OUTDOOR EDUCATION, VISITS AND OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES POLICY

Transcription

1 OUTDOOR EDUCATION, VISITS AND OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES POLICY This policy covers all off-site visits and activities organised through the school and for which the Governing Body and Headteacher are responsible. The Governing Body endorses the Hampshire County Council document Offsite activities and educational visits for the management of visits and off-site activities. This sets out in detail the health and safety aspects of visits and the risk assessments needed to be undertaken. The Governing Body through the Headteacher ensures that all relevant safeguarding documentation has been checked before a visit is undertaken. At St. James CofE Primary we ensure that every pupil is entitled to and has access to a wide range of educational experiences. We recognise the significant educational value of visits and activities which take place away from the immediate school environment. Visits and off-site activities support, enrich and extend the curriculum in many areas of the curriculum. Visits and off-site activities encourage co-operation, team work and the application of problem solving skills and develop independence and self-confidence. Residential opportunities, physical challenge and adventure can have a particular part to play in the development of personal and social qualities of all young people. Outdoor education helps young people to be physically active and to understand how to assess and manage risks. We make use of the outdoor environment as part of our healthy schools work. All visits will be safe, well managed and educationally or socially beneficial. Health and Safety This policy should be read in conjunction with the Health and Safety Policy. All outdoor activities and visits will be risk assessed. All relevant safeguarding checks will be made. Responsibilities: 1

2 Headteacher: The headteacher will: Ensure all visits and off-site activities are relevant to the work in the class Approve all visits and activities, based on compliance with the authority and school health and safety policy. Ensure that all visits are undertaken with reference to the HCC guidance and recognised good practice. Ensure off-site programmes are led by competent staff who are CRB checked, appropriately experienced to assess the risks, manage the activity and manage the specific group. Ensure the staffing ratio is suitable for each visit. Ensure the visit is well planned. Require the risk assessment to be completed. Approve all visits. Report the visits to the Governors. The Party Leader The party leader will: Have overall responsibility for the supervision and conduct of the visit or activity. Obtain the Headteacher s, (or deputy) approval before any off-site visit or activity takes place. Follow the policy and procedures set out in the Authority handbook. Assess the risks involved and provide a risk assessment. Plan the visit to ensure all procedures have been followed completing the planning checklist. Ensure all additional adults are fully informed and aware of all risks. Inform parents fully about the visit and gain their consent. Reassess risks while the visit or activity takes place. Ensure there is a contingency plan should a significant change to the programme be necessary Ensure the police are informed immediately of any untoward situation and that contact is made with the Headteacher to inform her of the incident. Additional adults Additional adults: Members of staff, volunteers and parent helpers will assist the party leader in ensuring the health, safety and welfare of young people on the visit. Be clear about their roles and responsibilities whilst taking part in a visit or activity. Hold an up to date CRB check before taking part in any supervisory activity. Ensure all instructions from the group leader are followed. Parents 2

3 Parents will need to decide whether a visit or off-site activity is suitable for their child. If they feel it is not, it is important that they discuss the decision with the class teacher or the Headteacher. Parents need to give permission for their child to take part in the visit or off-site activity By giving permission parents are supporting the application of the school s code of conduct. Parents must inform the party leader about any medical, psychological or physical condition which may be relevant to the visit. Parents need to provide an emergency contact number. Parents need to sign the consent form. Parents need to pay for the visit or activity or discuss any difficulties with the Headteacher. Training and Information A copy of the policy and associated school procedures will be made available to all staff within the school and to parents and additional adults. The Headteacher will make any relevant additional information available to staff to ensure the safe management of off-site activities. Equal Opportunities School visits are part of the curriculum and therefore every child must have access to the visit. There will normally be a charge for the visit or off-site activity. No child will be excluded if the parent is unable to pay the charge. Parents will be advised to talk to the Headteacher if there is a problem with payment. Arrangements for staggered payments can be made or the charge can be dropped if appropriate. All parents will be expected to pay for the trip unless arrangements have been made. The trip may be cancelled if payments are not made. This policy takes into account the school s equal opportunities policy. Date agreed by FGB.. Date of next review Last updated Oct

4 Checklist for Taking Pupils Off-site (To be completed by the Leader of the visit) 1. Decide as a year team the venue and how it fits into the topic plan. 2. Ensure the trip is to be undertaken in discussion with the Educational Visits Coordinator within the school. 3. Cost the trip and discuss it with the Headteacher. 4. Draft a letter to parents. Show it to the Headteacher or the Educational Visits Coordinator. 5. Agree the cash collection with the Office. 6. At least one week prior to the outing give group lists to the Office. 7. On the day: Give parent helper details and emergency numbers. Collect first aid kits, asthma inhalers/epipens and free school lunches from the Office. Ensure that you have a copy of the Emergency Procedure. If there is more than one coach, number the coaches with the assistance of the Office staff. Let the Office staff know which children are on which coach. When on the coach, ensure that all children are wearing seat belts. Ensure no child is sitting in the front seats, middle back seats or the seat adjacent to the emergency door. Ensure that children remain seated when the coach is moving. Ensure that children are checked and counted regularly. Please hand this list in to the Office on your return. Please jot down any problems with the outing such as uncooperative drivers, disappointing venue etc. Also jot down any positive comments! 4

5 ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AF- FECTING AN OFF-SITE VISIT The following suggestions are intended as a guide to enable staff, at times of stress, to follow a course of action covering the main basic priorities. Obviously, no such list will ever be complete and there will be other necessary actions, depending on the situation. However, it is important that the relevant information is quickly and easily available, whatever the time of day or night. a) The staff in charge of any venture must have lists of names, telephone numbers and addresses of next of kin of all members of the party, and always carry a mobile phone or coins for the telephone. It may be possible to reverse charges but this is unsatisfactory and time consuming. b) Similar lists to those above, complete with next of kin contact addresses and telephone numbers, along with any relevant consent forms, must be readily available at the home establishment. These must include any last minute amendments. 5

6 6

7 Action to be taken by the Party Leader (or by other Party Staff) in the event of a a) Assess the situation serious accident/incident b) Protect the party from further injury or danger c) Render first aid or other service as appropriate d) Call Rescue Services (999) and/or Police, as appropriate State the nature of the emergency Give your name and address/location and telephone number, followed by: o The location of the incident o The nature of the incident o The names of the individuals involved o The condition of those involved and where they are located e) Phone base contact person (as soon as possible) f) It is probable that both staff and students will be in a state of shock, therefore: Remove remainder of the party to some secure accommodation and place under the care of a member of staff able to protect them from the attention of the press/media If necessary, request the Police to assist Calm and comfort young persons and arrange for their evacuation. g) Do not make any statements to press/media or allow anyone else to make statements other than expressions of sympathy. h) Do not allow party members to telephone home until contact has been made with the Authority. i) Retain all equipment involved in an unaltered condition. j) Do not allow anyone to see any party member without an independent witness being present. k) No-one, unless they are in a relevant official capacity, has the right to see anyone who does not wish to see them. l) Refer all press/media to Hampshire Media Office. Note: This information is available on a laminated card given to every party leader. Action to be taken by the Base Contact Person when contacted by the Party Leader 7

8 1. Take down a contact telephone number for the leader and the group. Listen carefully and write down: a) What happened; b) To whom; c) Where; d) When; e) What has happened since the incident. 2. If the contact person is not the Headteacher they must inform the Headteacher or a senior member of staff of the relevant details as soon as possible. 3. Inform the Authority using the Authority emergency telephone number. 4. Not only must the parents of any injured children be notified as a priority, but arrangements should be made for all parents to be contacted regarding the safety of their particular children. 5. If necessary, assistance should be given to transport parents to their injured child if he/she is hospitalised. 6. If necessary, an incident centre should be established as soon as possible. Each school should have a planned location for this eventuality. The Base Contact Person must have by their phone: i. Lists of all party member (including adults), and the address and telephone number of their next of kin; ii. Complete details of the itinerary; iii. Home/contact telephone numbers of senior establishment staff. Note: This information is available on a laminated card held by every Base Contact person. 8