Emily Fox

Unit 3.
Task 5. Trips and Visits.

An educational visit is deemed as being an organised lesson or event outside of

the school grounds where school staff have ultimate responsibility.
These can fit into three categories:
1. Regular educational visits – i.e. swimming.
2. Day educational visits – i.e. parks, galleries, museums.
3. Residential educational visits – i.e. a trip that involves an overnight stay.

All school trips need to be approved by the Educational Visit Co-ordinator (EVC)
before they are organised. Once approved there needs to be a visit from a visit
organiser.

The Visit Organiser.

This person needs to be aware of each educational visit. They are also
responsible for:
-Obtaining coach quotations and checking safety aspects of transport i.e.
seatbelts.
-Working out the costings per pupil.
-Writing letters to parents and location.
-Undertaking any necessary preview visits.
-Liaising with staff who will be attending the visit and ensuring staff are aware of
the educational objectives.
-Appointing a visit leader.
-Completing a risk assessment.

The Visit Leader.

This person is in charge on the day/days of the educational visit. It is their
responsibility to:
-Seek and gain parental consent and contact telephone numbers for every child
attending the visit.
-Ensure there is sufficient staffing for the visit.
-Ensure pupils and adults are fully briefed about the visit including safety
information, meeting points and times, toilet facilities.
-Be the school's point of contact.
-Finalise pupil numbers and have written lists of all adults and children they are
responsible for.
-Ensure they have a first aid kit and first aider with them on the visit.
-Ensure they have appropriate clothing and equipment for the weather
conditions and activity. i.e. suncream, waterproofs etc.
-Be aware of any pupil with special dietary/medical requirements.
-Ensure any pupils with concerns are included in their group, not that of a parent
helper.
-Ensure they are aware of the risk assessment.
-Report back to the visit organiser and EVC of the success of the visit.

Risk Assessment.
In my setting, all risk assessments are completed online. These can be viewed
and updated at any time and each risk assessment is a working document.
All one day educational visits need to be approved by the school's Educational
Visit Co-ordinator.
All residential educational visits need to be approved by the Essex Central
Outdoor team.
The risk assessment is an important document and needs to be fully completed.

Staffing – Pupil:Teacher/Volunteer Ratio.

My setting follows the guidance as provided by DfES 'Health and Safety of
Pupils on Educational Visits – A Good Practice Guide (1998)'.
The guidance states:
“1 adult for every 6 pupils in school years 1 to 3”
“1 adult for every 10-15 pupils in school years 4-6”

Any volunteer helpers need to have a CRB enhanced check.

It is recommended that any parent helpers do not supervise their own child
whilst on a visit. (Unless they have been specifically assigned to a child- e.g. a
parent to a SEN child).