Outdoor & Environmental Education

As you are aware we held a number of EVC update sessions at Beaumanor Hall in January.  We decided to hold these because a number of things have changed recently and also to identify changes on the horizon.  Please find included below a summary of the points covered in the EVC update sessions. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

The DCSF has commissioned a re-write of its guidance on the conduct of educational visits (HASPEV) which is currently underway.  This guidance forms the basis of Leicestershire’s Code of Practice No.11 so once the re-write has been completed our guidance will have to be reviewed.  The new version of both HASPEV and Code of Practice No.11 will most likely be in electronic form only, however, staff will be alerted to the updated versions and to any alterations and revisions.  The anticipated date for the new HASPEV is September 2008.  

In an attempt to make the organization of visits easier the Government has commissioned a series of safety and quality badges for providers which are due to be launched in September 2008.  The system is in two parts:

Since the validation process will inevitably take a considerable amount of time, leaders should not expect all providers to have the relevant badge immediately.    

Ofsted have altered their self evaluation forms to include specific reference to ‘out of classroom learning’ in point 5b.  Colleagues will need to ensure that evidence from learning outside the classroom activities is gathered to ensure the section is completed fully.

A commercial company called Teach Out has begun to map the Country for visit opportunities for groups.  The information will be available in two formats:

The service is free to use and lists providers in three categories – Day Trips, Residential and Teach In (providers who will come to your establishment to deliver activities).  At present only the South West and South Coast are completed but the process will be rolled out nationally as soon as possible.

Staff were reminded of the new child seat legislation and that they are responsible for ensuring that appropriate seats are used when they have organized the transport for events.

The BSI has produced a new British Standard for the provision of foreign educational visits BS 8848. This standard will be particularly useful to schools contracting with commercial operators. Schools & Youth Centres are recommended to follow Leicestershire County Council guidance for the conduct of such activities. Leaders will notice that commercial providers will begin to show BS 8848:2007 in their advertising and schools might wish to make compliance with BS 8848:2007 a contractual requirement as part of the tendering process.

The old ‘TOP Outdoor’ cards with which staff will be familiar are in the process of being re-written and it is anticipated that the new versions will be available in September.  The new cards will cover new areas such as Bouldering and will cover Key stages 1, 2, & 3.  Training for staff will be available in the new academic year.

There is still some confusion about risk assessment and risk management.  Staff were alerted to the Health and Safety Executive campaign for sensible risk management which can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/principles.htm.  Staff were also alerted to the HSE’s monthly ‘Myth of the Month’ to be found at www.hse.gov.uk/myth

Following the death of Max Palmer in the tragedy at Glenridding Beck the HSE became involved in the investigation and has made some recommendations. As a result they have dedicated a section on their website, www.hse.gov.uk/education to educational visits. On there you will find recommendations for Governing Bodies, Heads, Leaders and Local Authorities. One of their recommendations is 10 vital questions to ask of any visit, please check out the site.

We have been investigating an on line notification system which would help in the tracking, monitoring and authorization of visits.  Once we have looked at a number of different versions on the market we will invite staff to come and comment upon the possibility of adopting such a system.

To go along with the Party Leader panic cards already on our website www.leics.gov.uk/oee, we have now produced a version for the Home Based Contact to carry with them when undertaking this role.

Staff were given a presentation about the Manifesto which was launched in 2006. Please have a look at the CYPS LOtC newsletter Issue 1 (Word doc, 37kb).

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Leicestershire County Council’s Health & Safety department has begun to produce a newsletter entitled ‘Focus’ to highlight important changes in H&S requirements.  Please keep an eye open for this newsletter and contact Kevin Loydall if you have any items to be included in future issues.

Kevin Brooks

Outdoor Education Adviser

As you are aware we held a number of EVC update sessions throughout the County recently. We decided to hold these because a number of things had changed since the initial training of EVCs nearly 3 years ago. Please find included below a summary of the points covered in the EVC update sessions. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Hopefully all establishments have received copies of the new Code of Practice in the orange folder. Please dispose of all remaining copies of the old 1998 version in the white folder. Would EVCs please ensure that all staff leading any off-site venture has read the relevant sections of the guidance. Would EVCs please ensure that the new A1, 2, 3 or 4 forms are used and sent to Beaumanor Hall not to County Hall.

Please remind staff that it is a legal requirement to write a risk assessment for any activity they have responsibility for. A risk assessment must identify potential significant hazards and show what measures will be taken to avoid them or to reduce either the chances or consequences to an acceptable level. Staff only need to risk assess the parts of the ventures for which they have responsibility i.e. they would risk assess their group in the Space Centre not risk assess the Space Centre itself.

In some circumstances the risk assessments need to identify a ‘cut off point’ beyond which the venture will not proceed. This could be a time, a water level, weather conditions, staffing level, pupil behaviour etc.

Staff are also reminded that risk assessment is a process and of the ‘Ongoing’ nature of assessing risk throughout the venture.

Since risk assessment is a requirement a pre-visit may well be required in order to draw it up. Leaders will have to risk assess their group at a specific location undertaking agreed activities. If the leader cannot write the risk assessment owing to lack of first hand knowledge then a visit must be undertaken. This applies even where the activities are being provided by a commercial provider. In which case the centre, hotel or base would need to be visited.

In an attempt to reduce the bureaucracy involved in off-site visits the Government is promoting a system where commercial providers will become members of certified organisations. Once members they will receive a kite mark showing that their Health & Safety systems have been independently verified. Once up and running all establishments will need to do is book up without the need to request risk assessments etc.  Leaders are reminded, however, that quality of provision may not be included so please make use of the Website www.leics.gov.uk/oee where there is the list of who has been where, allowing colleagues to share experiences of various providers and locations.

EVCs are reminded that the Authority has an International Links Co-ordinator in Helen Trilling based at County Hall. She will be able to assist you in planning your exchange visit.  We have also produced some specific guidance for the conduct of Exchange Visits. Please contact me for a copy.

The British Association of Advisers and Lecturers in Physical Education have produced some excellent guidance for the conduct of sports fixtures and area sports events.  Upper & High school Heads of P.E. should be aware of this guidance and be organising their events in line with this guidance. The guidance is available on the BAALPE Website for colleagues in Primary schools or the Youth Service at www.baalpe.org (website currently being updated) under the heading ‘Health & Safety Advice / FAQs then follow the link to ‘Inter School Competition Guidance’.

Code of Practice No 14 ‘Driving on LEA Business’ has been re-written. Would EVCs please ensure staff are using the most up to date version. There are two other points to clarify:

We have also produced some specific guidance for the conduct of Overseas Expeditions please contact me for a copy. Staff leading such ventures will be required to attend a training course run by the Royal Geographical Society prior to the venture. The Authority will pay the course fee for this. Would EVCs please ensure that I am informed at the earliest possible stage, certainly before any contracts are signed.

Following the death of Max Palmer in the tragedy at Glenridding Beck the HSE became involved in the investigation and has made some recommendations. As a result they have dedicated a section on their Website, www.hse.gov.uk/education to educational visits. On there you will find recommendations for Governing Bodies, Heads, Leaders and Local Authorities. One of their recommendations is 10 vital questions to ask of any visit, please check out the site.

In response to changes in the workforce advice has been altered as to who can be in charge of a group. Code of Practice No.21 now makes provision for persons other than qualified teachers or youth workers to be able to lead ventures. The head of the establishment would need to conduct a risk assessment on the person, group and activities involved. Providing skills and experience match then that person could lead the venture.

Although the vast majority of my monitoring visits have highlighted excellent practice on the part of staff there are a few instances I would like to draw to your attention.

A number of questions were asked during the sessions, the answers to which might be of use to all EVCs.

As you are aware we held a number of governor awareness sessions throughout the County recently. Please find included below a summary of the points covered these sessions. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

All establishments have received copies of the new Code of Practice in the orange folder. There are two copies in each establishment and it is also available via our Website www.leics.gov.uk/oee to download as required.

For general advice about off-site educational visits please contact either:

Kevin Brooks01509 890119 (T)

01509 891021 (F)

Alan Jacobs01509 890119 (T)

01509 891021 (F)

Also see our Website www.leics.gov.uk/oee

The DfES has highlighted in its document ‘Health and safety of Pupils on Educational Visits (HASPEV) the role of Governing Bodies in off-site educational visits. These are included in Code of Practice No.11, which is available on our Website www.leics.gov.uk/oee or in paper form available from me. It is anticipated that the Governing Body will be kept informed of any such venture but would not become directly involved. In the case of more adventurous ventures it is anticipated that the Governing Body would be involved at an early stage especially if a contract is to be signed.

Following the death of Max Palmer in the tragedy at Glenridding Beck the HSE became involved in the investigation and has made some recommendations. As a result they have dedicated a section on their Website, www.hse.gov.uk/education to educational visits.  On there you will find recommendations for Governing Bodies, Heads, Leaders and Local Authorities.  Please note especially their recommendations for Governing Bodies and 10 vital questions to ask of any off-site venture.  The HSE also suggests that a Governor be invited to attend any parent’s evening organised for a venture.

Leicestershire organises a number of courses for staff leading or authorising ventures. Apart from EVC training none are compulsory but are a good endorsement of the leader’s experience that will assist the Head in making a judgement about their competence.

All off-site visits are authorised by the school in the first instance, the Authority only becomes involved in authorising ventures that involve any of the following - adventurous activity, foreign travel or residential experience. The Governing Body would need to make clear to the Head exactly what they need to be informed about and at what point in the planning process.

The Headteacher will normally decide upon whom is competent to lead a particular venture. The Authority only really becomes involved when technical qualifications are required i.e. canoeing, skiing, climbing etc. We maintain a database of all such leaders and will check their National Governing Body qualifications as necessary.