and Parish Pastoral CouncilMother Teresa School Excursion Policy

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1 and Parish Pastral CuncilMther Teresa Schl Excursin Plicy Related Plicies CEO Plicies: Child Prtectin, First Aid, Legal Respnsibilities, Sprt and Physical Activity, Safety, Sun Smart, Supervisin, Mther Teresa Schl Plicies: Sun Safe Purpse This plicy utlines schl requirements fr the cnduct f excursins and ut f schl activities. Plicy Excursins ffer students the pprtunity t participate in educatin related experiences utside the nrmal schl envirnment. While there is recgnitin f the advantages f these experiences, it is imprtant that all safety issues are carefully cnsidered when rganising such an excursin. When determining initial arrangements, it is imprtant t cnsider the cst t the students and t ensure that n student is disadvantaged thrugh an inability t meet the financial requirements. An excursin levy is paid by families as part f their schl fees. It is the respnsibility f all schl staff t exercise their duty f care thrughut an excursin and ensure that CEO and schl plicies are fllwed. If a freseeable injury ccurs as a result f a breach f this duty f care, a teacher may be sued fr negligence. Definitins An excursin is an educatinal activity by students, under the supervisin f a teacher, utside nrmal schl precincts. Excursin Crdinatr refers t the Teacher nminated by the Principal t rganise the excursin and t have ultimate respnsibility and therefre authrity while the activity is in prgress. Legal duty f care requires that teachers shuld take all reasnable measures t ensure the safety f any schl student under their care. This duty f care will arise whenever a student/teacher relatinship exists. Parent(s) is inclusive f thse with parental respnsibility and guardians. Infrmed cnsent means that parents give agreement t their child participating in an activity after they have been made aware f the details f the activity and assciated csts invlved. Accmpanying adults include teachers, schl administrative staff, parents, activity leaders and cmmunity members wh have cmpleted a Prhibited Emplyment Declaratin (PED) Annual minr excursin permissin ntes are signed at the beginning f each schl year by parents, giving permissin fr children t leave the schl grunds n a walking excursin in the lcal vicinity. Excursin types: Categry A = Mvement, generally n ft in the vicinity f the schl. 1 teacher. Categry B = Schl rganised lcal excursins which invlve day travel. Min. 1 teacher. Categry C = Day excursins participating utside the lcal area. Min. 1 teacher. CEO apprval required frm LR1 and Risk Management Plan. Categry D = Excursins which include vernight accmmdatin. 1:20 Min 2 teacher. CEO apprval required frms LR1, LR3 and Risk Management Plan. Mther Teresa Schl, Harrisn ACT Excursin Plicy 2009 page 1/ 5

2 Prcedures Rles, respnsibilities and prcedures t fllw fr all staff The Principal Details f the respnsibility f the principal when cnsidering an excursin can be fund n the CEO Website. The Excursin Crdinatr It is the respnsibility f the Excursin Crdinatr t: (adapted frm CEO Plicy) Knw the requirements f the Excursins Plicy, and where necessary have cnfrmed t the NSW DET Guidelines fr the Safe Cnduct f Sprt and Physical Activity in Schls. Use the term excursin levy as determined by schl budget each year which is part f the schl fees parents pay. Generally classes will be limited t ne excursin per term. Plan carefully and investigate the excursin thrughly, including a Risk Assessment. Obtain the apprval f the Principal when planning an excursin and remind the Principal befre leaving the schl n the day befre the excursin. Infrm Secretary at least tw weeks in advance if bus bkings are required. Infrm parents well in advance f planned excursins. Ensure that students and parents are aware f supervisin and transprt arrangements and have signed permissin fr students t travel by private vehicle. Ensure that where travel is by bus, nly accredited bus cmpanies are used. Seatbelts must be wrn n buses and caches when they are available. Where pssible Principals shuld try t hire buses with seatbelts, particularly fr lng distance travel. Ensure CEO first aid requirements are adhered t and a first aid kit is carried. Additinal adults shuld accmpany excursins when extra care is cnsidered necessary fr the safety and welfare f students. Ensure that all accmpanying adults are apprpriately qualified and/r experienced and are advised f their respnsibilities in accrdance t relevant CEO and schl plicies. Ensure that staff and accmpanying adults act with due care t carry ut their duties and are made aware that they must nt drink alchl while they have a cntinuing respnsibility fr students, as n all schl excursins. Cnsent frms sent t parents seeking permissin fr their child t attend an excursin shuld cntain details f the planned activities, destinatin, name/s f supervising teachers, methd f transprt, departure and return times and details f clthing, equipment and fd. * See nte n wavier frms belw. Gain infrmed cnsent by ensuring that parental infrmatin, medical and cnsent frms are issued, cmpleted and returned prir t the excursin except where a Categry A excursin is being undertaken and the schl has cllected annual minr excursin permissin ntes. Cpies f medical frms and emergency cntacts must be carried n excursins. Parents must als return the permissin slip, signed, if their child is nt able t attend the excursin. Fr vernight excursins, ensure that girls and bys are accmmdated in separate rms and there is adequate gender supervisin. If the excursin r activity invlves interactin with rganisatins in NSW the excursin crdinatr must make enquiries t ensure that staff members frm thse rganisatins invlved with the students n the excursin have been apprpriately screened in accrdance with NSW Child Prtectin legislatin. Mther Teresa Schl, Harrisn ACT Excursin Plicy 2009 page 2/ 5

3 Fr Categry C and D excursins cmplete Applicatin Frm LR1, Outline f Excursin Prgram, Risk Management Plan and frward t Principal fr apprval. Supervising Teachers All supervising teachers must: Arrange substitute playgrund duty. Ntify teachers r classes affected by absence f teachers r children. Supervisin must be arranged and wrk prvided fr children nt attending excursin. Prvide students and adult participants with the pprtunity t understand fully their rights, respnsibilities, rles and duties. Cmmunicate t all participants the details f the supervisin arrangements and apprpriate standard f behaviur required t ensure the safety and welfare f students and adults in attendance. A class list MUST BE MARKED after each step r each stage f an excursin. Nt allw students t leave the excursin grup withut permissin f the designated supervising adult in charge. This wuld invlve knwledge f the itinerary f the students, apprpriate supervisin arrangements, and the arrangements fr the return f the student t the excursin grup. Cmplete a suitable risk assessment if children are attending an excursin t an unfamiliar r irregular lcatin. Wavier Frms External rganisatins which hld sprting cmpetitins r excursins n premised wned by external rganisatins, ften require the student r parent t sign a dcument r as a cnditin f ticket purchase, whereby the student waives r releases any claim arising ut f persnal injury r damage f any kind suffered in participating in the event, including lss r damage caused by the negligence f the event rganizer r event hst. Mther Teresa Schl and the CEO wishes t ensure that the parents/students understand the effect f these waivers and releases s that they can make their wn infrmed decisin as t whether r nt t allw each student t participate. T this end all cnsent frms fr such events must include the fllwing: An external rganisatin invlved in an activity (such as an event rganiser r event hst) may require yu r yur child t sign a dcument as a cnditin f participatin. Such dcuments ften cntain prvisins (such as a waiver, release r indemnity prvisins) that remve r limit rights which yur child r yu may therwise have had relating t any persnal injury, damage r lss f any kind suffered, whether arising frm negligence r therwise. We strngly recmmend that yu read and cnsider any such dcument carefully and take advice n the effect f such dcument and any insurance yu shuld cnsider btaining.' Teachers shuld bring t the attentin f the Principal any request by event r excursin rganisers, t sign liability waivers. In cases where schls are asked by event r excursin rganisers t seek liability waivers frm parents they must ensure that the cnsent frms have the abve statement included and that the parent/guardian sign the cnsent frm and that the schl is nt party t these waivers r indemnities. Mther Teresa Schl, Harrisn ACT Excursin Plicy 2009 page 3/ 5

4 References NSWDET Guidelines fr the Safe Cnduct f Sprt and Physical Activity CEO Excursin Plicy Frms The fllwing frms are available nline at Child Related Emplyment Declaratin (ACT) LR1 Applicatin fr Excursin Apprval OHS Risk Management Prfrma Sample Sample cnsent frms fr categry A, B, C/D excursins Mther Teresa Schl Excursin Planner Apprved by: Issuing Grup: Implementatin Date: Supersedes Plicy Dated: Revisin Date: Mther Teresa Schl, Harrisn ACT Excursin Plicy 2009 page 4/ 5

5 Class Attending Date/s f Excursin Mther Teresa Schl Excursin Planner Intended Destinatin. Excursin Type Cst f Excursin List f adults attending Purpse f Excursin (Teacher signature) (Principal signature) Check list Nte hme Bus rdered Risk assessment cmpleted Schl duty reassigned. Mther Teresa Schl, Harrisn ACT Excursin Plicy 2009 page 5/ 5