Policy-Educational Visits Spring 2015

ASHTON COMMUNITY SCIENCE COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL VISITS The School has adopted the new DfES and County Guidance on School visits.

Whether a day visit or longer is planned, the appropriate forms MUST be completed using the online system EVOLVE and submitted to the School’s Educational Visits Co-ordinator. She will then approve the visit or refer to you for further information before approval. No visit can take place without the approval of the EVC. Please remember that residential trips and all trips which take the students close to water must be applied for well in advance as County approval is also required for these.

Further information is available from the Educational Visits Co-ordinator. *All Staff taking students out of School on a visit should ensure that a list of names is emailed to all staff and a separate list, complete with emergency telephone contact numbers, is lodged in the School Office.

We would also ask that the following points are taken into consideration:

Visits outside School during School Hours The hope is that amongst the staff there is widespread support for such trips and visits. In order to avoid unnecessary difficulties, it is important that the following routine should be observed. a) All visits in School time should be linked to work included in the syllabus. b) Choose a day when there will be as little substitution as possible for yourself and others. c) Look at students’ timetables carefully and check with colleagues whose lessons will be affected. d) It is much more acceptable if visits are arranged for just before the major holidays. e) Check with the Principal that the date is suitable and that there are no objections. f) Email all staff about the proposed trip, giving as much details as possible, including names of students involved. Complete a ‘request for cover’ sheet. g) The kitchen staff need to be told at least a week in advance of the likely number who will not be having a school meal. h) Make sure that both the staff board list of students and the list for the Office is complete and accurate. If students are not to be present, Form Teachers should mark the register with a letter ‘v’ and the student should be counted as present. It Monitored by the Personnel Committee

Date of last review: Spring 2015

is the responsibility of the trip organiser to inform the Form Teacher and the attendance officer of absentees. i) If any of your classes are being left, leave work for them to do.

Visits outside normal School hours a) It is normally necessary to inform the Governors in advance of such visits which involve an overnight stay. Notification is required at the beginning of the calendar year or certainly within the timescales recommended by the Local Authority b) Additional insurance is required if an overnight stay is involved and the cost has to be covered by members of the party. c) As much information as possible should be left with the Principal, including a list of members of the party, programme and itinerary, address and means of contact. d) Any money collected in advance should be paid into the School Fund and a specific account opened, which, under no circumstances, should be allowed to go into debit. e) Staff should refer to the additional guidance contained within the Alcohol and Drugs� policy n.b.

“Managing

If members of the party are to be picked up by coach early in the morning or brought back late at night, please ensure that all activity takes place on the School car park and not in front of neighbours’ houses so that our neighbours are not disturbed.

Monitored by the Personnel Committee

Date of last review: Spring 2015