f you’re a member of your child’s school’s PTA or are looking for ways to become more involved in their school activities, then you may find yourself rolled in to help plan a school trip. At first, this might seem like a lot of pressure on you, and you’ll likely be nervous about making any suggestions that won’t go down well with the teachers or other parents. However, if you follow these simple tips, you should find that planning a school trip needn’t be so daunting.
Hire Transport
First things first, you want to tick transportation off your checklist. The best mode of transport for a large group of school children will be a coach, so be sure to check out redwing-coaches.co.uk for the best travel options.
Health and Safety
It’s one thing making sure your own child is safe on a trip, but remember, there will be a whole host of other kids to worry about. Maintaining the children’s safety is paramount; otherwise, it could result in legal action against the school. Ensure that all health and safety guidelines are met during this trip to give yourself peace of mind.
Make the Trip Educational
When proposing possible locations, you’ll want to ensure that there is some educational value in this trip. As it will involve taking kids out of school, their parents might not be so onboard if they find out it is for a trip to Disneyland. And as parents will be paying for their child to go on this trip, they’ll want to know they’re getting something out of it.
Get Written Consent from Parents
It’s essential that every pupil going on the school trip has written consent from their parents. This is so that the organisers of the trip have permission to take the children off-site. Print out permission slips for each child to give to their parents, and make sure you outline the details of the trip for the parents’ consideration.
Check Any Medical Conditions
If the pupils travelling on this trip have any medical conditions or allergies, then the trip organisers need to be made aware. For example, if a child was to have an allergic reaction to certain foods, then you will need to know if they have an epi-pen with them. Similarly, if any of the children are on medication, it is the responsibility of the organisers to ensure that they take them.
Prepare the Pupils
To make the kids more excited about their impending trip, why not prepare an itinerary for them? You can highlight all the main features of the trip, detailing the locations they will visit and the activities they will do. Not only will this make them more enthusiastic, but it will also let them know what to expect when they go outside their comfort zones.
Make a Packing Checklist
Whether you’re planning for a camping trip or a few nights away, you’ll want to have a suitable packing checklist for all the kids to adhere to. This will save you from any squabbles over sleeping bags or toiletries.
Check Additional Costs
Be picky when it comes to finding a suitable tour provider; check quotes and what’s included in the costs, i.e., local transport, guides, entrance fees, etc.
As long as you cover the basics when planning a school trip, you can ensure that your child has a memorable experience.
