How a school run minicab works
The idea is simple. You tell us the pickup address, the school, the times and the days, and we book the journeys in advance. On the day a licensed driver arrives at your door, waits for your child to get in and buckle up, and drives straight to the school.
Afternoon pickups work the same way in reverse. Tell us where your child will be waiting, whether that is the main gate, a side entrance or an after-school club, and the driver goes to that spot. Many parents keep the same booking for the whole half term, which means no daily phone calls and no last-minute scramble.
Why parents in SE19 use a pre-booked school run service
Some mornings fall apart. A parent has an early shift, a sibling needs to be in a different school across the borough, or the bus is packed before it even reaches Anerley Hill. A booked car removes the guesswork.
Crystal Palace also has a lot of hills and a lot of schools spread across five different boroughs. A child at secondary school in Dulwich may live on the Penge side of the park, and the bus route between them is anything but direct. A school run service in Crystal Palace can turn a 50 minute journey with two changes into a 15 minute drive.
Safety on every school journey
Every driver who carries your child holds a TfL private hire driver licence. To get that licence, drivers have to pass an enhanced DBS check, a medical and a topographical test, and their licence is reviewed when it is renewed. The car itself has to be licensed and inspected too.
We also keep a record of every booking, including the driver, the vehicle and the times. If you ever want to check who is collecting your child, call 020 8659 9000 and we will tell you.
Child seats and booster seats on request
The law says children must normally use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first. There are limited exceptions for licensed private hire vehicles, but we would rather your child travelled in a proper seat.
That is why child seats are available on request. When you book, tell us the age and weight of each child so the right seat is fitted before the car arrives. If you have your own seat and want to use it, that is fine as well. Just let us know so the driver can allow a couple of extra minutes to fit it.
Minicab with child seat for nursery and primary pickups
Younger children need a bit more care. For nursery and primary school runs, we suggest a parent or carer hands the child to the driver at home and a member of school staff meets the car at the gate. Most schools around Crystal Palace are used to this and will tell you which entrance works best for car drop-offs.
Let us know about anything the driver should be aware of, such as a child who gets car sick, needs to sit on a certain side, or carries medication. We add it to the booking notes so it is passed on.
After school pickup and club times
After school pickup is the part parents find hardest to cover. Clubs end at different times, sports fixtures run late and drama rehearsals have a habit of overrunning.
We can book a different pickup time for each day of the week. If a club finishes late on the day, call us and we will do our best to adjust. Waiting time may be added if the driver has to wait beyond the agreed time, and we will always tell you before that happens.
School runs across the wider area
Most of our school journeys stay close to home. Families book us from Upper Norwood, South Norwood and Penge, and we regularly drive children to schools in Dulwich, Sydenham and Beckenham. The bigger independent schools around Dulwich Village and College Road see plenty of morning traffic, so our drivers know where to stop without blocking the road.
For siblings at different schools, we can plan a route that drops both children in a sensible order. If there are more than three children, a 6 seater minicab gives everyone room for bags and PE kits.
Secondary school students travelling alone
Teenagers often travel on their own, and plenty of parents are happy with that once they know who is driving. If you want to check on a journey, call us at any point and we will tell you where the booking is up to.
Older students also use us for one-off journeys, such as getting to an exam centre early, a sports fixture across the borough or a music lesson after school. Each trip is booked in your name, so you stay in control of where they go.
School run fares in Crystal Palace
We do not use a meter. Each journey has a fixed fare agreed at booking, based on distance, time of day and the car you need. A regular weekday booking is priced journey by journey, so you always know what each trip will cost.
You can pay by card or cash. Paying by card when you book means your child never has to carry money, which most parents prefer.
When plans change mid-term
Children get ill, schools close for snow days and inset days pop up in the calendar. None of that is a problem. Call us the evening before or first thing in the morning and we will cancel or move the journey. For a whole week off, give us the dates and we will pause the bookings and pick them up again when school restarts.
How to book a regular school pickup
Booking takes a few minutes. You can use the form on this page, call 020 8659 9000, or send the details on WhatsApp.
- Your child's name and the school address
- Morning pickup time and afternoon collection time for each day
- Start date and the last day of term
- Number of children and any child seats needed
- Any notes for the driver
We will confirm the bookings and send the details. If term dates change or your child is off sick, just call us and we will cancel or move the journey.
Other trips for the family
The same drivers who handle the school run can also take the family further. Our pet friendly minicab is handy for vet visits, and holiday trips are easy with a Crystal Palace to Gatwick Airport minicab or a Heathrow Airport transfer.
