Educational Visits and Visitors Policy
Philosophy Statement
Statement of Aims
Time Allocation
Planning
Equal Opportunities
Resources
Monitoring and Evaluation
Safety
Philosophy Statement
At Warren we believe that organised educational visits out of school as well as visitors into school can enrich both the experience and quality of learning of pupils in a variety of ways, providing valuable opportunities to enhance pupils' (and members of staff's) learning across the range of curriculum areas including personal and social development. Back to topStatement of Aims
- To carefully select and arrange appropriate and effective class visits to places outside the school and visits from outside organisations in order to enhance pupils' learning experience- To offer every pupil from Reception to Year 6 the opportunity to participate in a trip or a session offered by visitors to the school at least once every term.
- To ensure that principles of safe practice are adhered to in order to identify and minimise any risk to those taking part, through thorough planning and preparation. Back to top
Time Allocation
A visit or visitor should be organised for every child at least once a term. Back to topPlanning
Please see Educational Visits Procedure and Thurrock Code of Practice for Educational Visits. Provisional approval should be sought from the Headteacher and the EVC co-ordinator should be notified. School Governors/LEA approval needs to be given for overnight visits, visits with an adventurous activity, visits abroad, etc.The date should then be given to the Admin Assistant to enter into the diary.
A full costing must be carried out to cover the cost of any visitors/transport and admission (including the cost of any accompanying adults).
The leader should ensure that any coach/bus is Thurrock approved and that seat belts are fitted. When travelling by tube or train leaders should risk assess the route and then book/buy tickets in advance and seek assistance from the staff to ensure the smooth passage of the group.
The Trip Leader must carry out a preliminary visit within 6 weeks prior to the visit in order to make an up to date risk assessment for the total visit (including travelling and different parts of the visit) and provision for the children's learning and other needs (including, toilet arrangements, wet weather contingencies, etc).
The trip leader must submit a risk assessment form and full itinerary (including group leaders/members of staff accompanying visit) to the Educational Visits Co-ordinator at least one week before the visit following the appropriate procedure.
Any visit needs to be timetabled, the visit and activities organised throughout the day. e.g. what different groups are doing and who is to supervise and lead the group. The trip leader must explain to Parents/LSAs their roles for the day and give them a group list stating which children they will be with. Where possible parents should be grouped with their own children, and if/when this is not appropriate, other arrangements should be discussed with the parent prior to the final arrangements for the visit. All accompanying parents/LSAs must be given a clear outline of the itinerary and a copy of the risk assessment, adapted where appropriate.
Where children have SEN and or medical needs appropriate arrangements must be made (E.g. HI children, children on medication, children on the Autistic spectrum).
The trip leader should liase with the senior LSA, Head/Deputy, Cook at least one week before the trip, in order to ensure that it is clear who will be absent from school for the visit.
Each visit or visitor must be carefully planned and researched and the learning objective(s) identified.
The trip leader should ensure that appropriate Ratio guidelines for group visits (excluding adventurous activities) are adhered to:
Foundation stage Aged 3-5 1:4
Year 1-2 Aged 5-8 1:6
Year 3-6 Aged 8-11 1:10
The trip leader should ensure that they are without a group in order that they can facilitate the running of the visit.
Any letters to parents/carers regarding visits/visitors should be given out three weeks prior to the visit/visitor date. The trip leader must seek written permission from parents/carers for all non-walking/ non-local trips, outlining the purpose, general itinerary of trip and any other relevant information. The letter must be given to the office via the EVC with a copy on disk in order that the standard permission slip is included. The permission slips (including emergency contact numbers) must be taken on the trip. Local 'walking trips' are covered by a 'blanket' consent slip, however ratios and guidelines must still be followed and parents/carers informed where possible.
All accompanying adults should be given a mobile telephone number for the trip leader who must ensure that their telephone is charged and turned on at all times. The trip leader should also carry change for pay-phone use in an emergency. The trip leader should ensure that all mobile telephone numbers for staff are given to the Head/Deputy and that they have the telephone number for the school and the Head/Deputy. In case of delays/emergency the trip leader should telephone the Head/Deputy and speak to them in person.
The trip leader should ensure that they are fully equipped on the day of the trip (see checklist for trips).
At the end of the visit, children should come back to the school building and dismissed in the normal way for those visits ending before the end of the day. Trip leaders organising visits outside school hours should make appropriate arrangements to ensure that children are able to return home safely.
Any volunteers should be thanked for accompanying visits. Back to top