The purpose of this policy is to set out procedures for taking children outside nursery.
- Children must be kept safe while on outings. Practitioners will assess the risks or hazards which may arise for the children and must identify the steps to be taken to remove, minimise and manage those risks and hazards. The assessment must include consideration of adult to child ratios. Practitioners will decide what is safe using their professional judgement. Ratios for outings must not exceed the ratios set out for age groups in the EYFS and it must be ensured that the required ratio in the nursery can be maintained while other staff are on an outing.
- We have risk assessments for all types of outings, e.g. library. Should an outing be planned to a new place, a specific risk assessment must be done. The risk assessment does not need to be taken on the outing but all staff going on the outing must be familiar with the risk assessment.
- Road awareness, including the Green Cross Code, is practised when taking children outside nursery. It is also practised and explained to the children on a regular basis within nursery.
- Parental permission to take children out of nursery is given on the Health and Permissions Form.
- For planned outings, additional permission must be sought. Parents must be asked to sign an outings form and provide a contact number. This form is then taken on the trip.
- For spontaneous trips, Health and Permissions forms are checked to ensure there is permission.
- A headcount must be done with the children each time they leave the building and children must be counted back in.
- A photograph of all the children going on the trip will be taken on a nursery tablet before they leave nursery.
- Children who are walking, not in buggies or slings, must wear a hi-vis jacket provided by nursery.
- A travel first aid kit is taken.
- The senior practitioner will take their mobile phone for emergency use only. No photographs will be taken on this phone and the manager will check it on return.