DEPARTMENTof EDUCATION
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Working Outside the Classroom (Minor Excursions)

Principals and teachers should also refer in particular to Supervision, Safety and Risk Management, and Approval Processes as well as Related Planning Information

Teaching out of doors poses problems of organisation and safety quite unlike any met in the normal classroom situation. Careful planning is required, even for short local trips, if the outdoor learning environment is to be used effectively and safely.

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Approval Processes (Minor Excursions)

  • The Principal must give approval for all excursions away from school. This includes visits lasting one day, or less, that are not inherently dangerous to parks, museums, sports days, field study centres and other places of educational value within the local community.
  • The Principal also has the responsibility for all arrangements for out-of-school programs, including arrangements for notifying parents of the program, obtaining medical information, supervision and safety and risk management.
  • Each school should develop an internal administrative process to deal with such minor trips. This should include a school recording process (book/filing/electronic) including details of:
    • itinerary
    • student and staff names (copy lodged with School Office prior to leaving) and supervision, transport details and costs
    • Safety and Risk Management assessment
    • contact numbers and contact persons
  • Schools are required at the beginning of each school year to seek parents and guardians consent for their child to attend all minor excursions and activities that are part of the school’s curriculum. This is a general consent for all minor excursions conducted during that year and as such specific parental permission for each excursion is not required. In the case of all excursions, as part of their duty of care, in an emergency teachers may transport the student to a safe place or place of treatment by ambulance or other forms of transport, as detailed on the original student enrolment form.  Costs associated with this action are the responsibility of the person who signed the enrolment form. See Approval Processes.

Parental Approval

  • Provided parents have given general permission for their child to attend minor excursions for that school year, it is not necessary for schools to seek parental approval for each excursion of this type. Notification however of minor excursions must be given in a timely manner. If a parent wishes to withdraw the student from a particular excursion they must do so in writing to the school, giving the reason for the withdrawal.

  • Schools should ensure that:
    • parents and guardians are aware of the likely duration and type of excursion, and the program.
    • any special medical conditions of participants are known and understood by the staff involved in the excursion. This should include details of any medication and dosage being taken by the child  and any special requirements: e.g. diet.

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Student Supervision

  • See Supervision for Students for details on using volunteers (including parents) as assisting adults.
  • As a general principle, students should be in view of the supervising adults at all times and all adults must be briefed as to their duties and roles.
  • Younger students must never be allowed to work on their own.

Qualifications

  • The teacher-in-charge must have:
    • experience in group-management skills out of doors.
    • first–hand knowledge of the area being used and the hazards in the area.
    • knowledge of and ability to perform first-aid. (Possession of a First Aid certificate is strongly recommended).
    • relevant activity qualification when working in for example a bush setting, from a boat or near water. (See Activity Guidelines - Environmental Studies)

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Equipment

  • Teacher and leaders should ensure students have appropriate clothing, footwear and equipment for the activity and adequate food, water and sun protection.
  • A first aid kit must be available, together with appropriate emergency equipment e.g. throwing line, flotation device, spare clothing, food. (See First Aid)
  • A mobile phone is most useful as long as the area to be visited is in operational range.

Venues

  • When choosing a venue the teacher must:
    • visit the area prior to the activity to assess potential traffic hazards, environmental hazards, (e.g. quarry face, steep slopes, slippery rocks, tide levels, high or crumbly river banks), communications, vehicle access and suitability for the program.
    • establish access to emergency services.
    • check on tides, water levels and weather where appropriate.
    • choose sites with care, avoiding regularly-used and fragile areas.
    • contact land managers about access and any collecting restrictions. (See Access)
  • Many streams and rivers in Tasmania even in the wilderness areas are now polluted or infected with Giardia. Collected drinking water should be treated by boiling or with water purification filters, pumps or tablets.

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Ratios

  • The ratio of student to teacher will vary according to the venue, age of the students, program, weather etc but in most environments away from the school there should be at least 1 adult to every 15 students.
  • However, in some environments, the ratio will be lower. In urban areas, for example, younger students (up to and including Grade 7) should work in small supervised groups.

See also the Environmental Studies section:

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