Bryan Slater Director of Education	Distribution
	Headteachers of all Schools Heads of all Pupil Referral Units

This document needs your action as detailed below:

ACTION	Title	Appointing an Educational Visits Co-ordinator
	Summary of contents	Letter advising Headteachers of requirement to appoint an Educational Visits Co-ordinator
	Associated documents	Up-to-date DfES guidance on Educational Visits and Journeys
	Date	10 September 2002
	Summary of action required	All Schools and Pupil Referral Units to appoint an Educational Visits Co-ordinator
	To be completed by	End of October 2002
	LEA Contact	Martin Radmore	(	01603 433276
	E-mail address	Martin.radmore.edu@norfolk.gov.uk
	Norfolk Self Review reference	1. How high are standards? 2. How effective is the school in developing pupils’ attitudes, values and personal development? 4. How good are curricular and other opportunities? 5. How well does the school care for its pupils? 7. How well is the school led and managed?
	Document reference	MI 193/02

This Management Information sheet may be found on the INTRANET at the following address:

http://www.esinet.norfolk.gov.uk/cadmin/misheet/

To all Headteachers

Dear Headteacher

Educational Visits and Journeys: Appointing an Educational Visits Coordinator

As you will be aware from previous correspondence and Headteacher meetings, the LEA is producing new guidance on educational visits and journeys in order to take account of the new DfES guidance.

There are inevitably a number of significant changes that these new guidelines will bring about with which schools will be expected to be familiar and comply. Therefore, a full programme of training and briefings is being delivered for all schools, including headteachers and governors.

Perhaps one of the most significant changes is that all schools will be required to designate a member of their staff as the nominated person responsible for visits and trips. The DfES and the LEA are referring to this person as the Educational Visits Co-ordinator (EVC). The EVC will act as the school’s co-ordinator for all school visits, liaise with the LEA and be responsibility for monitoring all visits which the school undertakes. They should be an experienced member of staff who is familiar with organising and participating in school visits, including residential where possible. Schools must appoint an EVC who, in turn, will receive training and support to carry out this new role in schools. The LEA will also provide additional support, networks and advice and guidance for EVCs; this is in addition to our new monitoring and assessing role as an LEA.

The criteria which have been set for the successful designation of a member of staff as an EVC are outlined below. These are for guidance and some degree of flexibility is inevitable. Where schools are unable to meet the criteria for the designation of their EVC then they should contact Martin Radmore on 01603 433276 to discuss this issue.

Criteria for EVC competence:

“The member of staff designated as the EVC should be specifically competent. The level of competence required will relate to the size of the school and the types of educational visits proposed. For example, the needs of a small infant school will differ from those of a large secondary school with an active Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.

Evidence of competence may be through qualification and/or the experience of practical leadership over many years of outdoor education.”

Standards for LEAs in Overseeing Educational Visits - 2002

The LEA, under the new guidance entitled ‘Standards for LEAs’, is responsible for ensuring that the nominated person within each school is competent to fulfil the duties that this involves. Therefore, each EVC will receive a full day’s training, including Risk Assessment training, in groups of no more than 20 teachers.

Training for EVCs will commence in November with Headteacher and Governor sessions running prior to this in October. Further information, including your designated time for training, will be sent by Martin Radmore, PE & Outdoor Education Adviser, who is co-ordinating this county-wide programme. A full list of the roles and responsibilities of the Educational Visits Co-ordinator (EVC) is available for your information and for discussion with the designated colleague within your school.

Yours sincerely

Dr Bryan Slater

Director of Education