"Pupils can derive a good deal of educational benefit from taking part in visits with their school. In particular, they have the opportunity to undergo experiences not available in the classroom. Visits help to develop a pupil's investigative skills and longer visits in particular encourage greater independence."
DfES Health and Safety of pupils on educational visits. 1999

The aim of this project is to encourage teachers to bring children, of all ages, into woodland areas. The woodland environment provides many opportunities for learning across the range of the National Curriculum.

The first priority of teachers and parents must be that all visits are conducted as safely as possible. All schools have a Health and Safety policy which will include school visits. The link below leads to the DfES publication quoted above, it can be read using Acrobat Reader. It is an excellent document for both experienced teachers and those new to the profession.

"….the group leader should undertake an exploratory visit, whenever that is possible, to: · ensure at first hand that the venue is suitable to meet the aims and objectives of the visit; · assess potential levels of risk; · obtain advice from the site owner."
DfES Health and Safety of pupils on educational visits. 1999

The above advice is particularly relevant to woodland visits. It enables the teacher to ensure a high level of safety, optimise planning for learning activities and maximise the use of human resources.

ENJOY YOUR VISITS!