School trip health and safety: planning checklist and guidance

Ahead of a school trip, use our checklist and find guidance to help you feel confident you’ve considered everything from a health, safety and safeguarding perspective.

Last reviewed on 23 June 2022
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School types: All · School phases: All
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Contents
  1. Do extra planning and risk assessment for higher-risk trips
  2. Take public health guidance into account
  3. Use our health and safety checklist to help you prepare
  4. See further guidance and FAQs
  5. Use our template for the financial side of planning

Do extra planning and risk assessment for higher-risk trips

You don't need to do a wider risk assessment and extra planning unless the trip carries a higher level of risk. This is because the risks won't be covered by your generic policies and procedures.

The higher risk level could be related to things such as:

  • Distance from school
  • Type of activity
  • Location
  • A need for staff with specialist skills

Lower-risk trips are those that only include everyday risks, for example slips and trips.

This is explained in the DfE's guidance on health and safety on educational visits.

Find out more, and see examples of template risk assessments in our article. 

Take public health guidance into account

The DfE's guidance on health and safety on educational visits Specialist advice from the Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel (OEAP). You may

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