By Sasha Glasgow
Thanks to new guidance from the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), teachers will find it easier to take pupils on school trips, with more help and advice and less bureaucracy.
The measure is included in the ?Staying Safe? Action Plan, launched by the DCSF?today.
Evidence shows that learning outside of the class room promotes increased self confidence and raised achievement in kids.
Heads and teachers have shown willingness to take kids on more visits, if they had training and felt more confident.
Organisations that host schools and other youth group visits, such as museums, have been encouraged to qualify for quality badges. These badges will make it easier for teachers to see which organisations provide the best external learning benefits and which are managing safety issues effectively. This will see the burden of risk assessment on teachers reduced.
Children,?schools and family secretary, Ed Balls said,’ I hope that by making it easier for teachers to take thier students outside the classroom we will help a genration of pupils develop their independence and raise their attainment.’
Children’s minister, Kevin Brennan said, ‘if children are not safe, they cannot be happy, healthy or reach their full potential. But we can’t wrap them up – they need to learn about taking risks so they can protect themselves.’