Education Beyond the Classroom BA Hons Education Studies

School in the Park

•Working in small groups and discuss what you found in the article.

• Put your thoughts on post it notes on the flip chart paper provided • Be prepared to share these thoughts and

ideas with the other groups.

Session Objectives

• Balancing risk and benefits • Have a basic understanding of the health

and safety considerations when planning a trip• Consider planning for emergencies • Understand the organisations

responsibilities for obtaining parental consent and guidance

Challenges

•What are the challenges of planning a trip? • Consider the following:-• Health and Safety issues • Resources • Documentation • Emergency procedures

Guidance and Safety Issues

• http://www.teachersmedia.co.uk/videos/safe-school-trips

•What guidance is recommended?

Planning

• Once you have planned the visit the group leader/ trip organiser should take the following in to account:-

• Type of visit

• Location routes of transport

Planning

• Competence of staff

• Staff ratios

• Special needs

• Emergency procedures

Other Considerations

• Communication arrangements • Contingency measures for enforced

change of plan or late return • Information to parents • Preparing pupils • Emergency arrangements • Arrangements for sending pupils home

early

Approval for Visits

•What approval do you need for your visit? • Consider your individual school/college

policy which should include the following:- • Employers should have a written

procedure for arranging visits which teachers should follow.• This will normally include procedures for

the approval of certain types of visit.

Approval for Visits

• Although the employer is responsible for health and safety, decisions about visits are usually delegated to the head teacher.

• The head teacher’s agreement must be

obtained before a visit takes place.

LEA Responsibility

• Provide written guidelines for governors, head teachers and teachers including advice on risk assessment.• Assess proposals for certain types of visit

(+SEN pupils and Looked after children).• Ensure training needs have been

addressed.•Maintain appropriate insurance cover.

Health and Safety

• Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 employers are responsible for the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees.

(for us employees = pupils & staff).

• Employers are also under a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of anyone else on the premises or anyone who may be affected by their activities. This includes participants in off-site visits. (dfes 2008)

Flow chart for trip planning

Assess Risk

• Assess the risks of activities.

• Introduce measures to control those risks.• Tell their employees (staff\pupils) about these

measures.

• Inform the employer of any serious risks.• Have in place procedures to monitor and

review safety during off-site visits and activities.

Risk Assessment

Needs to be carried out well in advance of the trip considerations must include-

• What are the hazards?• Who might be affected by them?• What safety measures need to be in place to• Reduce risks to an acceptable level?• Can the group leader put the safety measures in

place?• What steps will be taken in an emergency?

Show risk assessment template

Harlow Carr example

Responsibility of pupils

•What are your expectations of pupils on the trip?

• Devise a code of conduct for your pupils

Case Study

• Read the case study

•What would you have done? • Does this story connect with your own

experiences? • Does it challenge you in any way? • How could the trip continue?

References

•www.dfes.co.uk •www.teachersmedia.co.uk •www.hse.gov.uk • Trant. J. (2010) The Essential Guide to

Successful School Trips

Session Objectives

• Balancing risk and benefits • Have a basic understanding of the health

and safety considerations when planning a trip• Consider planning for emergencies • Understand the organisations

responsibilities for obtaining parental consent and guidance

Follow up activity Individually:• Write a 200 word reflection on ATL Guidelines for

planning a trip. Post this on the forum in MOODLE

In your Group:• Consider the ‘risks’ that could occur on your trip.• Produce a flow chart of the steps you need to plan for

your trip.

• Carry out a virtual pre-visit to your trip.• Meet at 9am next Thursday as a group to list the risks.