Trips Policy

Educational Visits Co-ordinator: The Principal (or in her absence the Deputy Principal) is responsible for educational visits and activities (‘trips’) undertaken by the pupils of our school.

 

This policy is available to parents and staff in the parents section of our website www.stratfordprep.co.uk and also to prospective parents on request.

 

This policy accords with the Health and Safety of Children on Educational Visits good practice guide published by the DCSF (copy in staff room) and the Children, Young People and Families Directorate of Warwickshire County Council’s health and safety guidelines.  This policy should be read in conjunction with that guidance.  The guidance prevails in the event of a conflict with this policy. 
 
Introduction

Our pupils can derive a good deal of educational benefit from taking part in trips with the school.  In particular, they have the opportunity to undergo experiences not available in the classroom.  Trips help to develop a child’s investigative skills.  This policy is written to help us ensure that our pupils stay safe and healthy on school visits.

 

We give details of these trips and activities to parents at the beginning of each term in our School Calendar.  Visits and activities usually take place within the school day with the exception of residential trips and sports matches. 

   

Organisation
  •  Group Leader - A teacher is appointed by the Educational Visits Co-ordinator to have overall control of a school trip.  That person is responsible for the group’s health and safety whilst on the trip. 

  • The Educational Visits Co-ordinator will also appoint a deputy Group Leader in case the Group Leader cannot lead the group for any reason.

  • The Group Leader is in charge in the event that an emergency occurs on a trip.

  • A Risk assessment is completed for each trip (see below).

  • Appropriate adult to pupil ratios must be adhered to (see below).

  • Special educational, medical, physical, behavioural, dietary and other needs of the group should be taken into account when planning a trip.   

  • Adult volunteers (including parents) are briefed by the Group Leader.  Adult volunteers should bring any risks they identify to the Group Leader’s attention.  If there is a possibility that adult volunteers are going to be left alone with any of the pupils at any stage then that fact should be considered in the Risk Assessment.  Please also refer to the Checks on Volunteers section (below).
     
  • Parental Permission – No child may go on a trip without parental permission in writing unless that trip is routine and part of the curriculum (and parents have already been informed that it is going ahead).
     
  • Exploratory Visit - Where appropriate the Group Leader should visit the proposed trip location in advance.  The Group Leader should pay particular attention to the suitability of the location, the facilities and identify potential risks.  Information gathered on an exploratory visit is invaluable in preparing a Risk Assessment.

  • Pupil List – A list of all pupils who are attending the trip should be carried by the Group Leader at all times to facilitate regular head counts.

  • The Group Leader (or at least one teacher who goes on the trip) should be first-aid trained and must have a first aid kit available to them (for example the first-aid kit in the school minibus) and have a mobile phione with them, the number of which should be recorded in the school office.

  • Emergency Contact Numbers for the parents of all pupils who go on a trip should be held by the Group Leader if the trip is outside of school office hours.

 

Risk Assessment
  • A Risk Assessment is completed for each trip by the Group Leader well in advance.
     
  • A general Risk Assessment for regular trips to the same location may be appropriate (ie weekly trips) but must be reviewed regularly.   

  • The Risk Assessment must be submitted to and approved by the Educational Visits Co-ordinator.  

  • The Risk Assessment should include details of how to avoid any identified risks.   

  • Third Party Risk Assessments - A written statement that the bus company, location or other relevant providers have themselves assessed the risks and have appropriate safety measures in place should accompany the Risk Assessment.

  • No trip may proceed without an approved Risk Assessment.

  • No trip will proceed if an unacceptable risk is identified.   

  • A copy of the Risk Assessment must be given to all teachers and supervisors (including parents) who are to attend the trip before the day of the visit.  They must also sign the Trips Form to acknowledge they understand their role and responsibilities.

Supervision

There should be appropriate supervision on all trips.  As a guide, for visits to local historical sites or walks:

  • Reception to Junior 1 – One to every six pupils (where pupils are over 5)
  • Junior 2 to Junior 3 – One to every 10-15 pupils
  • Junior 4 – One to every 15-20 pupils

The actual ratio will depend on the nature and location of the trip.  For example the ratios are lower for swimming and overnight trips.

 

Parents

No child may go on a trip without parental permission in writing unless that trip is routine and part of the curriculum (and the parents have already been informed that it is going ahead). 

 

If a trip is to a foreign location, involves and overnight stay or adventure activities then it may be appropriate to hold a pre-trip meeting with parents to discuss details of the trip.

 

Parents may contact their child during a trip in an emergency through the school office or through the school mobile telephone (out of school office hours).   Any contact with parents made during a trip will be made directly by the Group Leader or indirectly through the school office using telephone numbers supplied by parents – which are constantly updated.  The Group Leader may also use a telephone tree system where appropriate.

 

Medical

Parental permission for trips should include consent to a pupil receiving emergency medical treatment where considered necessary by medical authorities, including anesthetics and blood transfusions.  A pupil may not be able to attend a trip if this consent is withheld.

 

The Group Leader (or at least one teacher who goes on the trip) should be first-aid trained and must have a first aid kit available to them (for example the first-aid kit in the school minibus).

 

The Group Leader carries a list of the medical needs of every pupil who attends a trip (eg allergies) and is familiar with relevant emergency procedures.  Children with asthma are checked for inhalers on the day of the visit.  A pupil may not be able to attend a trip if any required medication has not been brought to school on the day of the visit.

 

Checks on Volunteers

All of our staff have undergone identity and criminal records checks in accordance with the DSCF guidance on Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education. 

 

All volunteers who may attend a trip are vetted by the Group Leader and the Principal.  All volunteers who may be left alone with pupils or who accompany a group on an overnight trip will be required to undergo the identity and enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks recommended by the above guidance.  Other volunteers will be subject to any checks deemed necessary by the Group Leader or Educational Visits Co-ordinator to ensure the safety of our pupils.  It is the Group Leaders responsibility to assess the competency of volunteers.

 

Minibus

Our minibus meets legal guidelines and each seat has a belt.  The minibus is driven only by designated staff members.  We only hire those companies whose coaches have individual seat belts. We instruct all children traveling by coach or minibus to wear a seat belt.  Booster seats are available.

 

After the Visit

Reports of individual visits, including reports of accidents and near misses are to be kept.  Included in such reports are comments on the effectiveness of the visit and the performance of the provider.

 

Equal Opportunities

 Our school makes every effort to ensure that off-site activities are available, accessible and inclusive to all who wish to participate, irrespective of special needs, ethnic origin, gender, religion etc.

 

Curriculum links

All educational visits and activities support and enrich the work we do in school. There are also a number of people who visit the school to support our work.  For example local vicar, the police and fire service representatives.  Some visits relate directly to areas of learning for individual classes, whilst others relate to all our children.

 

For each subject in the curriculum there is a corresponding programme of activities which includes visits by specialists.

 

  • English – theatre visits and visits by and to authors, poets and theatre groups;
  • science – use of the school grounds, visits to local environment;
  • history – local museums and historical sites;
  • geography – use of the locality for fieldwork, village studies;
  • art and design – art gallery visits, use of the locality;
  • PE – range of sporting fixtures, extra-curricular activities, visits by specialist coaches;
  • music – range of specialist music teaching, extra-curricular activities, local schools’ orchestra, concerts for parents to hear;
  • design and technology – visits to local factories/design centres e.g. Landrover;
  • ICT – its use in local shops and business (Landrover); and
  • RE – visits to local centres of worship, visits by local clergy.

 

We also have visits from our neighbourhood police officer and health workers. These visits support the personal, social and health education of our children. A local clergyman takes assembly on a termly basis.

 

Residential Trips

Children in the Juniors may have the opportunity to take part in a residential trip. Any such trip would take place during term time and be linked to our curriculum.

 

One of our residential trips enables children to take part in outdoor and adventure activities as part of their curriculum.  All specialist activities are undertaken with qualified instructors.  Children also experience self-reliance and team-building activities.

 

Further Information

Please refer to the Health and Safety of Children on Educational Visits good practice guide published by the DCSF for further information.  A copy is available in the staff room and should be consulted at the planning stage of any trip.

 

Review

An annual review is undertaken by the Educational Visits Co-ordinator of:

 

(a)        this policy; and

(b)        of the trips undertaken in the current and previous years that are likely to be repeated in future years.