Outings and Excursions Policy

Rationale: Excursions are an important and exciting activity for children. Safety is paramount when leaving the immediate centre environment, therefore the higher risks associated with outings will be minimised by careful planning.

Objectives: Children’s safety shall maintained while on excursions, and extra consideration given to additional risks of excursion and supervision requirements. Clear methods of communication will be established and maintained: parents will be made aware of planned excursions and approve of planned supervision standards.

Policy and recommended procedure:

• The required adult to child ratios will be maintained as specified on the centre’s licence (1:6/2:20 for over twos and 1:4 for under twos)
• Potential risk factors will be identified and recorded. For example, consideration will be given to any transport, destination features and planned activities that may affect the children’s safety. This will determine the adult to child ratio
• No one adult will be left alone with a group of children or individual child (refer to the Child Protection Policy)
• On signing Bright Beginnings’ enrolment form parents agree that “my child may be taken on spontaneous walking excursions in the Papamoa area, providing they adhere to the adult to child ratio requirements as specified on the centre licence and policy”
• All outings and excursions will be recorded on the Record of Outings/Excursions form. This will include:

• Names of adults and children involved
• Time and date of the outing
• Location and method of travel
• Assessment and management of risk
• Adult to child ratios
• Evidence of parental permission and approval of ratios, which may have been approved at enrolment for spontaneous or regular outings

• Prior to an excursion, a general assessment of risk will be undertaken and information provided to parents regarding the circumstances of the outing
• Trips that require motor vehicle transport will have parent approval in writing, (refer to Motor Vehicle Travel Permission Policy)
• A roll call will be done before children leave on their excursion and before the return trip back to the centre
• Persons Responsible requirements will be met for each outings
• On an excursion a Person Responsible will carry:

• First Aid Kit (at least one person will hold a current First Aid Certificate)
• Medication (if applicable)
• Sunhats and sunscreen (during summer months)
• A mobile phone

• In the event that all children go on an excursion, a note will be placed on the centre door to inform parents/visitors where the children and staff are, and how they can be contacted
• Children not able to go on the trip to be cared for at the centre, with a minimum of two staff present. At least one of the staff must be qualified, and will hold a current First Aid Certificate. They will be the Person Responsible
• If there are not enough adults to meet the required ratio then the excursion will be cancelled.