From 01 April 2008 there will be no paper based approvals. All Category B visits requiring Local Authority Approval will need to be submitted using Evolve.

With effect from September 2008 it is hoped Schools/Establishments will use this system also for all CAT A visits.

Educational Visits Newsletter - Summer 2008

Here is our Summer newsletter updating EVCs, Head teachers and Governors. We hope you find this useful, any feedback will be gratefully received.

Summer Newsletter

Health and Safety Executive Poster of the Month

Here is a copy of February's poster of the month from the HSE. In these posters they are trying to expel the myths surrounding issues attributed to Health and Safety.This months poster is particularly relevant as it is entitled:

The myth: If a pupil is hurt, the teacher is likely to be sued.

The reality: The main legal duties lie with the employer, not the teacher - or even the head teacher, unless they own the school and employ the staff. We can't find a single instance in the past five years of a teacher being personally sued for compensation. Over the years a handful of teachers have been prosecuted following very serious incidents, but only where they failed to follow direct instructions and departed from common sense. Teachers who act responsibly will be on the right side of the law.

The poster

New Education Visits Adviser appointed

Graham Lodge started as our new Education Visits Adviser on 1 June 2007. Graham joined us from Gloucestershire where he has extensive experience in working with schools on educational visits. Graham's priorities are:

to transfer the approvals process from EdVol to Evolve
develop training opportunities for visit staff teams
Rewrite "off site" guidance to be inclusive of all Childrens Services
monitor visits
liaise with providers and the various regulatory and advisory bodies

Overall, Graham's role is to support and advise schools and other Children's Services providers of off site visits to ensure enjoyable, safe learning experiences.

Graham Lodge, Educational Visits Adviser. Telephone 01603 433276 or email graham.lodge@norfolk.gov.uk

Educational Visits Training Opportunities

We are pleased to offer the following training courses relating to Educational Visits and learning outside the classroom.

Training for New Educational Visit Co-ordinators in Schools
Educational Visits Administrators Training
EVC Updates
Educational Visits Leader Training

We also promote the training sessions offered at Whitlingham OEC and the Basic Expedition Leader Award (BELA) training offered by Joanna Hogarth, County DofE Expedition Co-ordinator.

How to book on a course:

If you would like to attend any of the courses offered please look in the training section of our web site and then book a place online or contact the Educational Visits Team on telephone 01603 433276 or email educational.visits@norfolk.gov.uk who will book a place for you.

Whitlingham Training Opportunites

For further information regarding training opportunities at Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre see the training section of our Website or email Ian Hayward at ian.hayward@norfolk.gov.uk. For further information on Outdoor Activities please contact Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre on 01603 632307 or visit their website at Whitlingham OEC

DofE Training Opportunites

For further information regarding training opportunities for DofE (including BELA) see the training section of our Website or email Joanna Hogarth at joanna.hogarth@norfolk.gov.uk

A change of line management for Education Visits

Since 2004 Sue Falch-Lovesey has overseen the development of Children's Services support for education visits but with the growing environmental and sustainability agenda across the County Council will in future, as well as supporting schools, liaise across the council and other agencies. This coincides with the increasing focus on outdoor education and the developing programme available to schools through the Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre. Consequently the strategic management of education visits policy will move from Sue to Paul Hoey (Adviser Outdoor Education and Development) on 1 June 2007. Sue and Paul will continue to work together on the overall implementation of the Government's Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto.

Environmental Education Service

Link to the Environmental Education Service to access information on outdoor learning.

Visit the websites of the Norfolk County Council Field Study Centres at Holt Hall and Wells