It is essential that both the LA guidance for educational visits, ‘Leadership Offsite’, and the DCSF (formerly DfES) guidance ‘Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits’, and its supplements, are followed when organising visits.

Click below to access the DCSF documents from Teachernet :

The LA has had a written policy for Educational Visits since 1993 and it has had several revisions. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) published its own guidance in 1998 entitled 'Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits' (HASPEV). The DfES published supplementary guidance in support of HASPEV in July 2002. These latest documents have been fully incorporated in this revision of the Isle of Wight policy and guidance.

Copies of these have been distributed to all establishments; they can also be downloaded from the DCSF website - www.teachernet.gov.uk/visits The key responsibility is to take all reasonable steps to ensure that young people have a safe, appropriate and worthwhile experience. There is a line of accountability, which includes the EVC, LA officers, officers responsible for offsite activities, Strategic Director of Children and Young Persons Service (CHYPS), Chief Executive Officer. The accountability systems should principally support, and not encumber, the staff who are planning and conducting the activities. These systems must also recognise the need to provide an audit trail for those who are accountable for any stages of approving the visit.
 
Any queries regarding educational visits should be made to your establishment's Educational Visit Co-ordinator (EVC) in the first instance.  Should you need further advice please contact the appropriate officer:
 
Middle and High Schools and the Youth Service:
George Weech, Principal Youth and Community Officer    george.weech@iow.gov.uk

Primary and Special Schools and PRUs:
Paul Chapman, Safety Liaison Officer, Schools        paul.chapman@iow.gov.uk