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Description of Location
These activities take place on the Centre grounds and within the nature reserve which is a disused quarry. To reach the latter entails crossing some of the haul roads used by vehicles to reach and leave the active quarry workings. Vehicles may be expected to be travelling through the areas at some time during the activity, but not in the specific orienteering course area. The Centre grounds are generally flat, with some car tyres in the middle, a small area of rough ground to one side, temporary classrooms and an observatory. It is entirely enclosed by a fence, with three gates, one which is an entry point for cars. The nature reserve site is of mixed topography, with some hilly areas, some depressions, but mainly covered by mixed woodlands and scrub.
Likely Hazards
• Pupils, if left in unsupervised groups, will be out of sight at various points on both of the courses.
• Cars entering the Centre field.
• Vehicles, including heavy plant equipment and lorries moving around the Nature reserve on haul roads.
• Possibility of rough and/or slippery ground.
• Children wandering out of specified areas.
Existing Precautions
• Children start the day with a map of the Centre and its grounds, and various aspects are pointed out with relation to safety, e.g. the A614 road.
• Children are told to walk at all times, and are actively discouraged to run.
• Pupils are informed of the dangers that they may face on the journey around both of the courses.
• They are involved in decisions on how they may best complete the journey in the safest way possible.
• Close proximity to heavy plant areas is avoided.
• When crossing haul road areas, the pupils are encouraged to treat the road like a main highway. Crossing is only permitted when the road is clear, with no obvious signs of it being used.
• Boundaries are clearly pointed out and the reasons for staying within them explained.
• The Centre staff will have a whistle; children will be told that when they hear it they must return to a designated spot.
• Pupils who behave in an unacceptable / unsafe manner around the area will be excluded from the activity for the safety of others. They and the other pupils will not be allowed to leave the activity area, without supervision, until the activity has been completed. Only then will they be allowed to leave. This must be supervised by an employee of DMBC, preferably a teacher, or someone designated by the school head to act in that capacity.
• Staff and adults should be aware of all those pupils placed under their supervision. Centre staff should not be included in this provision as they are in overall charge of the activity and should only be involved in its safe control. All staff should be encouraged to monitor the group for safety, without becoming involved in the activity.
• Groups should carry the minimum allowed in a First Aid kit.
• Groups should carry their own mobile phone. Centre staff will
also carry a mobile phone. Please ensure that staff issued with the phone know how to use it, and have a list of emergency contact numbers, including that of the school.
• Schools should adhere to the staffing ratios specified by their employing authority for the size of group they bring. If the school is from out of authority, Doncaster regulations will be enforced unless that authority ratio is lower.
Additional factors that could be taken into account to reduce risks or risk factors
• Pupils could have some experience of orienteering through previous training or undertaking this task at a different site. Competence level is not increased due to the introductory level at which the task was previously performed.
• Experience in aspects of general road safety.
• Increasing the ratios of school staff and adults participating.
• Ensuring the schools policy on helping adults is known and understood before the visit by all those adults participating.
• Ensuring the activity provider has a thorough understanding of all your requirements for the activity, the numbers, age, general health (including disabled / handicapped within able bodied groups) of the pupils, and where necessary staff involved, ability range of pupils and those likely to cause problems.
• Consideration for the groups general safety, by excluding those likely to create a serious problem from the activity, or by specific control methods to be used for such pupils; i.e. 1:1 ratios with staff / helpers.
• Please also consider when making your assessments, as the generic one does not include, the competence, experience and qualifications of all supervisory staff sent by the schools.
• Does anyone on the trip hold First Aid certification?
• How long has the teacher in charge of each class been qualified?
• Has that person previous experience of organising / participating in a school trip?
• But above all ... do the pupils understand what you expect of them from the visit? Have they, and how have they been prepared for this experience?
Last update: July 2007
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