FEATURE: SCHOOL TRIPS
New Government guidelines ease the admin burden for teachers planning school trips
Gill Harvey
planning process as straightforward and as stress free as possible. The latest guidelines clearly set out the legal
requirements and point out ways to make the planning process much simpler and school trips safer and more educationally rewarding. The Council for Learning Outside of the Classroom and the School Travel Forum work together to promote the learning and personal development benefits that school trips provide, whilst also supporting teachers and schools in their endeavours to deliver these opportunities to their students. According to Gill Harvey, CEO of The School
N
ew health and safety guidance from The Department for Education aims to reduce
red tape for teachers organising school trips. Teachers’ fears over time-consuming paperwork and ensuring correct legal compliance is stifling some schools’ plans to offer opportunities for pupils to learn outside of the classroom, according to recent media reports.
The School Travel Forum (STF), which is the
awarding body of the Learning Outside of the Classroom Quality Badge (LOtC QB) a kitemark recommended in the latest government advice for teachers and educational visits coordinators, here outlines why the new guidelines are a positive step forward and offers tips on how to make the
Travel Forum: “The educational benefits of providing LOtC opportunities are well-known by teachers and it’s a shame that perceptions over the amount of paperwork are deterring some teachers from taking their students on trips. Our role is to make sure that everyone in education is aware of how much easier choosing an STF assured provider makes the whole process. From offering 24/7 expert support in the event of emergency, to guaranteed financial protection and taking care of all risk assessments and working to maximise the educational value of each trip, our members are determined to reassure and support school trip organisers at every step of the way.”
Understanding the new guidelines The comprehensive Government guidelines outline the differences between low-risk, routine visits that are part of the curriculum and trips requiring risk assessment and extra planning that
38
www.education-today.co.uk
are not covered by current policies. Other areas covered include: • When to get consent from parents • Using outside organisations • Planning Adventure Activities – caving, climbing, trekking and watersports
• Trips Abroad The guidance also offers advice on what to do
in an emergency and where to find additional help when planning trips. In addition, the new advisory document recommends that every school should appoint an Educational Visits Co-ordinator. A key part of the guidance specifies
requirements for ensuring that outside organisations have appropriate safety standards and liability insurance and strongly recommend that schools ensure that providers have the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (LOtC QB). The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom awards the LOtC QB to organisations which meet nationally recognised standards and schools can check if an organisation holds the LOtC Quality Badge by visiting
https://www.lotc.org.uk/lotc-accreditations/lotc- quality-badge/ or looking for this logo on their websites.
Why trust the LOtC Quality Badge? The LOtC Quality Badge means that the holder has passed a robust assessment designed to ensure that they are meeting schools' learning and risk management needs. This nationally recognised indicator of good quality educational provision combines the essential elements of
January 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58
