1. Introduction

This document has been created with consideration to the Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel National Guidance available at https://oeapng.info

2. Aims & Principles

Gloucester House recognises that off site visits are an important part of children’s learning experience, providing a broad and varied context for learning and adding interest and fun to the curriculum.

The aim of this policy is to ensure that visits are clearly linked to the overall curriculum planning within Gloucester House and are carried out in as safe and as effective way as possible.

The term ‘Off-Site Visits’ in this procedure refers to any activity that takes place away from Gloucester House for the whole, or part of a day. This includes everything from local trips to residential off-site learning experiences. At Gloucester House we use the following definitions:

Local Trips

These are trips in the immediate vicinity of Gloucester House and are usually familiar locations to the pupils, for example the library, shop or park. These are often regular (sometimes weekly) aspects of the curriculum. Local Trips have the following principles:

– The destination is less than 1 mile from Gloucester House

– The trip is less than 2 hours in duration

As a general principle most local trips are no more than 10-15 minutes from the site.

For Local Trips, we obtain the parents/carers permission and consent as part of the initial admission process. We undertake an initial risk assessment and this is filed in the child’s PHP file. Subsequent visits are then covered under the permission/consent received from the parent/carer.

Off-Site Visits

These incorporate any other visits off-site. Often these are ‘one-off’ visits undertaken by the pupils such as a visit to the Science Museum as part of their topic in class. For off-site visits parents and carers receive information about the trip, including the educational rationale, and are required to give specific permission for their child to attend.

Off-Site visits will be generally linked to the curriculum and reward trips. These should be generally planned and thought about well in advance and be in the calendar so that pupils, staff and families are prepared. Reward trips for magic squares may need to be more flexible but staff will be aware when these are likely to be and can plan accordingly.

3. Responsibilities

The class teachers and PSWs will:

  • Ensure that staff are trained in Risk Assessment as part of the induction procedure.
  • Ensure that the trip leader, who has been assigned to lead the trip, has carried out risk assessments prior to a visit taking place is supported in this process if required.
  • Ensure that all issues identified through exploratory visits and knowledge of the children have been satisfactorily resolved by the group leader within the risk assessment.
  • Ensure that all parts of the risk assessment are completed including pupil’s PHP information and how risks and triggers will be mitigated.
  • Ensure that the accreditation or verification of any providers of activity sessions has been checked, (i.e. a proforma letter e.g. sports centre)
  • Keep records of individual visits including reports of accidents and ‘near misses’.

On the day of the trip

Staff will ensure:

  • A ‘Trips & Visits- On-the-day form’ is completed.
  • Pupils are in their school uniform and wearing appropriate clothing to attend the trip including footwear.
  • Ensure that the member of staff attending the trip has their ID badge and wears it in public.
  • Ensure that pupils are regulated and safe to attend the trip.

Clinical lead and Headteacher will:

  • Ensure that the trip is appropriate and will approve the trip.
  • Ensure that forms are completed to the expected standard.
  • Ensure that a pupil is regulated enough to attend the trip.