Change DfE school guidance to allow overnight educational visits.

DfE to immediately allow overnight education trips for schools, subject to them risk assessing the trip whilst following the government advice in place and making informed decisions based on the actual venues. To allow pupils to attend in the same groups they already have contact with in school.

We believe current DfE guidance puts both the well being of pupils and the economic stability of the outdoor education sector into peril. There is already current government guidance on accommodation, travel and activities that would allow overnight educational visits to happen in a Covid secure and professionally managed environment. Children have missed enough of their education and this change would be invaluable in re-engaging pupils back into education whilst nurturing their well being and mental health.

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 outbreak has presented significant challenges for children and for British businesses, including those in the residential sector. Children are missing out on the residential experience and the undoubted benefits that brings and providers of those services are understandably concerned about the viability of their own businesses and recovery of the sector.

However, the Government’s priority is to ensure that children remain in education with any measures put in place designed to support that ambition. In respect of the reintroduction of overnight educational visits, including residential trips, careful consideration has been given to measures that, on the one hand, open up the sector, but on the other hand, potentially increases the rate of transmission of the virus

Therefore the Government does not plan to change its current guidance at this time, and continues to advise against the resumption of domestic overnight and overseas educational visits for those in education and other settings. Schools are able to undertake COVID-19 secure day visits. Guidance for full opening: schools - GOV.UK sets out this position.

The decision not to resume overnight educational visits, including residential trips at this stage has been heavily influenced by the public health advice available and the Government’s need to put in place measures to reduce and bring under control the rising cases of COVID-19 in England.

Public Health England has advised that the resumption of residential visits will unnecessarily increase the risk of transmission of the virus due to a number of factors, some of which are listed below: