Educational Visits Training
Prepared to Explore: Training for Safe and Successful School Trips
Handsam’s educational visits training helps school staff plan and manage trips with confidence and care. Covering every stage from risk assessment to emergency procedures, our courses ensure safe, enriching experiences for students, while supporting staff with clear guidance and practical expertise.
Driving Minibuses in Schools
Course delivery: eTraining
Course duration: 40 - 45 minutes
Number of delegates: 1+
About this course: This module is relevant for all staff who drive or wish to drive minibuses in schools. Please note that this course alone does not in any way solely qualify you to drive a minibus. You must contact your responsible person who manages the minibuses at your school or academy to ask them what driver training you will need to do in order to be allowed to drive your minibuses.
Key topics covered:
- The role minibuses play in education establishments
- What licence and training you must hold before driving a minibus
- The law around driver hours, rest periods and responsibilities
- What the safety features are of a minibus and how to check them
- How to keep safe during your journey
- What records you must keep as a driver
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EVC Training
Course delivery: Instructor led delivery
Course duration: 6 hours
Number of delegates: Up to 30
About this course: Delivered by a member of the OEAP (Outdoor Education Advisors Panel) and providing the delegate with OEAP accreditation upon completion of the course, this course is suitable for all staff with a function relevant to approving and monitoring school trips and visits, otherwise known as Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC).
Key topics covered:
- What is Learning Outside the Classroom?
- Fears and Concerns
- Law and Guidance
- Principles of Planning Trips
- The role of the EVC
- Trip Planning Considerations
- Risk Assessments
- Incidents
- Swimming
- Adventurous Activities
- Minibuses and Travel
- Trips Abroad
- Accreditations and Bodies
- Cases
- Resources
- Practical Examples for your School
- Q and A
Adventurous and Overseas Visits
Course delivery: eTraining
Course duration: 40 - 45 minutes
Number of delegates: 1+
About this course: Running adventurous activities or travelling overseas are hugely beneficial ways of engaging children in learning and widening their horizons. They form a crucial part of student development, but, of course, they must be run safely. This course covers everything trip planners need to know about planning more hazardous activities (including the AALA licence scheme) and going abroad. The course should be only be taken after successful completion of the ‘Safe Visit Planning’ module.
Key topics covered:
- Safe planning checklist
- Risk assessing adventurous activities
- Parental consent
- Special needs
- Charging
- First aid and medical arrangements
- Adult/student ratios
- Licensable adventurous activities
- Taking trips overseas
- The LOtC Quality Badge
- Dynamic risk assessment
- Emergency planning
- Visit evaluation
Managing Minibuses in Schools
Course delivery: eTraining
Course duration: 45 - 50 minutes
Number of delegates: 1+
About this course: This module is relevant for all staff who manage minibuses in schools, including those who manage drivers and those who manage the maintenance regime of the minibus. Please note that there is a separate course for driving a minibus in schools which should be taken if you wish to drive a minibus on behalf of your school or academy.
Key topics covered:
- The role minibuses play in education establishment
- What licence and training you must deliver before staff drive a minibus
- The law around driver hours, rest periods and responsibilities
- What the safety features are of a minibus and how to check them
- What records you must keep
Planning Safe Visits
Course delivery: eTraining
Course duration: 45-50 minutes
Number of delegates: 1+
About this course: Safety whilst Learning Outside the Classroom - the official government definition of what most people call Trips or Visits - is of paramount importance. The good news is that thousands of such trips are carried out safely each year, but occasionally, for whatever reason, things do go wrong. Therefore, it is vital that safe practices and accredited venues and providers are utilised and that emergency procedures are put into place. ​ This module allows all group leaders who plan trips to understand their overall responsibilities in law by learning from good practice, formal DfE advice, and past cases illustrated by practical examples.
Key topics covered:
- Safe planning checklist
- Risk assessment
- Special needs
- Charging
- First aid and medical arrangements
- Emergency planning
- Adult/student ratios
- Activities at water margins
- The LOtC Quality Badge
- Dynamic risk assessment
- Visit evaluation
Risk Assessment Training
Course delivery: Instructor Led
Course duration: 1/2 day
Number of delegates: Up to 20
About this course: This course is suitable for all staff who have to produce risk assessments or manage teams or departments in which risks display themselves, so risk measures need to be put in place. The course content can be tailored to suit the School /Trust.
Key topics covered:
- Law and Guidance
- HSE ACOPS
- What is a risk?
- What is a hazard?
- Risk Management Principles
- What is a risk assessment?
- Control measures and their hierarchy
- The format of risk assessments
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- Dynamic Risk Assessments
- Competency and Training
- Curriculum Safety
- Premises Safety
- School Trips
- Cases - You are the judge!
- Practical examples for your school/Trust
- Q&A
"We work very hard on safety and compliance, but we couldn't do it without the Handsam system and your support, so thanks to you and your team.”
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Adam - Vice Principal