When families use a school taxi service
Very few parents plan to use a taxi for the school run. It usually starts because something has changed: a new job with an earlier start, a second child at a different school, a parent recovering from an operation, or a child who has moved to a secondary school across the borough. Some families book us for one term while things settle down; others keep the same pickup for years.
Sutton is well known for its schools, and many children travel further than the nearest one. A journey from Rosehill to a school in Cheam or Wallington can mean two buses at rush hour. A pre-booked car turns that into one short, direct trip.
Setting up a regular school pickup
Regular bookings take a few minutes to arrange by phone. We will ask for:
- the pickup address and the school, including which gate or entrance to use;
- the days and times, and whether you need mornings, afternoons or both;
- the name and age of each child, and whether they need a child seat or booster;
- term dates, INSET days and any after-school clubs that change the finish time;
- who will hand the child over and who will be waiting at the other end.
Every journey is priced as a fixed fare, so you know the cost of a full week before it starts. Pay by card or in cash, whichever suits your household.
Child seats and booster seats
Child seats are available on request. Give us each child's age when you book so we can bring the right seat. Older children who have outgrown a booster will use the normal seat belt. If you have your own seat and would prefer the driver to use it, let us know.
Safety and who drives your child
Handing your child to a driver is a matter of trust, so here is how it works. Every London private hire driver needs a Transport for London licence, and getting one includes an enhanced DBS check. Our operator licence number is , and you can check any driver's licence on the TfL website.
For regular school runs we try to keep the same driver where the rota allows, because children settle better with a familiar face and schools prefer it. We will always tell you if the driver has to change. It is sensible to share the booking details with the school office so staff know who to expect at pickup time.
Please tell us your school's own rules for handover. Some primary schools only release pupils to a named adult, so the arrangement needs to be agreed with the school before the first journey.
School traffic around Rosehill
Anyone who has driven past the Rose Hill roundabout at 8.30am knows how slow it can be, especially on Bishopsford Road and Reigate Avenue during term time. We plan pickup times with this in mind. For a morning run, we would rather arrive a few minutes early than risk a late mark. In the afternoon, drivers wait at a safe, legal spot near the gate instead of stopping on the zigzags.
More than the daily run
Parents also book us for the journeys around the school day: a trip to a sports fixture, a drop-off at Victoria station for a residential trip, or collecting a university student from Euston at the end of term. If several families are sharing the trip, our 6 seater taxi or 7 seater taxi can take a group of children and their kit bags in one car.
Areas we cover for school runs
We run school taxis all over the boroughs of Sutton and Merton, including Sutton, Cheam, Carshalton, Mitcham and Merton Park. If your child's school is further afield, ask us anyway. All the areas we serve are listed on our areas we cover page.
Questions we get asked
Can my child travel in the taxi without me?
Many families arrange this, particularly for older children, but it must be agreed with us in advance and with the school if the handover happens there. Tell us the child's age and who will meet them.
What happens on INSET days and school holidays?
Give us your school's term dates when you set up the booking, and we will pause the pickups on days the school is closed. Please still remind us if there is a late change.
Can you pick up from after-school clubs?
Yes. Let us know which days have a later finish so the driver arrives at the right time.
Can two families share a school run taxi?
Yes, as long as there are enough seats and child seats for everyone. Agree between yourselves who is responsible for the booking and payment, then call us to set it up.
How much notice do you need to set up a regular school run?
A few days is ideal, so we can plan the driver rota and have the right child seats ready. For the start of a new school year, book as early as you can.