adhere to organisational guidelines: Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
• Communicate with youth: Use verbal and non-verbal communication and communicate through writing, electronic means, or drawing. Adapt your communication to children and young people`s age, needs, characteristics, abilities, preferences, and culture.
• Supervise children: Keep the children under supervision for a certain period of time, ensuring their safety at all times.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of school bus attendant. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Road traffic laws: Understand road traffic laws and the rules of the road.
• Common children’s diseases: The symptoms, characteristics, and treatment of diseases and disorders that often affect children, such as the measles, chickenpox, asthma, the mumps, and head lice.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of school bus attendant. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Cooperate with education professionals: Communicate with teachers or other professionals working in education in order to identify needs and areas of improvement in education systems, and to establish a collaborative relationship.
• Help to control passenger behaviour during emergency situations: Know how to use life-saving equipment in emergency situations. Provide assistance if leakages, collisions or fires should occur, and support the evacuation of passengers. Know crisis and crowd management, and administer first aid on board.
• Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
• Escort students on a field trip: Accompany students on an educational trip outside the school environment and ensure their safety and cooperation.
• Show consideration for student’s situation: Take students’ personal backgrounds into consideration when teaching, showing empathy and respect.
• Use communication devices: Operate communication devices in order to interact with customers, colleagues, and others.
• Tend to passenger belongings: Handle passenger belongings; assist elderly or physically challenged travellers by carrying their luggage.
• Assist social service users with physical disabilities: Help service users with mobility problems and other physical disabilities such as incontinence, assisting in the use and care of aids and personal equipment.
• Ensure vehicles are equipped with accessibility equipment: Ensure that the vehicle is equipped with accessibility equipment such as passenger lift, seat belts, restraining harnesses, and wheelchair clamps or webbing straps.

5311 – Child care workers

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References

1. School bus attendant – ESCO