Schools

Safety for school off site visits

The safety of young people during school trips is of paramount concern and we follow strict guidelines for off site visits.

The Senior Adviser for Sport, Health, Well-being and Safety has the responsibility on behalf of the local education authority for monitoring schools' planning and preparation for visits, which include hazardous activities and residential trips abroad.

All documentation for such visits must satisfy the General Inspector for PE that they have been planned thoroughly and risk assessed.

When satisfied that all reasonable measures have been taken to protect the young people and adults concerned, the General Inspector for PE will agree that the visit can go ahead and will arrange appropriate insurance cover, where necessary.

The group leader will make sure that sufficient information is given so that parents are able to decide whether or not their child should go on the visit. Information is given in writing and parents would be invited to any briefing sessions.

The group leader will also let parents know how they can prepare their child for the visit. The children will also be made aware of their responsibilities and how they should conduct themselves.

Before the visit parents will be asked to:

Provide the group leader with an emergency contact number(s)
Sign the school consent form. Before signing the form, it is important that parents are made aware of the hazardous activities they are consenting to
Give the group leader information about their child's emotional, psychological and physical health that might be relevant. There is a section for this on the consent form