Education Settings
Supporting safe travel across your setting.
Whether you’re managing nursery drop-offs, school-run minibuses or occasional trips, this section will guide you through best practice for group transport, staff training, and working with families to ensure children are safely restrained every time they travel.
01
Rear Facing
If your setting transports young children, even occasionally, it’s important to understand why rear-facing car seats offer far greater protection.
Children under 4 or 5 have large, heavy heads and developing necks and spines. In a crash, a forward-facing child is thrown forward, placing enormous strain on these vulnerable areas. Rear-facing seats provide better protection by cradling the child and distributing crash forces across the back, neck, and head - significantly reducing the risk of serious injury.
The legal minimum to forward-face under current UK law is 15 months, but extended rear-facing (ERF) seats are now available up to 125cm or 36kg - typically age 6 or 7. Leading safety experts recommend rear-facing for as long as possible within those limits.
This approach is echoed in current NHS guidance, and supported by safety charities like RoSPA and Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), all of which recommend keeping children rear-facing until at least age 4. While there may not be sector-specific guidance from Ofsted or the DfE, these organisations form the foundation of child safety best practice - and are commonly cited in safeguarding policies.
Understanding and promoting this within your setting - especially for school trips, minibus use or transport policies — helps ensure you’re supporting children’s safety to the highest standard, not just the legal minimum.
02
Choosing Safe Seats
Education settings sometimes help with travel, short trips or emergency transport, so it’s important that any car seats used are safe, suitable, and correctly fitted.
Always check each child’s height and weight, not just their age. Every seat has limits set in centimetres or kilograms, and these must be followed exactly. Using the wrong seat, or one that doesn’t fit properly, can make a big difference to safety.
If your setting provides seats, make sure they are in good condition, have not been in a crash, and are used within their expiry dates. Store them somewhere dry and cool - not in lofts, garages or vehicles long term.
Each child’s seat should be clearly labelled with their name and adjusted for their size before travel. Staff should be confident with fitting and harnessing before using the seat.
If you borrow or share seats between settings, always double check that the seat fits the child and the vehicle before setting off.
Whenever possible, seek advice from a trained car seat specialist to make sure your setup meets current safety standards and best practice.
03
Installing their seats
If your setting transports children, making sure every car seat is fitted correctly is essential. Even the best seat can’t protect properly if it isn’t installed securely.
Always follow the car and seat manuals for the exact model you’re using - different brands fit differently, and small details matter.
Before each journey, check that:
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The seat is firmly installed with little or no movement at the belt path.
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The seat is at the correct recline angle for the child’s stage.
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Nothing is trapped between the vehicle seat and the car seat base.​
If you use ISOFIX, make sure both arms are fully clicked in and any indicators show green. The support leg should sit flat on the floor, not on an under-floor storage box unless the manual confirms it’s allowed.
YouTube can be helpful for visual guides - always use the official brand channel or a trained retailer’s video.
For specialist brands such as Axkid, Avionaut, BeSafe and Britax Römer, the retailer should provide expert fitting advice at the point of purchase.
When multiple staff use vehicles, ensure everyone understands how to check the fit before travel. A few minutes of care can make a big difference to safety.
04
Fitting Children Safely
When transporting children from your setting, it is important that each child is secured correctly in their car seat before travel. A correctly fitted harness helps the seat work as designed in a collision.
Always remove thick coats, snowsuits and padded clothing before placing a child in their seat. Bulky clothing prevents the harness from tightening properly and can create slack that reduces protection. If the child is cold, a blanket can be placed over the harness once they are secured.
The harness should be snug, with the straps lying flat and untwisted. You should not be able to pinch the harness webbing at the child’s shoulder.
For rear-facing seats, the harness straps should sit level with or just below the shoulders.
Check that the headrest height is suitable for the child and that they are sitting comfortably and upright in the seat.
Staff responsible for transporting children should be familiar with these basic checks before every journey to help keep children safe.