Decide staff ratios based on your risk assessment
Specific staff ratios for school trips and visits aren't set out in law, so you need to complete an appropriate risk assessment for the trip and decide your staffing needs based on that.
The number of adults you need depends on the:
- Nature of the outing and the activities
- Pupils' age and maturity
This includes trips overseas.
This is explained in the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) frequently asked questions about school trips.
You don't need a specific risk assessment for 'routine visits'. This is set out in the DfE's health and safety on educational visits guidance.
There are separate rules for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), see below.
Use our school trip health and safety checklist and guidance, and see examples of school trip risk assessments.
Get help with setting ratios
A framework to assess your staff requirements Factors to consider Links to other OEAP resources on