EVCs are responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of students on all educational visits, and they should have a comprehensive understanding of the relevant health and safety legislation and best practices. 

There are several different EVC training courses available, online and in person. These courses typically cover the following topics: 

• The legal requirements for educational visits 

• Risk assessment and management 
• Emergency planning 
• First aid 
• Child protection 
• Safeguarding 

• Communication and teamwork 
• The use of technology in educational visits 

EVC training is typically delivered over a one or two-day course. Some courses may also include a practical element, such as a risk assessment exercise or a first aid demonstration. 

In addition to formal EVC training, there are many other resources available to help schools ensure the safety of their educational visits. For example, resources in the UK include: 

• The Department for Education’s guidance on health and safety on educational visits 

• The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on risk assessment 
• The British Association of Occupational Safety and Health’s guidance on first aid 
• The NSPCC’s guidance on child protection 
• The Safeguarding Children in Education (SCE) toolkit 

Additional benefits of EVC training: 

• It can help to improve the quality of educational visits by ensuring that they are well-planned and managed, from a risk perspective. 
• It can help to build confidence and competence in EVCs, which can lead to better decision-making in the event of an emergency. 
• It can help to create a culture of safety within the school, which can benefit all students and staff. 

Tips for ensuring the safety of educational visits: 

• Always choose a reputable provider for your educational visits. 

• Conduct a thorough risk assessment before every visit. 
• Ensure that staff involved in the visit have the necessary training and qualifications. 
• Provide students with clear instructions and expectations before the visit. 
• Monitor the visit closely and be prepared to act if necessary. 
• Debrief after the visit and make any necessary changes regarding future visits. 

By following these tips, you can help to ensure that all educational visits at your school are safe and enjoyable for students. 

The iProtectU health and safety software provides: 

• An inspection and Audit App which allows for safety inspection of the trip location and associated report 
• eLearning on a wide range of EHS subjects 
• Scheduling functionality for managers to send eLearning, risk assessments and documents out to all staff via the software with tracks completion and compliance 

• Risk assessment templates covering educational visits and other activities 
• Management system to document control the policy on school trip safety management 
• Method Statement module for the creation of working instructions 
• Legal register that provides legislation guidance on school trips 
• Incident investigation module that tracks incidents involving trips both with an app and via desktop 

• Hazard observation app where staff can report and record any concerns regarding the school trip  
• Asset management App ensuring assets are recorded in the software