• Christian Ethos Statement
• Admissions Policy
• Behaviour Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Curriculum Policy (including Special Needs and IT)
• PSHE and Citizenship Policy
• Educational Visits Policy
• Assessment Policy
• Child Protection Policy
• Safer Recruitment Policy
• First Aid Policy
• Disability and Non-Discrimination Policy
• Complaints Procedure

Educational Visits Policy

Heritage is committed to the broadening and enriching every child's educational experience through regular off-site visits. This policy explains the procedures that are followed and is written with reference DCSF guidance, Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits. All visits have an identifiable educational benefit.

An Educational Visits Co-ordinator (EVC) will be appointed. Currently the EVC is J Fletcher (Headteacher). All visits will be lead by a competent Group Leader and accompanying adults and will be based on the outcome of suitable and sufficient risk assessments.

Before a visit

• Staff wishing to plan and undertake a visit should ask the EVC for permission to plan the visit.
• Once granted, the Group Leader must ensure that the visit is carefully planned and risk assessed, including an exploratory visit when appropriate, and submit details of the visit to the EVC using forms EV1 and 2, which are in the office.
• The EVC will ensure that the visit complies with the school's guidelines for visits, check all visit details are completed and all requirements have been undertaken before granting final permission for a visit to go ahead.
• Parents/guardians must be made fully aware of the nature, purpose and detail of the visit and have given their specific written permission not covered by the general permission parents give at the beginning of the year for local visit accessible by foot. A parental consent form (form EV3) is available in the office.
• Provision must be made for first aid and thought given to what to do in the event of an emergency.
• When planning the number of adults needed, the ratio of adults to children should usually be 1:8, but discretion may be exercised with older children (e.g. age 9 or 10 and up). Depending on circumstances, it may be appropriate to have 1:10 or 1:12 with older children. Police Criminal Record Bureau checks must be obtained for all adults who assume sole responsibility for care during a visit.
• The Group Leader should leave full details of the venue, coach company (where relevant) and other particulars in the school office and/or with the Headteacher. (Form EV4)
• The Group Leader must take the following information on the visit:
  • Emergency contact phone numbers for all children taking part and information about any dietary or medical requirements.
  • Contact details for the EVC/Headteacher so he can be informed of an emergengy as soon as possible.

During a visit

During a visit the Group Leader will:

• Be in overall charge of the group and retain ultimate responsibility for participants at all times.
• Ensure that the visit is as safe as practicable.
• Curtail the visit or stop the activity if the risk to the health and safety of any participant reaches an unacceptable level.
• Ensure that participants are aware of the need to be involved in the process of ongoing risk assessment, including the reporting of hazards and potential risks.
• Ensure accompanying adults undertake the roles and tasks given to them.

It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure that the risk to health and safety of participants is minimised by a process of continuous vigilance and ongoing risk assessment.

Emergency procedures

The following procedures will be followed in the event of an emergency:

• In the event of an incident resulting in harm to any attending child, staff member or volunteer, the school office or Headteacher must be contacted as soon as possible so he can decide:
  • If the incident is of a less serious nature then the next of kin or parents of those affected will be informed about what has happened and the action that has been taken so far.
  • If the incident is very serious (e.g. involves a disabling or life threatening accident or fatality) then the Headteacher will, in addition, inform an Education Officer at the Cambridgeshire County Council. The specified Officer is: Richard Gibbons (tel: 01223 717693; mobile: 07796 938184 - he is willing to take out of hours calls if the matter is urgent).

After the visit

After the visit the Group Leader will:

• Ensure that the visit is critically reviewed and that lessons (regarding educational content, practical management or safety) are shared with staff and the Headteacher to feed into the planning of future visits.
• Write a report if there was an incident (concerning a child's physical safety in particular). This should include the result of all investigations that may have been undertaken.