Analysis Report on the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide School Excursion Policy.

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Analysis Report on the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide School excursion policy.

Introduction
This report is an analysis of the Excursion Policy document from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development used in the state of Victoria. It is accessible to the schooling and non-schooling community over the internet through the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide under the heading of Environment. ‘The Guide provides information, legislative references, regulations, policies and guidelines that assist in the governance, management, administration and operation of schools.’(State of Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development [DEECD]. 2007).

The School excursions policy 4.4.2 covered within this report, can be found directly linked to the sub section of Student safety and risk management 4.4 using the below link; www.education.vic.gov.au/management/governance/referenceguide/enviro/4_4.htm

Within this document three hypothetical scenarios are provided, exhibiting how the policy impacts on the teacher(s), school, other professionals, parents and students involved with the excursion and its associated activities. The scenarios are; • A teacher wishes to take a class on a three day, 2 night excursion and has received support from the principal and needs approval from the school council. • A student’s misbehaviour has been inappropriate and the staff on duty agree that the student should return home. • A student has injured their arm on a camping excursion and needs to be seen by a medical doctor as the staff suspect it may be a broken arm.
There will be further elaboration of each scenario, citing the policy section directly in each instance and how a teacher should address the situation.

Discussion

There are twelve sub-sections under the School excursion policy 4.4.2 from the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide, shown in the content list. Each subsection may be considered issues that a teacher may refer to when seeking compliance with the Victorian DEECD Excursion Policy.
Within each section, the policy directly links to ‘additional resources, including documents, websites and contact details’ (DEECD, 2007, s1.1 .2).
This format allows readily, accurate and relevant information in advising teachers and the school community what their legal obligations and responsibilities are.

The rationale for writing an excursion policy is firstly to provide a definition of what an excursion may be. It defines an excursion as ‘an activity organised by a school whereby students leave the school grounds for the purpose of engaging in educational activities’ (DEECD, 2007). Excursion can include camping trips, adventure activities, sporting activities and events, single or part day trips and overseas and interstate travel. Each of these activities has their own set of guidelines, falling under the Student safety and risk management 4.4.

Secondly the policy is in place to ensure student safety, and to set specific guidelines and recommendations to be followed. The General policy 4.4.2.1 explains that ‘the Department’s requirements and guidelines relating to preparation and safety must be observed in the conduct of all excursions’ (DEECD, 2007).

The preparation and organisation of an excursion which includes approval by the principal or school council is a main issue within the policy. In addressing this, Approval for excursions states 4.4.2.2, ‘that on approving the excursions, considerations should include: • the contribution of the activity to the school curriculum • the adequacy of the planning, preparation and organisation in relation to: ▪ the school policy ▪ the guidelines and advice provided by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and in the Safety Guidelines for Education Outdoors website ▪ information provided by community groups and organisations that specialise in the activity proposed • appropriateness of the venue • the provisions made for the safety and welfare of students and staff • the experience and competence of staff relevant to the activities being undertaken • the adequacy of the student supervision’ (DEECD, 2007)

All of the above factors need to be forwarded to the school council and/or principal and if appropriate, may require a formal proposal drawn up by the teacher addressing each concern.

An issue emphasised under the excursion policy is the excursion emergency management plan. Excursion staff are expected to carry forward the schools emergency management process, which should include ‘preparedness, prevention, response and recovery’ components as stated under Emergency management plan 4.4.2.3.
Interestingly the policy gives direct suggestion stating, ‘emergency procedures pertaining to campsites should be explained as soon as practicable after arrival and a trial evacuation exercise should be carried out immediately’ (DEECD, 2007).

Guidelines for supervision 4.4.2.6 are an important consideration in preventing and maintaining student safety. The ‘staffing ratio within this reference guide provide the minimum requirements for school excursions’ (DEECD, 2007). Also needing consideration is the ‘qualifications and previous experience of excursion staff’ (DEECD, 2007). The implementation of excursion staff by the principal depend on other factors including group size, activities to be undertaken, location and nature of the excursion and students capabilities.

Scenario One A teacher wishes to take a Grade 6 class on a three day, two night excursion, to support the learning of the Eureka stockade in the Victorian Goldfields. A night during the excursion is set aside in order for the students to experience the Blood on the Southern Cross show, allowing a second full day of activities. This principal supports the excursion but approval is needed from the school council.

The teacher heading the excursion must, in accordance with the Excursion Policy from the Victorian Government School Reference Guide, also obtain the approval from the school council. The School council approval 4.4.2.2.1 states ‘the school council is responsible for the approval of: overnight excursion,…’ (DEECD, 2007). which directly affects this scenario.
In order for council approval and for the excursion to proceed, a sufficient planning program must be drawn up, of which a completed proforma by the DEECD is required. (See link in reference list)

Once approval has been passed by the school council and principal, there are a number of forms that must be lodged and received by the teacher or principal on behalf of the school including, ‘a Notification of School Activity form, (should also be) submitted to the Emergency & Security Management Branch of the Department’ (DEECD, 2007).
Also required is the informed consent of ‘parents/guardians [they] must provide written approval for their child(ren) to take part in an excursion’ and ‘must be given sufficient information about the nature of the proposed activity and the risks involved’ (DEECD, 2007).

Scenario Two
A student has been misbehaving on several occasions and the staff on duty agree that the student should return home. The teachers came to this decision after several warnings to the offending student, because they broke with their school’s student code of conduct.

The section that directly relates to this scenario is Student behaviour and discipline 4.4.2.9. It states that ‘in extreme cases the excursion staff, following consultation with and the approval of the school principal, may determine that a student should return home during an excursion’ (DEECD, 2007).

The leading teacher is responsible for informing the parent/guardians on the misbehaviour and the decision to cease excursion participation. The policy advises ‘that schools ensure that when a parents/ guardians sign the approval for their child to attend the excursion that they consent to their child being sent home [or to be collected] in the event of the child’s serious misbehaviour on the excursion’ (DEECD, 2007).

Scenario 3
A student has injured their arm by accidentally taking a fall on a camping excursion whilst participating in a bushwalking activity. The student requires first aid and the supervising teachers agree that the child needs to be seen by a medical doctor as the staff suspect it may be broken.

There are several sections of the excursion policy that impact on what a teacher must do in such a scenario. First aid 4.4.2.3.5 guidelines state that the ‘excursion staff have levels of first-aid training which are appropriate to the excursion activities and location’ (DEECD, 2007). The teacher in charge must also immediately notify the school principal after undertaking relevant emergency action.

Importantly in this scenario ‘emergency procedures should include the effects of an emergency on student supervision …[with] staff being required to assist injured students or go to help’ (DEECD, 2007). The supervising teacher in this case is amenable in providing appropriate first aid and supervision.

In addition excursion teachers and school administration require students up-to-date medical information which also must be taken whilst on the excursion ‘by the teacher-in-charge and be accessible by other excursion staff in emergency situations,’ as stated in Student medical information 4.4.2.5. Parents or guardians will have been required to fill in a Confidential Medical information form prior to the excursion. Within this form a medical consent is given if in the event of an illness or injury where by the teacher-in-charge is unable to contact the parent/guardian. In this case the teacher would need to view the medical information of the injured child and if the parent/guardian was unable to be contacted would need to make appropriate arrangements in order for the student to seek professional medical attention.

Conclusion
The analysis report on Excursion policy 4.4.2 of the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide has demonstrated that teachers, principals and the school community are subject to and follow the guidelines from the DEECD.
Furthermore analysis of three hypothetical scenarios exhibiting what section of the policy it falls under and how it relates to the policy. In addition it investigates what processes are applied by teachers, principal and the school in each scenario. The report recognizes three major elements within the policy. These being, the Approval for excursions 4.4.2.2, Emergency management plan 4.4.2.3. and Guidelines for supervision 4.4.2.6, stating that there are many related sections to the above elements and external web based links and forms provided by the DEECD to ensure its policies are upheld.
The report demonstrates that student safety and management essentially are the overall concerns, impacting on all associated activities undertaken by teacher(s), principal, the school, other professionals, parents and students during before and after a school excursion.

Reference List

Sovereign Hill Education. (n.d.) Excursion Planning. Retrieved from http://sheducationcom.ascetinteractive.biz/?id=excursions

State of Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development [DEECD]. (2007). Content List .Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/management/governance/referenceguide/enviro/4_4.htm
State of Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development [DEECD]. (2007). Excursions Approval form. Retrieved from http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/schadmin/schops/edoutdoors/approvalform.doc
(Approval Proforma for all Excursions and Activities Requiring School Council Approval).

State of Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development [DEECD]. (2007). Introduction to the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide s.1.1 Retrieved from http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/schadmin/Management/1-1.pdf
State of Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development [DEECD]. (2007). Safety Guidelines for Education Outdoors. Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/management/schooloperations/edoutdoors/siteuserguide. htm/www.education.vic.gov.au/management/schooloperations/edoutdoors/planning/approval.htm State of Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development [DEECD]. (2007). School Excursion s.4.4.2 Retrieved from 4.4 Student safety and risk management (PDF - 403Kb)