4 February 2026
Written by Head of Operations & Designated Safeguarding Lead, Charlotte Conway
Bucksmore’s Transport & Transfers Procedures
When you’re sending your child to a summer programme away from home (often to another country, or even continent!) the journey itself can feel like the biggest worry. At Bucksmore, we understand that for parents, safety doesn’t start in the classroom. It starts the moment your child leaves home, through their transport & transfers arrangement.
That’s why Bucksmore has clear, carefully managed transport and transfer procedures in place, ensuring students are supported, supervised, and safe from arrival to departure.
Thoughtful Planning Before Your Child Travels
Every safe journey begins with preparation. Before your child travels, Bucksmore collects detailed travel information, so our teams know exactly when and where to expect each student.
Parents receive a comprehensive Pre-Arrival Guide, explaining what will happen on arrival day, who will meet your child, and what to do if plans change. This helps families feel informed and confident long before travel day arrives.
To access our Pre-Arrival Guides, please click on the relevant links below:
- d’Overbroeck’s School, Oxford
- Oxford International College, Brighton
- St Hilda’s College, Oxford
- King’s College London
- St Catharine’s College, Cambridge
A Friendly Face Waiting at Arrivals
One of the most reassuring moments for parents — and students — is knowing someone will be there at the airport.
When your child arrives in the UK during designated transfer times, they are met inside the arrivals hall by a trained Bucksmore staff member, clearly identifiable with Bucksmore signage and in our red Bucksmore staff uniform. Your child is never expected to navigate the airport alone or find their own transport.
From that moment on, they are under Bucksmore’s supervision.
Safe, Supervised Transfers to the Summer Centre
Bucksmore provides complimentary airport transfers on scheduled arrival and departure days from major UK airports and selected transport hubs. For information on airport meeting points, access to transfer forms and letters for consent to travel, please click here.
Transfers are made by coach, minibus, or taxi, depending on group size, and are organised with trusted transport providers. Students travel together where possible, accompanied by Bucksmore staff, ensuring supervision throughout the journey to the centre.
Extra Care for Younger and Unaccompanied Students
If your child is travelling as an Unaccompanied Minor, Bucksmore works closely with airlines to manage the handover process. On arrival, airline staff personally transfer your child to Bucksmore staff. On departure, Bucksmore team members remain with your child until airline staff take over, so your child is never without direct adult supervision throughout their journey. This extra layer of coordination helps ensure younger travellers are supported at every stage.
Please note that airline’s Unaccompanied Minor requirements and fees vary, and it is each family’s responsibility to arrange this with their chosen airline. When completing the transfer form to communicate your child’s travel plans to Bucksmore, please be sure to indicate whether the child is travelling as an Unaccompanied Minor so our team can make necessary arrangements on arrival and departure.
Flexible Options for Different Travel Plans
We know not every flight fits neatly into standard arrival times. If your child arrives outside the scheduled transfer window, Bucksmore can arrange a private transfer in advance, ensuring they are still collected safely and brought directly to the centre. No matter the arrival time, your child is never left to travel alone.
Alternatively, if you would like to arrange your child’s transfer yourself, this is possible but our team would still need to know the transfer arrangements so our centre staff are kept informed on when and how the child will arrive at the centre. Due to our robust safeguarding policy, we cannot allow students to travel by themselves on public transport or with public taxi services like Uber – they must be accompanied by a trusted adult. Private taxi arrangements can be made, as long as it is with a provider that has DBS background check requirements for all their drivers. So if you will be planning your child’s transfers yourself, please ensure they are always accompanied by a trusted adult, and that all details have been communicated to our team in advance.
A Supported and Settled Arrival at the Centre
Once your child arrives at their summer school, they are formally registered, shown to their accommodation, and supported as they settle in. Staff are available to answer questions, introduce them to other students at the centre, and encourage students to contact home to let you know they’ve arrived safely. We have staff on site ready to support students with making friends and socialising with other students through organised welcome games.
From that point forward, your child is part of Bucksmore’s structured and fully supervised programme.
A Safe and Smooth Departure Home
When it’s time for your child to return home, Bucksmore applies the same care and supervision as on arrival. Students are accompanied from the centre to the airport on designated departure days, with staff ensuring they arrive in good time for check-in. Staff assist students at check-in to ensure a smooth process and accompany the students to the security gates. During our free transfers timings, a staff member stays in the airport until all flights have departed to ensure that if anything goes wrong airside, we are there in the airport to help the students. For students taking a private transfer outside of our free transfers slot, the trusted transport provider will wait at the airport until the student goes through security.
Bucksmore’s transport and transfer arrangements are designed with one goal in mind: to give parents confidence and students reassurance. At Bucksmore, your child’s summer experience begins with care, structure, and safety — right from the start.
For families considering a Bucksmore programme, get in touch with our friendly admissions team to find out more about our wide range of courses for your child today!
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