The Legal and Regulatory Framework

Overview

Employers (Local Authorities, MATs, Independent School Groups etc.), their schools and staff operate within a range of legislative and regulatory frameworks. These frameworks require that visits are safe, inclusive and well-managed while recognising that risk cannot be eliminated entirely. In general, the expectation is that employers, their schools and staff take a reasonable approach to managing safety and inclusion. What follows is a summary of the key requirements of these frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

Employers, senior leadership, Governors and board members visibly champion and ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place for educational visits and outdoor learning. This includes:

Access to Competent Advice

Employers must ensure that you have access to appropriate guidance, training and professional advice from a competent Educational Visits Adviser. Training, advice and support is available through EVOLVE Advice.

Effective Safeguarding Arrangements

• Confirming that an appropriate number and combination of suitably selected, vetted, trained, competent and informed visit staff are deployed (including volunteers).
• Ensuring appropriate monitoring of pupil, staff and provider behaviour.
• Clear lines of reporting and access to the DSL.

Risk Assessment

• Undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and record the significant findings of this process.
• Identify what could cause injury or illness (hazards), decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk), take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn't possible, control the risk.
• Communicate these control measures to relevant parties and review their effectiveness.

Provider selection

Select appropriate providers and cooperate to achieve safety. Monitor the provider's continued suitability.

Links to further reading:

OEAP National Guidance available at https://oeapng.info