School Tours Draft Policy
St Canice’s Co-Ed Primary School
Granges Road, Kilkenny. School Tour Policy This policy was drawn up by the staff of St. Canice’s Co-Ed. Primary School, ratified by the Board of Management and circulated to staff and parents/guardians of the children. The purpose of the policy is to document current and future practice with regards to school tours. The policy will be reviewed on a yearly basis. Aims of Policy:
Tours: There will be one annual school tour per standard at end of the year. Tours will be arranged at the discretion of the class teacher and must be approved by the Board of Management. Transport: The transport organiser of the tour will ensure that:- (a) Tenders are sought for all tours (b) A form of transport, appropriate to the distance and the numbers travelling will be chosen. (c) The bus Company/suppliers and drivers accept the following conditions..... Conditions of Hiring: All transport supplied will be suitable and well-maintained. Teachers have the right to refuse any bus they find unsuitable for their outing. If the bus proves unsuitable a replacement will be supplied or the money refunded. The driver is responsible for the safety of the children while they are travelling but teachers have the right to intervene if it is felt the safety of the children is compromised The group will have access to the bus for the full day. If the weather conditions are unfavourable the group will have the use of the bus for sheltering. Buses will be left as they were found. Possible Venues for Tours Teachers may choose a venue from a list of places deemed suitable for their particular class level. Teachers will ensure that venues are suitable for pupils with special needs. Some possible options are listed below. Junior/Senior Infants Parson’s Green, Co Tipperary Nore Valley Farm, Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny. Castlecomer Discovery Park, Kilkenny. Kilkenny Castle and Park First/Second Class Chocolate Factory, Rathwood, Co. Carlow Tramore Beach and Activity Centre, Co. Waterford Tayto Park, Co. Meath Pine Forest, Glencullen, Co. Dublin. Tricky Tricksters Magic Castle, Naas, Co. Kildare Dublin Zoo Pirates’ Cove, Co Waterford Third/Fourth Class Mitchelstown Caves, Swiss Cottage and Cahir Castle Ferrycarrig Heritage Park, Co. Wexford Let’s Go Camp for Kids (moveable venue) Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Co. Kildare Fifth/Sixth Class The National Acquatic Centre Kilmainham Jail, Dublin Collins’ Barracks, Dublin Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin Croke Park Tour and Museum, Dublin The National History Museum,Dublin The National Gallery, Dubllin Dunmore East Activity Centre, Waterford U.L. Activity Centre, Limerick Tour Kit: Teachers are advised to organise and take a tour kit on all outings. The kits should contain:- First aid materials, medicines for any children with medical conditions/allergies, refuse and illness bags, newspapers, kitchen roll, a mobile phone, maps of the locality, umbrella, one or two spare tracksuits in case of an accident, phone numbers of parents and emergency services, a discretionary tip for the driver. Cost Of Tour / Trip: The teachers will ensure that the cost of the tour is reasonable and represents value for money. All children will be actively encouraged to save towards the cost of the tour. Spending money: If spending money is a consideration, teachers travelling together will agree and notify their group of the upper limit on spending money. This will be based on age and venue. When: All tours will all take place in June. As soon as teachers have booked their school tour, the date of same must be inserted in the school calendar to avoid possible clashes with other school events. School Uniforms / School Tracksuit: Teachers travelling together will decide whether uniforms / tracksuit should be worn depending on type of tour. Phones and Electronic Devices: Children are not allowed to bring phones or electronic devices on their school tour. Reports: Where problems arise either with venue or transport teachers will report back to the transport/tour organiser who will in turn discuss it with the Principal. Behaviour on Tours: Pupil's behaviour on tours will comply with the standard set down in the School's Code of Good Behaviour and Discipline. Where it is felt that a child's conduct would pose a safety risk or inhibit the educational benefit for self or others, the teacher may refuse the child permission to travel. Parents will be advised of this in advance. Safety and Supervision: Teachers will be extra vigilant when taking children out of the school. Special attention will be paid to Road Safety, behaviour on the bus, healthy eating and general day to day safety rules. A number of adults, in addition to the class teachers, will be brought on each school tour, to ensure that children are adequately supervised on the day. Plan for dealing with Emergencies: sick / injured children while on school trip: 1. Seek immediate medical attention, call an ambulance. 2. Contact the injured child's parents. 3. Phone the school contact the principal / deputy principal/ designated teacher. 4. Teacher should accompany the child in the ambulance to hospital. Informing Parents: Teachers will ensure that Parents are given sufficient notice of: (a) Itinerary & Timetable (b) Cost (c) Special clothing necessary (footwear, hat, rain jacket etc) and packed lunch (d) Permission Slip to be signed by parent / guardian and returned to class teacher. (e) For the safety of the pupils, parents will be reminded in the tour note home and through our newsletter not to park in the bus bay at the front of the school when dropping off and collecting their children on the day of the school tour. (f)Parents need to drop children off and collect them in a punctual manner. A bus may not be able to wait for a late child if in doing so the children would miss part of a tour/all of an activity. Remember: No permission slip signed = No Tour!!!! Implementation: This document has been reviewed and ratified by the Board of Management at a meeting held on xxxx. It will be further reviewed as necessary. Signed on behalf of the Board of Management: Chairman: __________________________________ Date:__________ Principal: ___________________________________ Date:___________ Checklist for School Tour Before the tour Tick Venue booked Transport booked Timetable organised Teachers meet to agree on money, clothing, lunches etc. Type up note for parents/guardians Note sent home to parents/guardians Extra supervision organised Organise tour kit Day of the tour Tick Tour kit packed Discretionary tip for driver Cheque for bus Cheque for venue. Note sent home to parents/guardians Extra supervision organised After the tour Tick Give feedback to principal Send thank you cards when deemed necessary Tour Kit Tick First Aid Medicines Illness bags Refuse sacks/ plastic bags Newspaper/kitchen roll Mobile phone Umbrella Spare Tracksuits from lost property Contact number for every child |
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