Noticeboard: School Visits

Click here to read full details of Year 2 trip to Colne Sports Festival, on Wednesday, 5th March, 2008.

Policy researched and written by Tony Coppin - January, 2004

Rationale

Every year many visits are made from Elmstead Primary School for a wide variety of purposes. These visits range from a half-hour walk around the village to a four night residential trip. The range of activities is similarly wide. The purpose of this policy and accompanying information is to ensure that every trip made from this school combines the safest possible environment for children and the greatest possible educational benefit, both in terms of the National Curriculum and in personal and social development.

Aims

To provide a framework whereby trips of all kinds may be planned, costed and undertaken
To draw attention to the Essex County Council Health and Safety at Work Code of Practice no. 28, Safe Practice on Educational, Adventurous and Recreational Visits, April 2003, and its use when undertaking trips
To set out a series of steps to be followed when planning a trip
To ensure that all trips are of the maximum benefit to children's education in its widest sense

Objectives

To develop the child's knowledge, skills and understanding of the wider world outside school and home
To emphasise links between various areas of the curriculum, and to put into practice skills learnt in the classroom
To develop the child's confidence in encountering unfamiliar situations
To develop the child's ability to work with a group, to follow instructions and to complete tasks in co-operation with others
To ensure that children learn the importance of considering the feelings and needs of others
To nurture self-reliance, autonomy and leadership

Children's Experiences

As the child moves through the school visits will be arranged to complement the breadth of the curriculum and to emphasise aspects of the programme of study which lend themselves to such an approach. Within the constraints of the various codes of practice, children will be encouraged to be increasingly self-reliant; for instance, children in Key Stage 1 will look after their own sandwich box and coat, while children on the Year 6 residential trip will have sole responsibility for aspects such as personal hygiene and looking after personal possessions.

Management

Teaching Staff are responsible for preliminary planning of trips and any plans must be discussed with the Headteacher at an early stage. The Headteacher has overall responsibility for the suitability and safety of trips, and the Governing Body has ultimate responsibility for the safety of pupils and staff.

Equal Opportunities

All trips will, wherever possible, be accessible to all children in the class, enabling them to gain confidence, acquire skills and build positive experiences.

Special Educational Needs

Educational visits should fulfil the needs of all children. Children with IEPs may need additional supervision or support whilst on a visit and this will be provided if possible.

Implementation

Teachers must follow the Guidelines for Educational Visits which accompany this policy. They must also familiarise themselves with the relevant sections of the Essex County Council Health and Safety at Work Code of Practice No 28, 'Safe Practice on Educational, Adventurous and Recreational Visits', April 2003.
(A copy is kept in the Adminstrator's Office).

Click here for Guidelines for Planning an Educational Visit - (PDF)