Management Information Sheet
Educational Visits and the Threat from Terrorism
We will all be painfully aware of the terrorist attacks in London on Saturday evening. Following the meeting of the UK’s Emergency Team (Cobra) on Sunday morning, the terrorist threat remains ‘severe’ (it was de-escalated from ‘critical’ during the week before).
Consider every visit as you would normally, deciding what to do about each event on its merit. To assist in the visit planning there is helpful guidance for Visit Leaders on the threat of terrorism, which includes when visiting a major city, venue or event. See attached.
As part of your planning, you will be taking into account the natural anxiety of parents, teachers and pupils. If making a decision to postpone or cancel, talk to your provider and insurer and understand the implications for recovery of costs.
So advice is still to plan to go, just think about any alternative options should they be required.
Plus to ensure robust backup communications system with EPOC are in place. ID badges or wrist bands with Leader's contact number and school EPOC number should be considered in case pupils & staff get separated.
It may also be worth ensuring you have the coach driver's mobile number and arrange an alternative pick up point outside main area as a back-up plan.
Parents withdrawing a child should be made aware that this would be at their own financial loss, this is normally deemed as a ‘disinclination to travel’ hence not normally covered by insurance policies.
It maybe helpful to reassure parents that schools will still be open & operating in those areas of the major cities such as London, and that currently the threat level is as it has been for most of the last 5 years and is the same threat level that is in place for Norfolk!
There is no guidance from the Home Office advising not to travel.
We would support continuing with your planned visits. Individual schools will no doubt wish to consider their plans and reach their own decisions following consultation with parents if felt appropriate.
If you have any specific concerns please feel free to get in touch either by e mail to graham.lodge@educatorsolutions.org.uk below or via the Evolve visits planning and approval system.