Department for Education says schools can take day trips from 12 April 2021
The Department for Education (DfE) published new guidance on March 26 for schools and colleges planning educational visits for their pupils.
In recognition of the 'significant benefits of educational visits for children’s educational development as well as their mental health and wellbeing' the DfE has published the first steps to allow children to enjoy visits in line with the government’s roadmap.
Educational day trips allowed from 12 April 2021
In line with England moving into phase 2 of the roadmap out of lockdown, schools in England can now make education visits and day trips.
The guidance states that educational day visits must be conducted in line with relevant coronavirus (COVID-19) secure guidelines and regulations in place at that time such as keeping children within their consistent groups and the COVID-secure measures in place at the destination. Schools should undertake full and thorough risk assessments in relation to all educational visits to ensure they can be undertaken safely. As part of this risk assessment, schools will need to consider what control measures need to be used and follow wider advice on visiting indoor and outdoor venues.
Domestic residentials could resume from 17 May 2021
Should step 3 of the roadmap commence as planned, the DfE has confirmed that schools and colleges may undertake domestic residential education visits, that are already booked, from 17 May 2021. Any domestic residential educational visits must be conducted in line with relevant coronavirus (COVID-19) secure guidance and regulations in place at that time and the DfE has confirmed that it is working with Public Health England and the sector on what coronavirus (COVID-19) secure residential visits will look like at step 3, and they state that 'further advice will be provided'.
To avoid the uncertainty some schools are converting their pre-planned residential into a series of day visits - some schools even having a sleepover in the school hall to give children a residential experience!
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