Who is responsible?

The person who leads or facilitates a group in outdoor learning is the crucial influence on safety and quality.

Teacher/leader

The teacher or leader who had the idea of getting young people engaged with outdoor learning will have responsibility for the success of the experience.

It is important to remember that there are other people and agencies that are likely to be involved in the responsibility chain too.

Key responsibilities as group leader include:

• Overall responsibility for the supervision, safety and conduct of the excursion
• Getting approval of your plans from the head of establishment
• Following local authority regulations, guidelines and policies
• Being able to confirm the suitability of the location where the activity will take place
• Being confident that the outdoor learning planned is a good choice for all participants
• Having enough information on the proposed participants to assess their suitability (or be satisfied that their suitability has been assessed and confirmed)
• Securing parental approval and holding home contact details
• Appointing and briefing deputies and group supervisors where appropriate
• Being able to control, lead and instruct participants of the relevant age range
• Being trained in child protection issues
• The planning and preparation of the excursion including: ensuring that adequate first aid provision will be available, briefing of group members and parents, risk assessment, emergency procedures and how to activate them; and additional support or medical needs.

Local authorities

Local authorities (and employers in other educational establishments) provide specific guidance and advice on outdoor learning in their area including:

• risk assessment
• access to technical advice
• emergency procedures
• appropriate insurance cover in place
• approval processes for outdoor learning.

Local authority advice should always be referred to. Comprehensive advice can also be found in HSEE and in the HSEE Leader Handbook.

Head of establishment

The head of the school or centre should confirm good practice across many aspects including:

• suitable educational aims and venues
• adequate child protection procedures
• risk assessment
• staffing
• ratios.

Plans for outdoor learning can often be fully approved by the head of establishment. They should not be reluctant to seek external advice if the path to approval of an experience is not clear.

The teacher/leader must involve the head of establishment.

Other staff and adult volunteers

Staff and adult volunteers can make a tremendous contribution to the success of outdoor learning but the leader must ensure they understand what is required of them.

Do not fall into the trap of leading by committee - leadership is more effective in the hands of a single individual (who may usefully seek the views of others).

Learners

Curriculum for Excellence puts responsibilities for learning in the hands of learners themselves. Learners can make many positive contributions to outdoor learning whilst developing their own understanding of planning, challenge, risk and how to deal with it.

Parents

Parents should be able to make an informed decision on whether their child should go and will need to:

• provide the group leader with emergency contact number(s)
• sign the consent form
• give the group leader information about their child’s emotional, psychological and physical health.

Local authorities will have standard procedures to be followed.

Further guidance

This guidance is aimed primarily at teachers and other leaders providing outdoor learning experiences to children and young people. The advice is not comprehensive but aims to cover 90% of the most common outdoor learning situations

More extensive guidance can be found:

• by utilising specialist advice from your local authority
• in 'Health and Safety on Educational Excursions'.

Further information

See chapter 1 – Responsibilities for excursions:

• Legal framework (para 9-12)
• Approval for excursions (13-15)
• Local authorities (16)
• Employers in other educational establishments (17-18)
• Head of establishment (19-21)
• Group leader (22)
• Other paid staff (23-24)
• Adult volunteers (25)
• Responsibilities of participants (26-27)
• Parents (28-32)