Transcript Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC)

Educational Visits Coordinator
(EVC)
Wednesday 30 May 2007
Nicola Watkins
• the role
• working together
• information required
• role of the governing body
The functions of the EVC
• liaise with the employer to ensure • organise thorough induction of leaders and
that educational visits meet the
other adults taking pupils on a specific visit
employer’s requirements
• make sure that Criminal Records Bureau
• support the head and governors
disclosures are in place as necessary
with approval and other decisions
• obtain parental consent and provide full
• assign competent people to lead
details of the visit beforehand so that
or otherwise supervise a visit
parents can consent or refuse consent on
a fully informed basis
• assess the competence of leaders
and other adults proposed for a • organise the emergency arrangements and
visit
ensure there is an emergency contact for
each visit
• organise the training of leaders
and other adults going on a visit. • keep records of individual visits including
involve
reports of accidents and ‘near-accidents’
Risk Assessments
Risk assessment for educational visits can be usefully considered
as having three levels:
• generic activity risk assessments, which are likely to apply to
the activity wherever and whenever it takes place;
• visit/site specific risk assessments which will differ from place to
place and group to group; and
• ongoing risk assessments that take account of, for example,
illness of staff or pupils, changes of weather, availability of
preferred activity.
Role of the School visits co-ordinator
1 advise schools generally, or in detail, on proposed visits;
2 give formal approval on behalf of the LEA for higher risk activities;
3 ensure appropriate training is available for schools, particularly for
those involved in delegated tasks, such as risk assessment.
Role of LEA in relation to EVCs
These roles will work best when the LEA School Visits Co-ordinator:
• works with the head teacher to assign EVC duties and
assists in the induction of that person;
• gives advice and guidance to the EVC;
• gives the EVC access to appropriate training;
• helps the EVC give access to specific training for staff
leading or otherwise supervising educational visits;
• ensures relevant risk assessments are complete, up to
date and in accordance with LEA guidance and that the
EVC is aware of their findings;
• monitors the work of the EVC.
Information required for approval
of a school trip
• school trip details
• risk assessments and action plan
• confirmation from the Head Teacher for trip to go
ahead
Information required on school trip
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school details and group leader
purpose of visit and educational objectives
places to be visited
dates and times
transport arrangements
organising company (if any) including licence no. if
registered with the AALA
• financial arrangements
• insurance
• accomodation
continued >>
Information required on school trip
(continued)
• detailed programme of visits;
• hazardous activity and associated planning, organisation and
staffing;
• names, experience, qualifications and responsibilities of staff;
• details of other adults accompanying the party;
• knowledge of place visited and whether exploratory visit is
intended;
• size and composition of the group;
• information on parental content;
• special educational or medical needs.
Steps to follow when
assessing risks
1 Place to be visited - potential hazards
e.g. Walking in the city, travelling by ferry
2 Who is at risk?
e.g. Pupils, non-teaching staff
3 List controls or where to find them
e.g. Ensure sufficient supervision, exploratory visit
4 Hazards not fully controlled (under 3 above)
5 Continue monitoring of hazards throughout visit.
Responsibility for Health and
Safety in Schools
Health and Safety at Work Law
Health and safety responsibilities derive from the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
1974 and associated regulations. Health and safety legislation is enforced by the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Employer
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places overall responsibility for health
and safety with the employer. Who this is varies with the type of school.
 For community schools, community special schools, voluntary controlled
schools, maintained nursery schools and pupil referral units the
employer is the Local Education Authority (LEA).
 For foundation schools, foundation special schools and voluntary-aided
schools, the employer is usually the governing body.
 For independent schools, the employer is usually the governing body or
proprietor.
Role of the Governing Body
Where the governing body is the employer the governors’ responsibilities
will be the same as those for the LEA. In addition, it is good practice for all
governing bodies to:
• ensure that guidance is available to inform the school’s policy, practices and procedures
• ensure that the head teacher and the EVC are supported in matters relating to educational
visits and that they have the appropriate time and expertise to fulfill their responsibilities
• ascertain what governor training is available and relevant
• agree on the types of visit they should be informed about
• ask questions about a visit’s educational objectives and how they will be met. ensure that
visits are approved as necessary by the LEA before bookings are confirmed
• help to ensure that early planning and pre-visits can take place and that the results can be
acted upon
• ensure that bookings are not completed until external providers have met all the necessary
assurances
• ensure that the head teacher and the EVC have taken all reasonable and practicable
measures to include pupils with special educational needs or medical needs on a visit