Governance Today Summer 2021

OUTDOOR EDUCATION, VISITS AND OFF-SITE ACTIVITIES Since the spring edition of the Governance Today Magazine, the Department for Education (DfE) has updated its advice to schools regarding off-site educational visits. Educational day visits Schools were able to resume educational day visits from 12th April. Any educational day visits must be conducted in line with relevant coronavirus (COVID-19) secure guidelines and regulations in place at that time. This includes a system of controls, such as keeping children within their consistent groups (bubbles) and following the COVID-secure measures in place at the destination. Domestic residential educational visits In line with the Government roadmap, overnight visits (residentials) were able to resume from 17th May. Such visits are subject to guidance from the DfE, in particular: • Groups should be made up of existing bubbles. Schools may wish to consider amending the ‘bubbles’ in place prior to the visit to accommodate this • Group sizes should be no greater than “Circa” 30 (closer to 30 than 40) • You can have multiple bubbles from the same school staying at the same time but they should not mix during the residential • Your group should not mix with another school during the residential • Numbers per bedroom should be as low as possible depending on the number of pupils participating in the residential, the sex of the pupils and the number of bedrooms available. The numbers will differ, depending on the facilities available at each centre or hostel • Staff should not share bedrooms where possible (as above) • Schools should consider in their risk assessment how they would get an individual home if they developed symptoms and what actions the rest of the group should take if a positive PCR test is received. As with all matters this is a risk versus benefit decision, does the benefit to pupils of a residential visit outweigh any risk or likelihood of infection? If the answer is yes schools should do what is ‘reasonably practicable’ (Health and Safety at Work Act Sections 2.1 and 3.1) to reduce the risks to an acceptable level. What is or isn’t an acceptable level is up to the governing board, headteacher, staff and parents/carers to determine. Bookings and cancellations Schools should ensure that any future bookings are subject to a robust ‘COVID guarantee’. This guarantee should ensure that: 1. If the school cannot proceed with the booking for COVID related reasons, then the booking can be moved to a mutually agreeable date or a full refund is given 2. If the provider cannot fulfil the contract for COVID related reasons, then the booking can be moved to a mutually agreeable date or a full refund is given. It is unlikely that insurance companies will consider COVID related claims for any bookings made since March 2020. Bookings that were made prior to March 2020, but subsequently moved to 2021, should still be covered under the original insurance arrangements. COVID secure residentials Schools use a range of accommodation providers for residentials, including campsites, bunkhouses, hostels, hotels and outdoor centres. Providers of accommodation are responsible for providing a COVID secure environment. Schools are responsible for their own use of that space and must carry out a risk assessment of the planned stay including what actions should be taken if a child or adult display symptoms of COVID. Groups should be consistent with in-school groupings or bubbles. The school Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) should demonstrate how these risks will be managed. Overseas visits Overseas visits should not currently proceed. Which countries can be visited and from when will be determined by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department for Education. Whilst we await advice from these bodies regarding overseas travel, some providers are continuing to ask schools to make payments for visits planned for the summer term and the school summer holiday period. Last year the Adviser for Outdoor Education worked with many schools in their dealings with overseas travel providers. Despite clear indications that many overseas visits will not be able to take place this year, some providers are continuing to demand payments from schools. Local authorities and their insurers across the country are experiencing difficulties with a small number of providers who, in the opinion of the Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel, are not acting in the best interests of schools, parents and children. The Adviser for Outdoor Education would like to re-iterate the message, that if schools are considering using an external provider for overseas travel or expeditions they should contact the adviser prior to any bookings being made or contracts being signed. Whilst the local authority would not wish to and cannot ‘ban’ the use of particular providers due to regulations on the restriction of trade, it is possible to inform schools of providers that have taken a helpful stance during the pandemic. Brendan Stone, 07968 818044 brendan.stone@babcockinternational.com 16 Governance Today