Archived decisions

Contact: Steve Poynton, County Inspector : Outdoor Education, tel: 01962 846547

1 Summary

The importance of the health and safety of young people when on educational visits or taking part in off-site and adventurous has long been understood in Hampshire, but has also been part of an ongoing national debate. This has resulted in consultation by the Department for Education and Skills, in which Hampshire was asked to take part as a recognised good practitioner. Supplementary guidance was produced by the DfES in August 2002.

At the same time, the enormous potential for learning outdoors for raising expectations and standards was also under discussion. In this we recognised the great potential in our services, facilities and leaders in this area of work.

A report to the Executive Member was approved in September 2002, including a general policy statement and an implementation plan, which has led to the production of new guidance on Offsite activities and educational visits. This review is to update Members on progress made.

2 Background

A report was prepared for the Executive Member for Education in September 2002. This involved an update on the national context relating to the health and safety of young people on educational visits and the response from the Outdoor Education Unit and Service. A policy statement was put forward, as well as an implementation plan that included redrafting major documents, and the induction and training for headteachers, governors, teachers and youth workers.

In September 2002:

· the general policy statement and implementation plan was approved

· the County Education Officer was authorised to develop and finalise detailed procedures by way of implementation.

This report follows on from that position, to update members on what has been achieved, where we are now and what future actions are intended. These are principally related to two significant issues:

satisfying the County Council's statutory requirement under health and safety legislation and Health and Safety Executive guidance, as well as the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) guidance on good practice related to educational visits and off-site activities.

Key references have been:

_ The Health and Safety Executive, in conjunction with the DfES, produced their Health and Safety : Responsibilities and Powers statutory document (2001).

_ The DfES reviewed their 1998 document Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits and produced their supplementary guidance in August 2002:

Part 1 - Standards for LEAs in Overseeing Educational Visits

Part 2 - Standards for Adventure

Part 3 - A Handbook for Group Leaders

· promoting and developing the County Council's Corporate Policy and Education Department good practice concerned with the place and value of outdoor education, environmental education and learning and education beyond-the-classroom.

3 The Outdoor Education Unit or Service

The Outdoor Education Unit was subject to a Best Value Review in January 2001, when two options were accepted:

· maintain the current provision whilst understanding the current challenges to the service

Note: A small team provides what is externally assessed as being a very good service, under strong constraints of staffing and funding.

· give consideration to developing and enhancing the provision

Note: Opportunities were highlighted to show the potential to act as a lead agency locally and nationally in developing outdoor learning and education provision, and putting the educational dimension into corporate policies such as Education for Sustainable Development, and in particular working with and drawing together other key agencies.

The Summary of Best Value Review Outcomes, years one and two, is attached. The Unit has successfully implemented the action plan and has been able to provide considerable evidence of successful development and practice.

4 The national context and a role for Hampshire

The DfES and Health and Safety Executive have set up a context where LEAs and school have been challenged to determine whether their guidance and procedures meet current good practice. Hampshire was identified as a good practice LEA and was actively involved in the review of the DfES guidance. The County Inspector has also been invited to become a trainer for other LEAs on behalf of the national Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel and the DfES in their current initiatives. He is currently Chair of the Advisers' Panel. This puts Hampshire at the forefront of good practice nationally.

5 The policy statement

This identified clear roles for the Outdoor Education Unit or Service:

· providing written guidelines for governors, headteachers and teachers, including advice on risk assessment

· assessing proposals for certain types of visit

· providing emergency telephone contact for the duration of the visit where necessary

· ensuring that training needs have been addressed

· providing access to named staff for advice

· maintaining appropriate insurance cover

· having in place procedures to monitor and review safety during off-site visits and activities

· acting as a lead agency in the promotion and development of quality outdoor education

· monitoring the quality of leading, learning and management of outdoor education in schools, youth groups and voluntary organisations.

Note: The DfES 2002 document has set clear and very demanding targets in the area of monitoring schools and groups' compliance with these policies and procedures. This has been taken into account when both redrafting the documents and adapting procedures.

6 The Outdoor Service

The Education Department's Outdoor Education Service has been successfully working with the Recreation and Heritage Department's Outdoor Activities Service for some time. As a key partnership in helping promote and deliver many aspects of corporate policy and practice, the combined service has become known as `The Outdoor Service'. The two departments can illustrate successful working and cooperation regarding new and joint plans over some time, and promote its development. This incorporates working with a great many other Council agencies, offering services to schools and youth groups, as well as external agencies and providers.

7 The Implementation Plan in action

· Following the DfES review, to which we contributed, documentation was received in August 2002. Our own review then took place and was completed earlier this term. Our principal document, Off-site activities and educational visits, 2003, is now with all establishments and a copy will be in the Members' library.

Its sister document, Safety in hazardous pursuits, is now in the process of review.

· A series of headteacher and governor briefings were held throughout January and February, involving Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton schools. They were well attended.

· A series of one-day training events for a key figure in each school or educational establishment, known as the Educational Visits Coordinator, has been established from January through to July. Recruitment is good and the feedback from those completed has been very complimentary. A recommendation to the DfES to fund such training was accepted and a Standards Fund training grant has been received.

· A midpoint review of those establishments that have attended or propose to attend, and those that have not, is planned. Those not yet booked on a course will be asked to show how they intend to comply with County Council procedures if the training is not used.

· A monitoring plan, in addition to current practice, has been put forward for agreement and action.

· The serious incident training of senior Education Department Officers was successful and has resulted in a more comprehensive set of procedures and guidance. Liaison with the Civil Emergency Team is good. Southampton has similar training planned and Portsmouth is redrafting is guidance.

· The development of the `Outdoor Service' with Recreation and Heritage is a source of a clearly developing coordinated and well managed provision across the departments, whilst retaining the integrity of each. This is particularly true in providing a service to schools and the Youth Service through opportunities for children and young people, and training for leaders.

· The appointment of a Trailblazer Manager in October 2002 has meant that the successful pilot project can now develop fully. This inter-departmental curriculum and learning project has been well received by schools. Its implementation plan has a managed number of schools joining each term, and from now on Youth Service pilot projects are being initiated. The scope for providing the education in our corporate sustainability plan has been very well received. Although the project is at an early stage, it is showing the great potential that was identified.

Recommendations

That the Education Policy Review Committee:

· recognises that Hampshire County Council provision in this area of its work, provided through the Outdoor Education Unit, is a good service at the forefront of practice nationally.

· recognises that the `Outdoor Service' provided through the Outdoor Education Unit, Education Department and the Recreation and Heritage Department, is able to demonstrate that inter-departmental working can provide clear and effective corporate leadership and successful practice in this area of work.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

Responsibilities and Powers 2001 Department for Education and Skills Health and Safety Executive

Standards for LEAs 2002 Department for Education and Skills

Standards for Adventure 2002 Department for Education and Skills

A Handbook for Group Leaders Department for Education and Skills