Educational visits
We offer an educational visits advisory service to help ensure off-site educational activities are executed safely.
Provision of Employer Guidance
North Northamptonshire Council has formally adopted OEAP National Guidance as North Northamptonshire Employer Guidance. This guidance can be found on the OEAP website:
It is a legal expectation that employees should work within the requirements of their employer’s guidance; therefore North Northamptonshire Council employees should follow the requirements of OEAP National Guidance, as well as the requirements of this Policy Statement.
Where a North Northamptonshire Council employee commissions LOtC activity, they should ensure that such commissioned agent has either:
- adopted North Northamptonshire or OEAP National Guidance
Or - have systems and procedures in place where the standards are not less than those required by OEAP National Guidance.
Scope and Remit
The OEAP NG Status Remit and Rationale clarifies the range of employees whose work requires them to use the guidance. In summary, it applies to employees whose work involves any one of the following:
- direct supervision of young people undertaking experiences beyond the boundary of their normal operational base
- direct supervision of young people undertaking experiences that fall within the remit of Learning Outside the Classroom
- facilitating experiences for young people undertaking experiences beyond the boundary of their normal operational base
- deploying staff who will supervise or facilitate experiences of or for young people undertaking experiences beyond the boundary of their normal operational base
This applies regardless of whether or not the activities take place within or outside of normal working hours, including weekends and holiday periods.
For a more expansive explanation of legal expectations, all users of the guidance are strongly recommended to read the OEAP NG document: Underpinning Legal Framework and Duty of Care
Ensuring Understanding of Basic Requirements
As an employer, North Northamptonshire Council is required to ensure that its employees are provided with:
- appropriate guidance relating to visits and LOtC activity
- access to advice, support and further training from Advisers that have proven expertise and professional understanding of OEAP National Guidance, OEAP accredited training and expectations set by current good practice
- suitable systems and processes to ensure that those trained are kept updated
North Northamptonshire Council requires all Community and Voluntary Controlled schools and other Children’s Services establishments to:
- have in place a policy for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) that follows OEAP National Guidance
- secure the services of an Adviser who is a registered or accredited member of the Outdoor Education Advisers Panel to provide advice, support and approval for Category C visits
- Train staff to the following standards:
- OEAP accredited Educational Visit Coordinator (EVC) training - all North Northamptonshire Council Children’s Services establishments are required to have a current, trained EVC in post. This training is available through the Outdoor Education Advisory Panel (OEAP)
- OEAP accredited OEAP EVC training is valid for 3 years at which point it should be revalidated through the OEAP.
- Visit Leader (VL) Training – The completion of this training is recommended for all who lead Educational Visits. Currently, there is no revalidation requirement, however, to meet LOtC guidance requirements regarding leader competence, leaders must be current in their knowledge of expectations of good practice, so refresher training is strongly recommended.
Approval and Notification of Activities and Visits
OEAP National Guidance categorises visits as Standard and Enhanced – explanations of these categories can be found in the OEAP NG document- Risk Management – an overview
Standard visits are further classified as follows:
Category A visits
These visits are close to the school and done regularly involving environments known to the staff. It would include normal daily life activities.
Examples include walks and exploring the area near the school site, visits to the local church, library, school sporting fixtures and other regular non-complex activities. It can also include transport if needed.
Category B visits
These visits are to areas beyond the local area involving more complex environments and activity, and will typically be a one-off or irregular activity in the school year. The leaders will be approved to lead the visit by the EVC. There may be some specialist training attached to some activities in this area.
Examples include visits further afield, farm visits, local parks, museum visits, swimming lessons in offsite pools, zoo visits, sporting festivals and larger tournaments and some basic outdoor education activities.
Category C visits
Enhanced visits are also known as Category C visits and include residential visits, overseas visits and adventure activities.
It is not possible to provide a completely definitive activities list. Examples of activities include Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, outdoor adventure activities including hills and mountains, motorsports, adventures on water or field studies involving water.
North Northamptonshire Council delegates the responsibility for formal approval of category A and B visits to the Heads and Managers of Community and Voluntary Controlled schools and other Children’s Services establishments. It is a requirement of this policy that Heads and Managers carry out this function in accordance with OEAP National Guidance.
Category C visits should be approved by an Adviser who is an accredited member of the Outdoor Education Advisers Panel
Risk Management
As an employer, North Northamptonshire Council has a legal duty to ensure that risks are managed by requiring them to be reduced to an acceptable or tolerable level as elimination of risks may not be practicable. Risk Management is an essential component of both the EVC and Visit leader training courses.
The risk management of an activity should be informed by the benefits to be gained from participating. North Northamptonshire Council strongly recommends a Risk-Benefit Assessment approach, whereby the starting point for any risk assessment should be a consideration of the targeted benefits and learning outcomes.
This appreciation of the benefits to be gained through participating provides objectivity to a decision that any residual risk (i.e. the risk remaining after control measures have been put in place) is acceptable.
HSE endorse this approach through Principles of Sensible Risk Management and advocate that it is important that young people are exposed to well-managed risks so that they learn how to manage risk for themselves.
There is no legal or North Northamptonshire Council requirement to produce a risk assessment in a particular format, but there is a legal requirement for the process to be recorded and for suitable and sufficient control measures to be identified for any significant risks i.e. those that may cause serious harm to an individual, or harm several people.
Refer to the OEAP NG document: Risk Management - an overview
Emergency Planning and Critical Incident Support
A critical incident is an incident where any member of a group undertaking an off-site activity has: either suffered a life threatening injury or fatality, is at serious risk or has gone missing for a significant and unacceptable period.
As an employer, North Northamptonshire Council is committed to providing emergency planning procedures to support establishments in the event of a critical incident.
All schools are provided with 24-hour Limited critical incident cover at no charge. Schools can sign up to an SLA for Advanced response critical incident cover.
To activate support from North Northamptonshire Council, the following telephone numbers should be used:
Emergency Planning. Normal office hours: 01604 236844 Outside normal office hours: 07885 292851
These numbers should be carried by leaders at all times during an off-site activity but should only be used in the case of a genuine emergency. Under no circumstances should these numbers be given to young people or to their parents or guardians.
Refer to OEAP NG document: Emergencies and Critical Incidents – an overview
Monitoring
Each establishment should have a policy for Learning Outside the Classroom that clearly identifies the:
- monitoring role of the EVC, Head/Manager, other senior staff and the Governing Body
- monitoring role of the establishment’s adviser for Category C visits
- type of visits subject to EVC scrutiny
- arrangements for peer monitoring on a sample basis
- extent of sample monitoring through field observation by the EVC and/or Head/Manager
Monitoring of health and safety should be done in such a way that it is a positive experience for leaders, with supportive feedback to enable them to reflect upon and improve their practice. It can be integrated with appraisal and with the observation of teaching and learning - in this case outside the classroom.
North Northamptonshire Council will initiate regular Educational Visits Audits to monitor schools’ compliance with the requirements identified in sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 above.
Refer to OEAP NG document: Monitoring
Assessment of Leader Competence
OEAP National Guidance provides clear advice regarding the assessment of leader competence. It is an expectation of North Northamptonshire Council policy that all Visit leaders and their assistants in Community and Voluntary Controlled schools and other Children’s Services establishments will have been assessed as competent to undertake such responsibilities in line with the LOtC guidance.
Refer to OEAP NG document: Approval of Leaders
Role-specific Requirements and Recommendations
OEAP National Guidance sets out clear and detailed responsibilities and functions of specific roles that relate to roles to be found within North Northamptonshire Council management structures. These are:
- Director of Children’s Services
- Lead Member(s) for Children’s Services
- Adviser (other than an OEA) including Health and Safety Adviser
Refer to individual OEAP NG documents headed as above.
OEAP National Guidance sets out clear and detailed responsibilities and functions of specific roles that relate to roles to be found within most Children’s Services establishments. These are:
- Member of Board of Governors or Management Board
- Head teacher
- Manager of an establishment other than a school
- EVC
- Visit or Activity Leader
- Assistant Visit leader
- Volunteer Adult Helper
- those in a position of Parental Authority
Refer to individual OEAP NG documents headed as above.
Charges for Off-site Activities and Visits
North Northamptonshire Council Heads/Managers, Curriculum Planners, EVCs and Visit/Activity Leaders must take account of the legal framework relating to charging, voluntary contributions and remissions as set out in sections 449 to 462 of the Education Act 1996 and the DfE guidance document ‘Charging for School Activities’ (2014).
Refer to OEAP NG document: Charging for School Activities
Vetting and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks
North Northamptonshire Council employees who work frequently or intensively with, or have regular access to young people or vulnerable adults, must undergo an enhanced DBS check as part of their recruitment process.
For the purposes of this guidance:
- frequently is defined as once a week or more
- intensively is defined as 4 days or more in a month or overnight
However, it must be clearly understood that a DBS check (or other vetting procedure) in itself, is no guarantee as to the suitability of an adult to work with any given group of young or vulnerable people.
The placement of an adult within a situation of professional trust (where young people could be vulnerable to physical or mental exploitation or grooming) should always be on the understanding that an overview based on a common sense risk-benefit assessment process has been considered.
Refer to OEAP NG document: Vetting and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks
Requirement to Ensure Effective Supervision
In general terms, the Law does not prescribe activity-specific staffing ratios but it does require that the level of supervision and group management is effective.
Effective supervision should be determined by proper consideration of:
- the nature and duration of the visit and the planned activities
- the location and environment in which the activity is to take place
- the nature of the group, including the number of young people and their age, level of development, gender, ability and needs (behavioural, medical, emotional and educational)
- staff competence
- the consequence of a member of staff being indisposed, particularly where they will be the sole leader of a group for any significant time
However, as an exception to the above, DfE prescribes ratios for early years in the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage.
Refer to the OEAP NG document: Ratios and Effective Supervision
Refer to the OEAP NG document: Group management and Supervision
Preliminary Visits and Provider Assurances
All visits should be thoroughly researched to establish the suitability of the venue and to check that facilities and third party provision will meet group expectations. Such information gathering is essential in assessing the requirements for the effective supervision of young people. It is a vital dimension of risk management.
Wherever reasonably practicable, it is good practice to carry out a preliminary visit. Establishment policy should clarify the circumstances where a preliminary visit is a requirement.
It is good practice for Visit Leaders to take full advantage of the nationally accredited, provider assurance schemes that are now available, thus reducing bureaucracy.
Examples of such schemes include:
- The LOtC Quality Badge
- AALS licensing
- Adventuremark
- NGB centre approval schemes (applicable where the provision is a single, specialist activity)
Insurance for Off-site Activities and Visits
Employer’s Liability Insurance is a statutory requirement and North Northamptonshire Council holds a policy that indemnifies it against all claims for compensation for bodily injury suffered by any person employed by it. This cover should extend to those persons who are acting in a voluntary capacity as assistant supervisors.
North Northamptonshire Council also holds Public Liability insurance, indemnifying it against all claims for compensation for bodily injury from persons not in its employ, as well as for the accidental loss of, or damage caused to, property. Employees (as agents of the employer) are indemnified against all such claims, as are voluntary helpers acting under the direction of the employer’s staff.
The indemnity covers activities such as off-site activities and visits organised by all establishments and settings for which the employer is responsible.
Some level of Personal Accident Insurance is provided for all North Northamptonshire Council employees in the course of their employment, providing predetermined benefits in the event of an accident. However, Visit / Activity Leaders should be advised that they should consider taking out less limited personal accident cover privately or obtain cover through a professional association.
North Northamptonshire Council Visit and Activity leaders should contact the local authority Insurance Section to seek clarification of the above, including any circumstances requiring early notification of specialist activities to the insurer.
They should also ensure they have obtained current information regarding any special policies that may be available to offer more comprehensive cover.
Refer to OEAP NG document: Insurance
Inclusion
Every effort should be made to ensure that outdoor learning activities and visits are available and accessible to all, irrespective of special educational or medical needs, ethnic origin, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
If a visit needs to cater for young people with special needs, every reasonable effort should be made to find a venue that is both suitable and accessible and that enables the whole group to participate fully and be actively involved.
Establishments should take all reasonably practicable measures to include all young people. The principles of inclusion should be promoted and addressed for all visits and reflected in establishment policy, thus ensuring an aspiration towards:
- an entitlement to participate
- accessibility through direct or realistic adaptation or modification
- integration through participation with peers
Employers, Heads/Managers, Curriculum Planners, EVCs and Visit Leaders should be aware of the extent to which Inclusion is or is not a legal issue.
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful to:
- treat a disabled young person less favourably
- fail to take reasonable steps to ensure that disabled persons are not placed at a substantial disadvantage without justification
Refer to OEAP NG document: Inclusion
Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations
Employers, Heads/Managers, EVCs and Leaders should have a basic understanding of where and when the provision of adventurous activities is legally regulated.
The Activity Centres (Young Persons’ Safety) Act 1995 established the Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations and the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA), initially responsible to the DfES. The scheme is now the direct responsibility of HSE and is operated through the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALS).
The regulations intend to provide a regulatory framework to protect children, parents, teachers and schools when using providers of defined adventurous activities in closely defined environments.
The regulations and supporting inspection regime provide a formal process of professional inspection to accredit that providers have effective safety management systems and processes, meeting a national standard.
The definitive source of advice on the Licensing Regulations is to be found in the Health and Safety Executive publication: Guidance from the Licensing Authority on Adventure Activity Licensing Regulations 2004.
Leaders should be aware that the AALS license is an assurance of safety. It does not accredit educational or activity quality.
Refer to OEAP NG document: AALA Licensing
Transport
Careful thought must be given to planning transport to support off-site activities and visits. Statistics demonstrate that it is much more dangerous to travel to an activity than to engage in it and establishments must follow the specialist guidance provided in the North Northamptonshire Council transport policy. All national and local regulatory requirements must be followed.
The level of supervision necessary should be considered as part of the risk management process when planning the journey, giving proper consideration to issues of driver distraction when considering what supervision is required for the specific group of passengers being transported in a minibus.
The Visit Leader should ensure that coaches and buses are hired from a reputable company.
Transporting young people in private cars requires careful consideration. Where this occurs, there should be recorded procedures.
Refer to the OEAP NG document: Transport General Considerations
Refer to OEAP NG document: Transport in Minibuses
Refer to OEAP NG document: Transport in Private Cars
The Evaluation of LOtC
This English Outdoor Council has produced a guide to High Quality Outdoor Learning. The guide outlines the benefits of working in outdoor contexts and has been written to help evaluate, and set about improving, or further improving, the quality of outdoor learning. In support of this, ten key outcomes of outdoor learning have been identified with a range of indicators attributed to each one.
These indicators can be used to support any improvement work, which will often be enhanced by working closely with partners. Headteachers and EVCs are recommended to use this text and the National Guidance document Self-Evaluation and the Ofsted framework when evaluating the impact of LOtC in their schools or settings.
Overview of the policy for the management of learning outside the classroom
We require all community and voluntary controlled schools and other children's services establishments to:
- Have a policy for learning outside the classroom (LOtC) that adopts and follows Outdoor Education Advisers Panel (OEAP) national guidance.
- Ensure that they have a member of staff employed as an Educational Visits Co-ordinator (EVC), who has completed an accredited Outdoor Education Advisers Panel (OEAP) EVC training course.
- Ensure that their EVC attends revalidation courses every 3 years.
- Have access to a named OEAP adviser (listed as a registered or accredited member on the OEAP website) for advice, support and further training - OEAP advisers have proven expertise and professional understanding of national guidance and the training and expectations set by current good practice.
- Have systems in place that require their OEAP adviser to scrutinise and approve category C visits (higher risk visits that are either adventurous, international, residential or involve the planned use of water outdoors).
Early Year settings do not have to comply with points 4 and 5 above unless they do Educational Visits that are residential, adventurous or involve the planned use of water in an outdoor environment e.g. Pond dipping.
How to evidence your school's compliance
Please complete the audit form to evidence your school's compliance with our policy for the management of learning outside the classroom.
Training courses
All Educational Visits Co-ordinators (EVCs) in North Northamptonshire maintained schools are required to undertake an approved training course. The course remains valid for 3 years. Visit Leader training is also offered to all schools.
The council's educational visits advisor offers training courses that are suitable for all school staff who take responsibility for leading, planning or co-ordinating educational visits and other learning outside the classroom activities.
Other training providers are available. Visit the OEAP website to find out more.
Plan an off-site visit
Planning a visit may appear to be a daunting process. Our service aims to ensure that staff have access to practical advice, support and guidance. The initial contact for advice about learning outside of school should be the Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) in your establishment.
The Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel National Guidance website provides advice for planning visits, checklists and up-to-date information for your role as a:
- Visit Leader
- Assistant Leader
- EVC
- Headteacher
- Governing Body
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency, visit staff should contact their school emergency numbers, alerting their senior management team. Schools and establishments should ensure that emergencies are included in their critical incident plans.
Risk assessments
Assessing and managing risks is part of the process of good planning and delivery of an educational visit.
Specific activities
Use the Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel National Guidance website as a starting point for advice and guidance. A range of advice is available for specific activities.
Choosing a provider
Quality badges
The Outdoor Education Advisers Panel accepts the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality badge as evidence of robust safety and quality management systems.
Check to see whether the provider has a quality badge.
If your provider doesn't hold the LOtC Quality badge you should use the 8.1q provider statement form to ensure they adhere to national standards. You can download this from the OEAP website.
Licences
The Adventurous Activities Licensing Service (AALS) licence or Adventure Mark badge are also accepted for providers that offer adventurous activities that are in scope.
Check to see if your provider holds a licence
Categories of educational visits
These visits are close to the school, done on a regular basis involving environments known to the staff. It would include normal daily life activities.
Examples include walks and exploring the area near the school site, visits to the local church, library, school sporting fixtures and other regular non-complex activities. It can also include transport if needed.
These visits are to areas beyond the local area involving more complex environments and activities and will be a one-off or irregular activity in the school year. The leaders will be approved to lead the visit by the EVC. There may be some specialist training attached to some activities in this area.
Examples include visits further afield, farm visits, local parks, museum visits, swimming lessons in offsite pools, zoo visits, sporting festivals and larger tournaments and some basic outdoor education activities.
Category C visits include residential visits and overseas visits, adventure activities and activities involving water.
To be compliant with the NNC policy your school must have systems in place that require an OEAP adviser to scrutinise and approve all category C visits. If you are unsure whether your visit is category C, please contact your OEAP adviser.
It is not possible to provide a completely definitive activities list. Examples of activities included would include Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, outdoor adventure activities including hills and mountains, adventures on water or field studies involving water and motorsports.
For current legislation related to adventurous activities, visit the Adventure Activities Licensing Service website.
Last updated 13 May 2024