Outings and Excursions Policy

Rationale: 

The Cottage Educare Outings and Excursions planning include risk assessment, ensuring adequate adult: child ratios and gaining parental consent.

 Objective:

Outings and excursions are an integral part of our programmes. They extend children’s knowledge of their world and create new opportunities for learning. Safety is of paramount importance when leaving the familiar centre environment.

1. Planning for each outing and excursion includes setting ratios, route mapping, risk assessment, method of travel and names of adults and children.

2. Teachers will not deviate from the planned outing route.

3. Teachers take a first aid kit, cell phone, and all other necessary supplies on all outings and excursions.

4. We gain written permission from parents at the time of enrolment for spontaneous outings and excursions. These include outings to local parks, libraries, within a comfortable walking distance from the centre.

5. We notify parents of any outings or excursions planned for the children via the parents’ notice board and newsletters. Parents are given the cellphone number that staff carry so that they contact staff while on an outing.

6. Before leaving on a planned excursion we gain written permission from parents.

7. We maintain appropriate ratios to match children’s ages and abilities and government regulation ratios.

8. Parents will be required to meet the cost of any special outings or excursions. Notice will be given of any cost involved and this money should be paid prior to the outing.

9. We ensure adequate, qualified staff remains in the centre if children are unable to participate.

    

Legislation/regulation

Licensing Criteria 2008, Health and Safety, Hazards and Outings documentation required:

• HS17: - A record of outings or excursions. Records include –

  • The names of adults and children involved;

  • The time and date of the outing;

  • The location and method of travel;

  • Assessment and management of risk;

  • Adult: child ratios; and

  • Evidence of parental permission and approval of adult: child ratios, which may have been provided at enrolment for spontaneous or regular outings, as long as some general assessment of risk has been undertaken and information is provided to parents regarding the circumstances/rational of the outings

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