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Description of Location
This activity involves work in the old quarry (now a nature reserve) and at the River Idle in Newington.
To reach the area used in the old quarry requires a short walk down into part of the old quarry. Studies take place on sloped, rough ground next to a mini river, and near to a pond.
The River Idle is approximately 8 metres wide and 2 metres deep, it is slow flowing. The banks slope gently down to the edge of the river, there is plenty of space to stand on relatively flat ground to undertake the studies.
To reach the river involves a 5 minute bus ride (by prior arrangement with your transport provider) or a walk of approximately 40 minutes, through the villages of Austerfield and Newington. Through Austerfield the road has grass verges between the path and the road for a large amount of the journey and children can walk in pairs, but in places the path narrows and the group must walk in single file. The group must cross the road once, by Sowerby’s Garage, where the road is on a 90 degree bend.
Likely Hazards
• The sloped, rough ground on the track in the old quarry at the site of the mini river.
• The pond at the base of the mini river.
• Sides of the river may become slippery either in periods of drought due to falling water levels and exposed banks, or in periods of wet weather.
• Travelling along busy roads.
• Parked vehicles obscuring the view of oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
• Children wandering out of sight of supervising staff.
Existing Precautions
• Children are informed of the dangers the may face on the journey through the area.
• They are involved in decisions on how they may best complete the journey in the safest way possible.
• Children who behave in an unacceptable and unsafe manner will be excluded from the activity for the safety of others. They will not be allowed to leave the area until the activity has been completed by all the children and they can be properly supervised.
• The minimum required in a first aid kit will be carried at all times, including a mobile phone.
• At the river children will be shown safe areas to work from. Those areas that are slippery and unsafe will be out of bounds.
• Children will be required to walk at all times around the site and when taking part in the activities.
• Various features of the river site and the old quarry area will be pointed out and discussed with respect to safety, e.g. any rough ground, proximity to the edge of the river and the pond.
• Children will be instructed to stay within defined boundaries and always within sight of staff.
If you intend to walk to the River Idle (and not book your coach to take you)
• Staff and adult helpers are required to wear yellow high visibility jackets at all times whilst in the village.
• Staff and adult helpers are distributed evenly along the line of children whilst walking, and one adult, preferably the activity leader, must always be at the front, with another at the back.
• Crossing the road is only undertaken at points where visibility is clear and safe.
• The preferred crossing method is to line all the children up side by side on the path, and cross them all at once with staff and adults to act as crossing patrols at both ends of the line.
Additional factors that could be taken into account to reduce risks or risk factors
• Children may have some experience of working by rivers through previous training or undertaking this task at a different time.
• Experience in general aspects of road safety.
• Increasing the ratio of staff participating.
• Number of visiting staff who hold First Aid Certification.
• 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 2010
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