Practicalities — You Can Do It!
Welcome to the Learning Outside the Classroom You Can Do It section, where you can find practical suggestions that are grounded in professional practice to help teachers, youth workers and other learning professionals do their job.
Learning outside the classroom can be rewarding and immensely motivating for all concerned. To help this you, you should have policies and procedures which are efficient, manageable and light on bureaucracy.
In the following pages you will find helpful suggestions and guidance for planning learning outside the classroom — covering the essentials for those managing activities.
For guidance on learning and curriculum see How do we organise learning?
Planning ahead for a successful activity is essential.
The activity may be in the school grounds, in the immediate environment of the centre or project, at the local park, museum, library or farm. It may include adventure activities or a residential stay in the UK or abroad. No matter where it is, sensible and proportionate planning will help the learning experience to take place successfully.
Such planning involves weighing up the benefits against any potential risks which may arise and making plans to avoid or reduce them. In schools, the headteacher will often delegate the detailed planning to the organiser/leader of the activity. In other settings there will be other arrangements. Make sure you know what the policies and procedures are and follow them.
If you work in a school and need help, ask more experienced colleagues — they may be part of your LOtC team; and the local authority is also likely to have an Adviser who can offer support and advice. See: Who can help?
Make sure that you check that any processes and approaches you take are in line with the requirements of your employer, through your headteacher, governing body and, where applicable, your local authority. These are normally based on the 1998 Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits (HASPEV) guidance and supplements.
Remember also that the Workforce Agreement means that teachers should only be doing administrative tasks that relate to their core business as teachers — learning and teaching. Up-to-date and well led schools ensure that teachers are given appropriate support for basic administrative tasks. Therefore don’t be afraid to ask for help and to delegate when it is appropriate.
See www.tda.gov.uk/remodelling/nationalagreement.aspx. Although this section is primarily for the school workforce, it will be equally useful for other people involved in Children’s Services.