Educational Visits Policy

Learning Outside the Classroom

Every young person should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development, whatever their age, ability or circumstances.

These often the most memorable learning experiences, help us to make sense of the world around us by making links between feelings and learning. They allow us to transfer learning experienced outside the classroom and visa versa.

Learning outside the classroom is about raising achievement through an organised, powerful approach to learning in which direct experience is of prime importance. This is not only about what we learn but importantly how and when we learn.

Platt Primary school has formally adopted, through its Governing Body, the Kent Regulations and Guidance for the Safe Practice of Offsite Visits/Educational Visits. Further school procedures have been agreed with the Governing Body to ensure that this policy is adhered to.

Kent Regulations and Guidance for the Safe Practice of Offsite Visits/Educational Visits are available to view at -
Aims and purposes of Educational Visits

The school has a strong commitment to the added value of learning outside the classroom, some of which takes place beyond the statutory school day and beyond the school premises.

Each year the school will arrange a number of educational visits and activities that take place off the school site and/or out of school hours, which support the aims of the school;

• Develop confident, secure and happy children.

• Provide a fresh, vibrant and active curriculum that models and inspires enthusiastic lifelong learners.

• Track the progress and attainment of all pupils; celebrate and value their successes.

• Foster love and compassion for each other and the wider community.

• Nurture trust, promote self-discipline and respect within a safe environment

The range of opportunities and activities are outlined in the school prospectus along with the criteria by which pupils are able to access them and the methods by which parents will be notified and asked for their consent.

The Governing Body has given its approval to the following types of activities being arranged in support of the educational aims of the school:
• Out of hours clubs (choir, orchestra, art, sports, homework, etc)
• School teams
• Regular nearby visits (memorial hall, Borough Green, Stonehouse Field, Platt Woods and St Mary’s Church)
• Day visits for particular year groups
• Residential visits Y5/6
• Daytrip to France Y4
• Adventurous activities, which might be classed as higher risk. Y5/6

Approval Procedure and Consent
The Headteacher has nominated a teacher as per DCSF Guidance as the Educational Visits Co-ordinator (EVC) and the Governing Body has approved this appointment. The Governing Body has delegated the consideration and approval of educational visits and other offsite activities to the Curriculum and Progress committee and has nominated the Headteacher as signatories, as necessary, on behalf of the Governing Body.

Before a visit is advertised to parents the Headteacher, the EVC and Governors must approve the initial plan.

Visits that include adventurous activities and/ or a residential element will require approval by the Local Authority via the on-line Visit Notification and Approval system. ‘e-Go’ Usernames and Passwords will be managed by the EVC or Headteacher.

Day visits that do not include adventurous activities but involve groups travelling outside the County of Kent will be registered (Notification) on the above system (e-Go)

Where external contractors are involved in organising all or part of the visit the contract will be made with the school on behalf of the pupils. All payments for the visit will be made through the school’s accounts.

For out of hours clubs, school teams and nearby visits, parents will be asked to sign a general letter of consent for participation in these activities when their son/daughter enters the school. Parents will be given the timetable for the activities that pupils are involved in and will be informed if an activity has to be cancelled.

For any visit lasting a day or more, parents will be asked to sign a letter, which consents to their son/daughter taking part. This will include a separate medical consent form. The school has a standard model letter, which should be used for this purpose.

Staffing
The school recognises the key role of accompanying staff in ensuring the highest standards of learning, challenge and safety on a school visit.

Teachers and other staff are encouraged and supported to develop their abilities in organising and managing pupils’ learning in a variety of environments through induction, apprenticeship and training. The selection of staff for educational visits will be a key priority in the initial approval of any proposed visit.

The school will ensure that CRB screening is available for volunteer adults assisting with educational activities and visits.

On residential visits the gender of the staff responsible for supervision and pastoral care will reflect the gender of the pupils

The staff:pupil ratios will not exceed those as recommended by the Local Authority.

The school does not support additional people accompanying educational visits who are not pupils at the school or part of the agreed staff complement. This may include family members accompanying visits if the Governing Body is not satisfied that there is an educational benefit for the pupils.

The appointed Visit Leader will be fully supported in the tasks required to arrange the visit. This will include, as necessary, making time or finances available to conduct an exploratory visit, briefing teachers and other staff, accessing training courses, reviewing and evaluating the visit or identifying time when the leader and EVC might work in partnership to undertake planning and risk assessments.

The Expectations of Pupils and Parents
The school has a clear code of conduct for school visits based on the school’s ‘Behaviour Policy’. This code of conduct will be part of the conditions of booking by the parents, and will include guidance in relation to the potential of withdrawal of a pupil prior to and during the visit if such conduct would have led to a fixed term exclusion from school.

Emergency Procedures
The school will appoint a member of the SMT as the emergency school contact for each visit. All major incidents should immediately be related to this person, especially those involving injury or that might attract media attention.

The Visit Leader will leave full details of all pupils and accompanying adults on the visit with the emergency school contact, including the home contact details of parents/guardians and next-of-kin, as appropriate.

The Visit Leader will take with them a copy of the schools (linked to KCC) Major Incident Procedures, along with the contact details of the appointed emergency school contacts.

All incidents and accidents occurring on a visit will be reported back through the school systems. The Outdoor Education Unit should also be advised of any serious incidents or accidents.

The school will have emergency funding available to support the Visit Leader in any emergency that occurs in the UK or abroad.

Evaluation
All visits will be evaluated by the Visit Leader with the EVC.

The EVC will ensure that any risk assessments for the visits or activities are evaluated and/or modified as a result of findings or feedback from the visit.

The Visit Leader is responsible for presenting a financial account for the visit which will be audited as part of the school’s procedures.

Policy agreed by: Premises Committee
Date: 8th June 2010

Copyright 2011 - Platt Primary School.