Education Outside the Classroom Procedures

Rationale:

A basic aim of education is to provide all learners with the knowledge, skills, and attributes that enable them to go on learning in a changing world.

Such developments cannot take place solely within the confines of school or centre buildings, and for many years New Zealand children of all ages have had their learning extended and enhanced through activities that take place away from these buildings. These activities, whether supporting one aspect of learning or linking several, have become known as EOTC (education outside the classroom/centre). They are accepted as an essential part of the curriculum.

Children learn by enjoying experiences appropriate to their needs and environment. Varied experiences are necessary for maximum development, and all learners should be given opportunities to explore the world outside the classroom. These experiences will be a feature of class programmes and will be planned to enhance the aspects of the curriculum under study.

EOTC can help children to gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they will need for continuous, lifelong learning, for participating fully in everyday life, and for living and working with other people.

Definition:

‘Education Outside the Classroom’ at West Eyreton School includes all trips away from the school, for example class trips, small group visits, whole school trips, school camps, sporting and cultural events, use of the local environment, attendance at local hall etc.

Goals

EOTC programmes in this school will be designed to:

• enhance learning, through a variety of well-designed, first-hand experiences;

• provide experiences for learners that encourage awareness of the values and philosophy of the all cultures within the school community;

• increase learners' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the school area, local district, and other places, including some unfamiliar places;

• develop learners' skills in observation, recording, reporting, and organisation;

• help learners develop self-confidence and a sense of adventure;

• assist learners in their social development by placing them with others in unfamiliar situations;

• help learners develop an attitude of responsibility, particularly towards their own safety and that of others;

• meet the local curriculum goals in our charter.

Guidelines:

Our school will:

• use EOTC to enhance learning in all curriculum areas;

• wherever possible utilise the resources of the school community and environs;

• offer opportunities for overnight camps if this is an effective way of meeting the children’s learning needs

• involve parents and care givers in supporting roles in EOTC activities

• ensure, where possible, that children are not excluded from participation in EOTC programmes;

• provide alternative learning situations for children unable to participate;

• follow Ministry of Education and school procedures for guidelines on safety and supervision, risk management, leadership, and legal requirements

• ensure adequate on-going training for all staff involved in EOTC, including support for staff attending approved workshops, seminars, courses, and training and assessment schemes.

Financial Management

School Camps:

1. The teacher responsible for organising the camp shall, in consultation with the principal, establish a budget for the camp and ensure that costs are kept within budget and that parents are kept informed of camp arrangements.

2. Parents must be notified as early as possible about the planned camp and projected costs involved, to allow families the opportunity to budget for this venture.

3. Any costs directly incurred by parents attending the camp (to meet ratio requirements) will be shared equally amongst the children.

4. In any cases of genuine financial hardship, the Board of Trustees will consider alternative ways of allowing the child to experience the activity without placing the parents in financial difficulty.

5. Camp fees must be paid in advance, unless otherwise arranged with the school.

School trips:

6. Parents must pay the costs of school trips in advance unless the school has arranged otherwise.

7. The Board of Trustees sets fees for car travel. This varies according to the distance travelled and is reviewed by the BOT. Parents providing travel will receive an allocation of the fees charged as reimbursement for some of their fuel costs.

8. Children going on the bus will be charged pro rata to the cost of hiring the bus for the outing.

Risk Management

NOTE: This information should be followed in conjunction with that contained in the West Eyreton School Transportation Safety Procedures.

1. The risk management procedures attached to this procedure are to be followed every time children are taken outside the school boundaries.

2. The school guidelines on suggested ratios and risk factors will be followed in determining the appropriate level of risk for the planned activity.

3. For trips classified as “High Risk” and trips involving overnight stays, applications for Education Outside the Classroom must first be approved by the Principal and then the Board of Trustees.

4. High Risk safety forms, including the Swimming Consent forms if appropriate, must be completed for all children participating in high risk activities. Accompanying adults must fill out the Staff and Volunteer Competence forms.

5. Parents attending camps or trips should be carefully selected by the school. They should have proven supervisory skills which include the necessary skills and abilities required for the type of activities planned. Parents without the necessary skills to supervise a planned activity should be treated and supervised as for a pupil. They are not to be considered a supervisor because they are an adult or a parent.

6. Applications for trips classified as “Medium and Low Risk” will be approved by the Principal, and the Principal will inform the Board, as part of the Principal’s report each month.

7. Any serious safety incidents occurring on outings will be reported to the Board by the principal immediately. This must be reported using the “Incident Accident Report EOTC form”. Completed evaluations will be reported to the Board by the principal at the next board meeting.

8. Approval for children to attend Low Risk events throughout the year will be covered by one overall form sent home to parents at the start of each school year. Throughout the year, information will be sent home to parents so that they are informed of all events taking place and of the travel and other arrangements.

9. Transport forms will be completed by all parents providing transport for each event.

10. Parents will be informed of the RAM information for both Medium and High Risk events and they must sign the Parent Consent and Risk Disclosure forms stating that they have been informed of the level of risk involved.

11. Where the outing is a High Risk event or a school camp then a statement of medical conditions must also be obtained for children and participating adults.

12. Teachers will check children’s medical history information before departing on any trip out of school.

13. Pre-schoolers will not accompany parents on High Risk events. It is advisable that they do not attend Medium and Low Risk events. The Principal will make a decision based on the circumstances concerning the level of supervision required. The safety of the trip must not be jeopardized by the attendance of preschoolers.

14. The Safety and EOTC Guide will be referred to when setting up Safety Management Systems.

15. Teachers must use the appropriate RAMS forms set up for each level of risk event. These are attached to this procedure.

16. Where E.O.T.C. involves overnight stays a Police vet will be sought for supervising parents/guardians.

Conclusion

This school is committed to providing EOTC for all children, in a variety of curriculum areas. This procedure is closely related to this school's policies on the care of children, learning and teaching.