Each year schools and other establishments in North Yorkshire organise a wide variety of off-site educational visits to many different locations. This section contains information for parents and for Educational Visits Coordinators (EVCs) who are responsible for ensuring that the planning of visits and activities has been carried out satisfactorily.

Educational visits range from short trips to local parks or museums, sporting fixtures or field study trips to overnight stays in foreign countries. Some visits may include potentially hazardous activities such as water sports or rock climbing but, whatever the nature of the visit, they are all carried out with the highest regard for health and safety of both children and adults involved in them.

All schools and Children and Young People's service establishments are required to have a written policy for off-site visits and activities and the Local Authority (LA) has issued a comprehensive Code of Practice and Safety Guidelines to all these establishments. These guidelines are used in conjunction with the Department of Children, Schools and Families guidance on "Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits" to ensure, as far as is ever possible, that all educational visits provide a safe and valuable experience for all involved. All schools also have a designated Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) who has received appropriate training in the planning of educational trips. 

Schools are required to notify the Local Authority of all off-site visits and activities which must have formal approval before proceeding. Schools, that is the Headteacher and Governors) can give formal approval for all types of visit or activity except for:

• all visits and activities abroad;
• certain types of adventure activities.

These activities also require the prior approval of the Local Authority's General Adviser (Outdoor Education and Educational Visits) before they can take place.

The Local Authority has a responsibility to monitor off-site visits and activities and this is undertaken by reviewing documentation provided by schools, accompanying schools on trips and by unannounced spot checks in order to monitor health and safety.

Useful downloads Code of Practice for Off-Site Educational Visits [646kb] Code of Practice under which North Yorkshire schools must operate in relation to educational visits Guidelines for educational Off-site visits and activities for children and young people’s service [2Mb] Policy and advice for the management of all young people taking part in activities away from their normal base, when they are in the care and responsibility of employees of the North Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Service. Assistance with free school meals and residential visits [73kb] Application form 2009-10 Outdoor Education for Adults Course Calendar [13kb] Adult outdoor education courses available at the County Council's four outdoor education centres.   Weblinks Please note: All external websites open in a new browser window. North Yorkshire County Council is not responsible for the content of external websites. North Yorkshire Outdoor Education Service Information about the facilities and courses offered at the County Council's four Outdoor Education Centres. Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits Department for Children, Schools and Families guidance on health and safety of pupils on educational visits Educational visits - frequently asked questions What is the policy for educational visits? What types of educational visit are covered by the Code of Practice? What information will I be provided with about my child's educational visit? How is the safety of my child ensured on an educational visit? What are the procedures for contacting me in an emergency? What should I do if my child has a medical condition? Who should I contact about my child's educational visit? What is the policy for charging for activities? Contacts General Adviser (Outdoor Education and Educational Visits) dave.barham@northyorks.gov.uk Tel: 01609 797040 Full details for General Adviser (Outdoor Education and Educational Visits) The education office - Harrogate (general office) aandi.harrogate@northyorks.gov... Tel: 0845 0349467 Full details for The education office - Harrogate (general office)