Rank: Forum user
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Good MorningI have a query with regards to the appointment of Educational visits coordinators in Colleges, new govenment guidance came out for Schools in November 2018 that states Schools should appioint an Educational visits coordinator, in the guidance they mention training and link to an organisation called OEAP. See section 8 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-safety-on-educational-visits/health-and-safety-on-educational-visits
I spoke to OEAP and they state that just because it mentions schools it applies to all educational establishments which inludes HE and FE. I just want clarity of the situation, the guidance states: Schools should appoint an educational visits coordinator and make sure they have the training they need. The headteacher has this duty if there is no coordinator. Local authorities or academy trust outdoor education advisers can advise on appointing and training coordinators. The coordinator works with the local outdoor education adviser to help their colleagues in schools to assess and manage risks. The coordinator should: - be an experienced visits leader
- have the status to be able to guide the working practices of other staff
- be confident in assessing the ability of other staff to lead visits
- be confident in assessing outside activity providers
- be able to advise headteachers and governors when they’re approving trips
- have access to training, advice and guidance
Coordinators can also get guidance on the OEAP website. Thanks Andrew
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Rank: Super forum user
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What exactly is your question Andy?
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Rank: Forum user
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Im trying to find out if its a statutory requirment for FE to appoint someone for the managment of trips and visits. Currently the department plan the trip then it comes to myself in H&S and safeguarding for approval.
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Rank: Super forum user
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You won't find a specific legal requirement that outright states that you must have an educational visits co-ordinator. It comes under the heading of things you can do to make it work, ie guidance. You need to be sure that all your students are safe when on educational visits - how do you do that? You have a co-ordinator in place to make sure that all checks, due diligence, risk assessments etc have been carried out, venues have been checked for suitability etc. Its guidance aimed at making sure that someone takes on the role of doing those checks, keeps appropriate records and in the longer term makes sure that you don't keep reinventing the wheel everytime you take students out on a visit. Its not a legal requirement but if you don't have a specified co-ordinator you will find yourself in a world of pain if anything ever goes wrong on a visit.
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Rank: Super forum user
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OEAP does not apply to the HE sector. Our main guidance document is “Guidance on Health and Safety in Fieldwork” from the Universities Safety and Health Association (USHA) and Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). As noted what they provide is guidance not legal requirements
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