January is one of the most challenging times of year for home-to-school transport operators. New contracts often go live at the start of the spring term, while existing routes frequently experience driver drop-off after the festive break. It’s common for drivers to move into other work during half terms or over Christmas and not return — leaving operators under pressure just as schools reopen. Add Enhanced DBS delays into the mix, and last-minute driver sourcing becomes extremely difficult.

This is why preparation, not reaction, is key.

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The January Challenge for Home-to-School Operators

Across the UK, we consistently see the same issues every January:

• New home-to-school contracts starting with little margin for error
• Drivers not returning after Christmas or half term breaks
• Increased sickness levels during winter months
• Delays with Enhanced DBS checks slowing down recruitment
• Limited availability of fully compliant drivers at short notice

For operators, this can put service delivery, compliance, and relationships with local authorities at risk.

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Why Last-Minute Driver Recruitment Often Fails

Securing drivers for home-to-school transport is a complex process that can’t be rushed, as essential enhanced DBS checks often take weeks or even months to clear. Relying on reactive hiring when a driver leaves frequently leads to missed start dates, temporary route cancellations, and the over-stretching of your existing team. This creates significant operational stress, particularly on SEND routes where strict compliance and passenger continuity are absolutely critical to the service.

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Building a Driver Pool Before You Need It

At DrivenPeople, we work with operators to build a strong, ready-to-go pool of home-to-school drivers in advance, rather than scrambling at the last minute. We continuously onboard drivers across multiple regions in the UK and put them through:

• Enhanced DBS checks
• Right-to-work verification
• Licence and compliance checks
• Ongoing monitoring via the DBS Update Service

This means operators have access to pre-vetted, compliant drivers who can step in quickly when needed.

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Flexible Support That Fits Your Operation

Our model is designed to complement, rather than replace, your existing workforce by providing essential flexibility for your operations. By utilising DrivenPeople drivers, operators can seamlessly cover sickness and holidays, support the launch of new routes in January and maintain contingency for unexpected driver drop-offs. This approach allows you to trial drivers on a temp-to-perm basis before committing to full-time roles - ensuring you can maintain high service levels without the pressure of permanent hiring until you are ready.

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Prepared for January - and Beyond

By planning ahead and building a driver bench early, operators can:

• Reduce risk around contract start dates
• Avoid disruption after school holidays
• Maintain compliance at all times
• Protect relationships with local authorities and schools

January doesn’t need to be a pressure point — with the right preparation, it can be a smooth transition.

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How DrivenPeople Can Help

DrivenPeople supports home-to-school operators across the UK by providing access to a growing community of compliant, experienced drivers - all ready when you need them most.

If you have new contracts starting in January, concerns about post-Christmas driver drop-off or are in need of reliable sickness or holiday cover, now is the time to prepare - and get in touch.

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