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
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. http://www.ce.cg.cathlic.edu.au/plicies/excursin.htm 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
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
References NSWDET Guidelines fr the Safe Cnduct f Sprt and Physical Activity http://www.sprts.det.nsw.edu.au/spguide/intrduc.htm CEO Excursin Plicy http://www.ce.cg.cathlic.edu.au/plicies/excursin.htm Frms The fllwing frms are available nline at http://www.ce.cg.cathlic.edu.au/plicies/excursin.htm 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
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