SMC – Home to School: Frequently Asked Questions

 

Who do I contact if I am having a problem or questions regarding setting up a passenger onto the SMC Pass Portal?

 

Please contact our bookings team at smc.bookings@skills.co.uk who will be able to assist. If you would prefer to speak to someone please call: 0115 9770 080. Our bookings team are available 09.00AM -17.30PM Monday – Friday. Our head office is open 24 hours, 7 days a week so please do not hesitate to get In contact if you have any concerns.

 

Who can use the home to school bus service?

 

All pupils from Trent College can utilise our home to school service. Only the pupils at the Elms who are Year 3 or above can travel. Parents are not allowed to accompany students.

 

Are the current stops the only stops available?

 

If it is possible to add a stop to the route, we will be happy to consider it. Please email smc.bookings@skills.co.uk

and we will investigate your request. If the suggested stop is already on a current route, we can add this to our schedule. If the route would have to divert Skills shall work with Trent College to see if this is viable.

 

How do we know if the bus is delayed?

 

Our ‘Search My Coach’ application will allow parents and pupils to track the coach in the morning and clearly see what stage of the route the coach is at. It will let you know expected times at stops and when a vehicle arrives and departs from a stop. Search My Coach is available for both IOS and Android. Coach tracking can also be accessed through the SMC Pass Portal found on our website.

 

What can we do if the bus fails to turn up?

 

We shall always try to run to a prompt and reliable service however we appreciate that unknowns can occur while our coaches are on route. We will utilise our Search My Coach App to send push notifications of any delays or information regarding road closures. You will also be able to see the vehicle and its current location using the tracking features in the app. If you are using a physical pass rather than the application, you can call our head office for an update on 0115 9770 080.

 

How does the coach know to stop? Should I signal?

 

Please aim to be at your designated bus stop 5 minutes prior to the coaches scheduled arrival. Although we aim to utilise the same pool of drivers you should not expect a driver to know you’ll be at a specific stop. Please utilise the SMC application to keep an eye on the progress of the vehicle and be present at the stop. Please be mindful that if there are a number of people at a stop to make yourself visible or stick you hand out to signal the driver to stop. 

 

Can I book onto a coach for the day or bring a friend with me?

 

Yes, we are happy to accept ad hoc bookings. Please visit our SMC Pass Portal to book single and return fares. These can be added to your SMC app or printed as a one-time scannable bar code. You can also book through our SMC App.

 

What does the ‘track’ feature do?

 

It is important to stress that our tracking feature is only tracking the vehicles themselves rather than your phone or device. The track feature will only be available to students or parents who have booked onto that route and have been approved by Trent College.

 

How do I register and why should I download the Search My Coach app

 

Please see two guides below to help you through the booking process and more information on our Search My Coach application

 

• SMC Booking Guide

  - VIEW HERE