|
Description of Location.
This activity will take place in three parts. The initial work for the activity is classroom based and will entail decorating hard boiled eggs. For this activity the eggs are pre-boiled before the pupils arrive. Initial activity will be based around using a paper template of egg shapes and patterns, using pencil crayon, for the children to practice decorating. The second part of this activity will entail the decoration of the hard boiled eggs and will use water based felt pens. After decoration the eggs will be labeled and collected by the activity leaders before using them in the second part of the activity - egg rolling.
This part of the activity will be undertaken at the small bank at the entrance to the quarry by the walk through gate at the right side of the Centre field. At this point the slope is steep enough for egg rolling but short and shallower so that pupils should not be hurt by slips or trips.
The final part of the activity, after dinner will include a walk, following a bunny trail to a small woodland area within the quarry, where the children will meet the Easter Bunny who is hiding chocolate eggs. Pupils will have a period of time, monitored for the Bunnies safety, to interact with the Easter Bunny, at the end of which they will be given a small reminder of the visit in the form of a chocolate egg. The parts of the quarry where all activities will take part are disused and regenerating heathland and pupils should not come into contact with any vehicular activity relating to a working quarry. All pathways used are well drained and slopes are shallow. The ground is sandy and soft.
Likely hazards.
Children may suck felt pens.
Children may swallow pen tops
Children may run down or fall on sloped or flat areas
Children may have a nut allergy as some chocolate eggs may have traces of nuts.
Children may express a negative response to seeing a large white rabbit and panic.
Existing Precautions
Felt pens used are water based.
You should discuss with pupils the risks of putting foreign objects in their mouths and the possible results/ dangers.
It would be beneficial before and during visits to discuss with pupils how to manage risks and how to move safely around a site, particularly an area that is new to them.
School should check with all parents whether child has any known allergies and should indicate these for all pupils to the provider.
Pupils should have some awareness of what they are likely to see and any expected behavior you may have of them.
Pupils should be shared out among those staff and adults from the participating school. All adults should have an understanding of what you expect from them in the visit situation.
Provider staff should not be included in this provision as they are in overall responsibility for the activity and should only be involved in its safe control
Groups should carry the minimum allowable first aid kit and have a designated first aider for the whole journey.
Groups should carry their own mobile phone. The designated member of Centre staff will also carry a mobile phone. Please ensure the designated phone holder has a list of emergency contact numbers for the group, including that of school.
Schools should adhere to the staffing ratio specified for the activity type and the age of the pupils involved.
Additional factors that could be taken into account to reduce risks or risk factors.
Pupils may have some existing knowledge of the site or an awareness/ experience of out of school activities and risks involved.
School has practiced identifying risk with the pupils and has developed skills with them to minimize risk.
Increase the ratio of staff participating.
Ensure more than one staff member has a first aid qualification.
Ensure all adults with the group know and understand the schools policy on helping adults before the visit.
|
|
Description of Location
Children use felt tip pens to decorate previously hard boiled eggs (now cold).
The eggs are taken outside to a small slope where they are rolled.
Later in the day children are taken on a short walk into an old quarry, now a nature reserve. Parts of the journey involve passing over rough ground and through woodland. The site is of mixed topography, with some hilly areas and depressions, previously quarried areas and areas of open water and it is mainly covered by mixed woodland and scrub.
Likely Hazards
• Plants that could cause harm such as gorse and nettles.
• Children wandering out of sight of supervising staff.
• Travelling over rough ground.
• Use of felt tip pens.
• Children’s allergy to eggs (real and chocolate)
Existing Precautions
• Visiting school is asked to inform centre staff of any allergies suffered by children in their class.
• Children are placed in a group with an adult leader.
• Children are instructed to stay close to their adult at all times whilst moving around on site and in the nature reserve.
• Children will be instructed to stay within defined boundaries and always within sight of staff.
• Children do not run down the slope.
• Children will be required to walk at all times around the site and when taking part in the activities.
• Children are informed of the dangers the may face on the journey through the nature reserve, e.g. the pond.
• 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.
Additional factors that could be taken into account to reduce risks or risk factors
• Children may have some experience of collecting materials through previous training or undertaking this task at a different time.
• Increasing the ratio of staff participating.
• Number of visiting staff who hold First Aid Certification.
• Ensure the adults with the party know and understand the schools policy on helping adults before the visit.
• 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 updated July 2010
|
.gif)