Planning a Visit
Most teachers have experience of planning a school visit, but if this is new for you here are a few hints and tips that we hope will be of help.
Before you travel
- Make sure that you have read and understood the school's and the LEA's policy on school trip procedure
- Be aware of your legal and moral responsibility as group leader
- If you have not visited the Resort before ask for a copy of the risk assessment document. For a risk Assessment outline please click here for details.
- Check that the company you are travelling with complies with the Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992
- Check exactly what the cost of the trip includes and excludes
- Ensure you have enough students to make the trip viable
- Work out a payment schedule, provide students with a savings card, and keep an excel statement of payments
- Make sure there is an appropriate balance of staff in terms of gender, experience etc
- Check that all students and teachers have correct passports for travel
- Write to the parents including information such as:
- Payment schedule and amounts
- What is and is not covered
- Appropriate clothing
- Suggested pocket money
- The itinerary, particularly departure and return times
- An emergency contact name and telephone number at the school and an emergency telephone number for the parents
- Consent form, requesting details of any special medical and dietary information
- Request for nationality and passport details, particularly the spelling of the name as in the passport
- European Health Insurance Card
- Arrange a parents information evening nearer the time of departure
- Have a briefing meeting with staff about arrangements
During the visit
- Make a regular headcount of students, asking another member of staff to double check
- Ensure adequate supervision at all times
- Ensure students wear seat belts when travelling by coach
- Arrange meeting places and times that are clear and easily understood
- Keep students informed of any changes to the plan
- On arrival at the hotel update your risk assessment and check the fire drill, check rooms for any pre-existing damage and report it to the hotel manager
- Allocate rooms with a good balance between students' preferences and personal safety and behaviour
- Advise students of the procedure for care of their belongings
- On the way home, ensure students can contact their parents to confirm the expected time of arrival
- Stay with students until they are collected
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