| |
Home
News Centre
Popular
Questions
Publications
FoI
Publications Scheme
Research
Consultations
Our
Strategy
Speeches
Statistics
Inside
the Department
Cymraeg/Welsh
Links
Contact Us
Help
User guide
|
|
OUTDOOR LEARNING - KELLY
15 February 2005The Government wants outdoor learning, including school visits, to be part of every pupil’s experience Education and Skills Secretary Ruth Kelly said today. Approximately 7 million pupil visits already take place every year meaning that thousands of pupils are going on visits every week. From a geography field trip to a week at a residential activity centre, out of classroom education can help bring a subject to life. The Government wants education outside the classroom to be an important part of all young people’s education. In order to improve both the quantity and quality of education outside the classroom the Government has developed a three-step approach focused on increasing staff confidence, cutting bureaucracy and enriching outdoor provision. New detailed guidance (which we aim to publish in full this summer) covering the fair treatment of school staff – a key concern of teaching unions – will make clear and seek to ensure that: • Staff who take reasonable care, and follow employer guidelines are, in the event of any unfortunate accident, protected by the law; and,
• By carrying out straightforward, compulsory safety checks school staff can protect both pupils and staff and themselves on a school visit and minimise the risk of litigation.The guidance will also make clear that employers must treat staff fairly when a pupil gets injured and that we expect parents to respond fairly too.In addition, the amount of paperwork involved in organising a school trip should not be excessive but should simply enable activities to go ahead safely. The Government wants Local Authorities to achieve a better balance between minimising red tape whilst ensuring that the necessary measures are taken to protect pupil health and safety. We will work with local authorities to achieve this. Ruth Kelly said: “The majority of schools already offer a range of outdoor learning including school trips that enrich the curriculum, build confidence and increase skills.
“However, we know that some schools and staff would like re-assurance about their responsibility for pupil safety. “We want to make sure that all school staff have the confidence to continue offering these experiences and that everyone involved in a school trip, including parents, are aware of their rights and responsibilities.” With the new guidance in place the Government would like to see school visits become an important part of a young person’s education. This will be a key aspect of the new Manifesto for Education Outside the Classroom to be launched in the new school year. Bringing together a range of stakeholders, the Manifesto will: • set out a joint commitment that all children should have the opportunity of a wide range of high quality outdoor learning, including at least one residential experience;
• encourage schools to partner with other schools and outdoor learning providers;
• encourage parents to take an active interest outdoor learning;
• set out a range of advice and support;
• provide information and good practice guidance on health and safety issues; and
• set out priorities for the development of outdoor learning. Around thirty partners from across the outdoor learning sector have already been involved in early Manifesto discussions. They will work together to establish a broad range of priorities for helping schools to improve the range and quality of education outside of the classroom.
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. The Department for Education is already supporting schools in delivering outdoor learning and residential visits in a number of ways: i)- Our investment in PE and sport is seeing more outdoor activity centres upgrading their facilities through the Big Lottery Fund. ii)Our support for the outdoor classroom through the ‘Growing Schools’ programme is giving resources for schools & information on 1000+ places to visit. More than 20,000 of our ‘Growing Schools’ calendar and resource pack have been ordered since October iii)Our £51 million network of Science Learning Centres will soon be training science staff to lead field studies with confidence. iv)Our Geography Development Fund is providing new resources for geography teachers. And, with our support, the Open University Teach & Learn website now has units supporting fieldwork including primary and secondary geography, history and science. v) With Defra and the Countryside Agency we have a new training & quality assurance scheme for farms as outdoor education centres. With our partners, we will extend this scheme to other venues, e.g. country estates and national parks.
2. See annex A for the principles on which we are consulting.
3. See Annex B for a list of organisations already involved in early discussions on the Manifesto.
Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2005/0021
|
|
|
|
