OEAP issues updated guidance on planning safe educational trips overseas

The document, 7.1r Overseas Visits, explores the many benefits that can arise from a school trip abroad including experiencing the values, cultures and everyday life of different societies as well as personal and social development. 

The guidance is free to download and states that the decision about which country to visit, and which areas of that country to visit or avoid, should be based upon the following five factors: 

1. The aims and expected benefits of the visit
2. The needs and aspirations of the group
3. The environmental and cultural impact of the visit, including travel
4. An assessment of the risks, including health and security risks and the likelihood of natural disasters
5. The costs.

The OEAP, the professional association for outdoor education advisers and educational visits, says that a key resource for planning and risk assessment is the UK Government’s foreign travel advice which covers safety and security, local laws and customs, entry requirements, health and more. 

Leader and staff competence

The updated guidance states that it is “important to take account of the extra complexity involved in leading a visit overseas as compared to a visit within the UK”. 

It adds: “There should be someone who can communicate effectively and has a good understanding of the local culture. In the absence of this ability in the visit leadership team, a suitable person should be available to contact for help and advice on a 24/7 basis.”

Preparing staff, young people and parents

The OEAP says that a pre-visit parental briefing is “good practice” and should: 

• Set clear expectations about the behaviour of participants, including circumstances in which parents should be prepared for participants to be sent home early, or to be responsible for their collection, and when such repatriation may be at parental expense;
• Include a detailed programme of the visit, including any specialist activities;
• Explain the supervision arrangements, including any use of remote supervision
• Cover expectations about downtime, curfews, bedtimes, alcohol, smoking etc;
• Ensure that parents are aware of the need to disclose full information about their child’s physical and emotional wellbeing or mental health that may affect them during the visit, and of any medications that they need to take;
• Set expectations about mobile phone/tablet use, social media activity etc.

The document also sets out key information on passports and visas, the Electronic Entry/Exit System (EES) and customs restrictions for teachers and EVCs to be aware of when planning and leading overseas trips.