'Staying Safe'

The Department for Children, Schools and Families launched the ‘Staying Safe’ Action Plan which will make it easier for teachers to take pupils on school trips.

Research shows that Headteachers and teachers are aware of the benefits of taking pupils outside of the classroom – such as increased self confidence and deeper learning – and have said that they will take pupils on trips if they are confident and have had training.

The new guidance will help teachers identify places with high quality learning outside of the classroom and which are managing safety effectively. Organisations that hold school and other youth group visits such as museums, field study centres and farms will be encouraged to qualify for quality ‘badges’ in order to reduce the bureaucratic burden of risk assessment on teachers.

Other new measures outlined in the report include:

a new Child Safety Education coalition
new guidance for professionals on bullying in non school settings like children’s homes and FE colleges
new guidance on safeguarding and on protecting children with disabilities or special educational needs from bullying
a new safeguarding unit for the Third Sector
new guidance on child employment
new guidance on cross-border issues
publish research on joint working between children’s and housing services (with the Department for Communities and Local Government)
publish a review of safety education materials for Personal, Social and Health Education
carry out a Priority Review of local area accident prevention
put forward safeguarding theme for the local authority beacon award scheme.

Talking about the new measure, Ed Balls said:

“Learning outside the classroom helps pupils understand their subjects better and increases their self-confidence. School trips also help young people explore and learn about risk and how to manage it…….We should not let a fear of compensation culture prevent pupils from learning outside the classroom. On school trips – as in other areas covered in our staying safe action plan – we need to help parents and teachers strike the right balance between protecting our children and allowing them the freedom to develop and enjoy childhood.”

The ‘Staying Safe’ Action Plan is available at: www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/stayingsafe/

'Staying Safe'

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