As a parent, one of the most worrying part about school is the idea of your kids going out on a school trip. You worry if they will be safe, if they will behave, about the costs, and everything inbetween. 

Image by MarjanNo from Pixabay

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Whether it’s worrying about paying for the trip or if your children will play up when there, the information below should help put your mind to rest: 

Why Do Schools Organise Educational Trips? 

It’s all down to learning. We as humans learn best when we see, hear, touch, and feel. So, experiencing things first hand. Multi-sensory learning is an essential part of school life, and school trips provide the opportunity to experience all five senses. This is why school arrange trips. It can help you child to learn more about the subject they are currently studying. History, science, and geography are some of the most popular visits, however, educational trips can be used to support all sorts of subjects. 

Safety Precautions 

The school will have a legal obligation to make sure that the governors are informed of any plans to take children outside of the school. This is because it is the governing bodies respnsibility to make sure that any school trip is appropriate and that all the necessary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the children.

Schools have to carry out a risk assessment for every single school trop and they will go to great length to ensure your child is looked after properly. However, if for any reasons you are concerned or unhappy with the safety arrangement, you can withdraw your child from a planned trip. 

Have All The Information

The first information you get about a school trip is usually in the form of a letter your child brings home which informs you of the intended trip. This letter should include this information: 

Date and times of visit
Destination and exact location 
Purpose of the visit
An itinerary 
Cost of the trip
Travel arrangements
Equipment/clothing needed 

You will be asked to sign a return slip to either provide your consent or withhold it, coupled with any payment such as a deposit or full price that is needed. Usually if it is a lrge trip, a deposit is needed to secure their place. The letter may also ask if some parents are available to attend the trip, and to collect your most up to date contact information. 

Payment And Booking

There are few schools that can afford the meet the entire cost of a school trip including transport and entry fees. Therefor you may be asked to pay a voluntary contribution towards the cost of the trip. This is more common during overnight stays. Your child can’t be kicked off the trip for not paying, however, if there isn’t enough contributions from parents the trip may be cancelled all together. This is when you may see a suggested amount of contribution. Some schools now have online systems for booking school trips in the UK, so you may be able to log on, give your electronic permission, and pay for your trip in the same place. 

This short guide should help you to feel a little more comfortable when it comes to your childrens school trips. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share them in the comments below.