TollgatePrimary School

Educational Visits Policy

Rationale

The Governing Body of Tollgate Primary School believes that pupils benefit enormously from taking part in educational visits with their school. In particular, they have the opportunity to undergo experiences not available in the classroom and such visits help to develop pupil skills and confidence as well as enhancing their learning.

As a school we follow the DFE published guidance provided to the London Borough of Newham including SP54 (Generic Risk Assessment for Educational Visits) and the London Borough of Newham health and safety management system.

Purposes

Educational visits are an essential element of good primary practice.

Educational visits provide stimulus and support to work being covered as part of the school curriculum. It may be that a visit provides an effective stimulus at the start of a unit of work or alternatively teachers may decide to use an educational visit at any time during a topic to enhance and support the curriculum.

Wherever or whatever the venue, teachers should ensure that the educational benefits to the children are maximised.

Guidelines

The organisation of an educational visit is crucial to its success.

The following guidelines support the planning and implementation of educational visits organised at TollgatePrimary School.However no amount of planning can guarantee that a visit will be completely incidentfree, but following these planning procedures will reduce the number of accidents and lessen the seriousness of those that do happen.

  1. Each Year Group from Years should plan one educational visit per term.
  2. It is vital to allow sufficient time for planning and preparation.
  3. Year groups should verbally seek approval or suggestions from the EVC (Educational Visits Co-ordinator), a subject leader or a member of Senior Management Team(SMT) before undertaking a preliminary visit.
  1. All planned visits MUST begin with a preliminary visit undertaken by the Group Leader- A teacher. Your preliminary visit highlights any potential hazards that should be addressed on your risk assessment with the appropriate control measures(safety action) required (See GenericRisk Assessment to support this (Educational Visits)
  2. a website that list places that have received accreditation regarding learning outside the classroom.
  3. Order travel tickets two weeks prior to the visit. User Name- Tollgate106E13 Password-tollgate Once logged in click on ‘Create application’
  4. Organise additional adults.(One adult for every 10-15 children in years 4-6. One adult to 6 children in years 1-3.Nursery and Reception must have a higher ratio and take a First aider.)

For children under 5 a trained First Aider MUSTaccompany thegroup. For children between 5-8 years old OFSTED recommend that a trained First Aider should accompany the group.

  1. TWO teachers to accompanyvisits of groups over 20 children.
  2. Inform Parents and obtain consent forms.
  3. Free School Pack Lunches will be provided for all children
  4. Fully complete Risk Assessment Form(see attached).
  5. Give pre-visit briefings to staff/additional adults, parents and pupils.
  6. A School Incident Form must be completed if a medical incident (involving the Emergency Services or hospital) occurs on a visit. The form should be sent with a copy of the Risk Assessment and a record of the event.
  7. All children with epilepsy should be accompanied with an Epilepsy trained First Aider or a First Aider.

Residential Visits/Visits abroad

As above but additional hazards to consider and include on the Risk Assessment form are;

  1. Transport (alternative routes if public transport not available)
  2. Accommodation (fire, balconies, security etc)
  3. Consider hazards at each location to be visited (city centre,lake, beach, country/coastal walk, farm etc)
  4. For visits abroad consider the hazards specific to the country (contact Foreign Office)
  5. Activities undertaken ( rock climbing, swimming etc)
  6. Hazards during ‘informal activities’ ( evening,recreational activities)
  7. Changeable factors (weather)
  8. Appropriate Passport/Visas
  9. EHIC cards to cover medical treatment in EU countries
  10. Parent Consent Forms
  11. A trained First Aider MUST accompany the visit.

Monitoring

As a school we will internally monitor all visits through;

  1. The Educational Visits Co-ordinator(EVC) will check all Risk Assessment Forms.
  2. The EVC will take part in some visits and activities.
  3. The Educational Visits Co-ordinator will ask staff to complete an evaluation formwhere applicable (one every sixth visit).
  4. The EVC will monitor evaluation forms(see attached).
  5. The EVC/SMT will ensure that suitable training is available for all teaching staff yearly.
  6. EVC/SMT will provide further training for Group Leaders, NQTs where applicable.
  7. The EVC/SMT and Subject Leaders will monitor all school planning to ensure visits are included each term.
  8. Ensuring that emergencies and managing critical incidents on Educational Visits are included in the school Health and Safety Policy.
  9. EVC/SMT to ensure suitable adults as Group Leader, Parent Helpers and for First-Aid support.
  10. EVC to maintain and monitor Educational Visits file.
  11. EVC to ensure that the school follows the London Borough of Newham Guidelines when responding to an incident during an off-site visit(form A3)

Reviews

Updated in April 2015

To be reviewed in January 2016

Risk Assessment Form

Risk assessment is a legal requirement for all educational visits.A preliminary visit is essential prior to the visit. This completed form must be submitted to the Educational Visits Co-ordinator or SMT two weeks before the visit. A copy must be given to all adults taking part in the visit and the office on the actual day.

Place to be visited (name,address and telephone number) / Educational Value(how the visit fits in to your planning)Learning Objectives and planned activities
Proposed Date(s) and Time / Class(es) involved/Number of pupils
Date of preliminary visit
Name of adult who made PV(this person must go on the visit)
I have read the Educational Visits Policy / Supervision Ratio Two teachers for groups of over 20 -1 adult for every 10-15 children in years 4-6. 1 adult to 6 children in years 1-3(Nursery and Reception must have a higher ratio and take a First aider)
Visit date in school diary (tick when details are entered) / Letter sent to Parents (tick)
Cost (if applicable)
Named visit leader / Accompanying Adults and Contact Numbers
Is anyone on playground duty?(Arrange swaps) / Cook informed and packed lunches ordered (Cook’s signature)
Children with Particular Need / First Aid Arrangements
Intended Route, Mode of Transport and Itinerary
What are the hazards?(See Generic Risk Assessment guidance for some support) / Control Measures (Safety action required)
Plan B / EVC or SMT (signature)
Emergency Procedure
  • Call emergency services
  • Inform the school (Tel 020 7476 1848)
  • If a pupil or adult is taken ill or behaviour becomes unacceptable and cannot be controlled at any time after leaving school seek advice onmobile immediately and wait instruction from one of theschool management team.