Trips & Visits Policy
Introduction
The benefits of school trips are enormous. It is the belief of the school that all staff should be encouraged to organize and take pupils on school trips in order to broaden the curriculum beyond the boundaries of the school and to foster an enquiring mind and a spirit of wonder about the outside world.
School trips should be enjoyable learning experiences for all those involved. It is the policy of the school to support such trips, to ensure their success and to support the members of staff organising such trips.This policy seeks to inform teachers who take part in or lead school trips to ensure their safety and that of their pupils.
‘Teachers in charge of pupils during a visit have duty of care to make sure that the pupils are safe and healthy. They also have a common law duty to act as a reasonably prudent parent would. Teachers should not hesitate to act in an emergency and to take life saving action in an extreme situation.’ (DFES Publication ‘Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits’)
Responsibilities
The Governing body has ultimate responsibility for ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of anyone on a school trip. The nominated governor for Health and Safety is Mr Somers. The Head ensures that the visits comply with the requirements of the Governors.
The Assistant Head (Pastoral & Co-curricular) is the school’s Educational Visits Coordinator and acts as the advisor to group leaders and staff on trips, to parents and pupils and to the Head and the Governing body.
The Group Leader has overall responsibility for the supervision, conduct and health and safety of pupils’ on trips. The procedure for organising a trip is outlined in Appendix 1.
Teachers must do their best to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the group by following the instructions of the group leader. They should act as any reasonable parent would in the circumstances and take reasonable steps to avoid exposing pupils to dangers that are foreseeable and beyond those that the pupils can reasonably be expected to cope with.
They should consider stopping the visit or the activity and notify the group leader if they feel there is an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of the pupils in their charge.
Physical/Medical Considerations:
When organising or taking a trip or visit it is important to factor in any medical or physical considerations which may be required for the students involved. St Andrew’s Lodge are able to provide details help and support in this regard and should be consulted before arranging and unusual or residential trip to seek advice.
Risk Assessment
The aim of the risk assessment is to prevent or reduce risk that may be encountered on the trip. If risks cannot be contained then the trip must not take place.
Risk assessments will usually be carried out by the group leader and must be passed to the Deputy Head (EVC) on completion. Where an outside company is used to provide activities or part of the itinerary then that provider should supply a risk assessment to supplement the group leader’s risk assessment.
Risk Assessment Guidance:
LIKELIHOOD THAT HARM WILL OCCUR RATING WITH EXISTING CONTROLS IN PLACE |
|
|
Likelihood that Harm will occur | Criteria | Rating Value |
Most unlikely | Probability close to Zero | 1 |
Unlikely | Harm conceivable | 2 |
Likely | High possibility of harm | 3 |
Most Likely | Harm probable | 4 |
Severity of Injury Rating with existing controls in place |
|
|
Severity of Injury | Criteria | Rating Value |
Trivial | Injuries that could be treated by Local First Alders from a First Aid box | 1 |
Slight | Injuries that may require more expert treatment administered at a Medical Centre or Outpatients, including diarrhoea and vomiting | 2 |
Serious | Injuries involving urgent Hospital Treatment and disease. | 3 |
Major | Injuries involving major trauma or death or diseases with high mortality rate | 4 |
RISK RATING = LIKELIHOOD RATING X SEVERITY RATING
Risk RATING | Action Required |
1 or 2 | Controls adequate |
3 or 4 | Review controls and improve if possible |
6 or 8 | Action Required to reduce risk |
9,12 or 16 | Urgent action required. Consider eliminating/ substituting activity. |
Exemplar Risk Assessments:
Activity or Task | Potential Hazard | No at Risk | Existing Controls | Likelihood | Severity | Risk | Remarks/Further Control Measures/ Action plan |
Travel | As on Travel SOPs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seminars | Nil |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field work | Injury on ride | 24 | As per Disneyland, Paris controls | 1 | 4 max | 4 max | Instruct students on DP's procedures for injury; issue LEW/AML 'phone numbers. |
Hotel accommodation | Silly behaviour | 22 | LEW/AML little sleep | 1 | 3 max | 3 max | Fierce instructions to students; high profile adult presence. |
Alcohol | Illness/injury while drunk | 22 | No alcohol in hotel allowed; photo ID needed to purchase in Parks | 1 | 3 max | 3 max | LEW/AML vigilance. |
Coach /Minibus | Accident in transit | All | Instruct children; to wear seat belts after every stop, do not lean out of windows. No standing or walking in the aisles when moving. | 1 | 4 max | 4 | For children under 14 it is the drivers responsibility to ensure that seat belts are worn. In the event of an accident; remove passengers to a place of safety as necessary |
| Accident at a stop/Service Station | All | Supervise mounting/ dismounting from vehicle. Park with the passenger sliding door on pavement side. | 1 | 4 max | 4 | Continental travel warn/ remind pupils that traffic will approach fro the left. |
| Loose kit and equipment | All | Ensure luggage is secured under seats. Small bags on laps are acceptable. Provide bin bags for Rubbish | 1 | 1 | 1 | Cans and bottles can be a hazard around drivers feet |
| Delay | All | Contact school | 0 | 0 | 0 | Take appropriate contact numbers Full details on the reverse of the drivers log. |
| Minor injury | All | First aid kit to be carried | 1 | 1 | 1 | Coach journeys; collect from St. Andrew's lodge. Minibus; To be checked weekly. Details of use to be recorded on drivers log. |
School minibus | Driver fatigue/ Illness | All | Guideline times; max 2hrs driving before taking a 15min stop | 1 | 4 max | 4 | Long journeys; consider using two Drivers/ Adults |
| Driver qualification | All | Minimum age 21. Driving test completed post 1998. Only drivers with D1 or D licence category can drive minibuses outside the UK. |
|
|
| Drivers must take a Minibus Driver assessment. Arranged through Training Officer. |
| Breakdown | All | Carry out drivers checks as detailed on Travel Log. AA card carried on the windscreen | 1 | 4 max | 4 | Check Drivers log and fill in clearly and accurately before leaving. Full details of breakdown service/ action is on the reverse of the drivers log. |
| Overload | All | Normal use; 17 passengers plus suitcase/ holdall acceptable | 1 | 4 max | 4 | If roof racks are to be used check max. load capacity with Facilities Manager. |
Private use | Insurance | All | Check Insurance/ Permitted drivers with Bursar's office before use. |
|
|
| Follow risk assessment procedure as above on all occasions |
The general principle is that details of what do in non emergency situations/minibus admin/access to fuel cards and keys etc. are recorded on the Drivers log. Any problems encountered in transit should be recorded on the Driver's log or reported direct to the Bursar's office. Difficulties or queries not covered by the above should be addressed to the Bursary.
Assistant Head (Pastoral & Co-curricular)
November 2014
Next Review: November 2015