31 March 2010
Voice: the union for education professionals, which represents teachers and education support staff, has welcomed the publication of the Children, Schools and Families Committee's report Transforming Education Outside the Classroom (1 April 2010).
Voice Solicitor David Brierley, the union's health and safety spokesman, said: "School visits can offer life-changing experiences and challenges for those who take part in them, and there is some excellent guidance and support available to schools, particularly through the DCSF's Learning Outside the Classroom scheme [http://www.lotc.org.uk].
"However, increased funding and staff training are needed to address any remaining concerns about health and safety and possible litigation that are largely media-driven and not supported by the very small number of accidents and amounts of compensation paid in recent years.
"Voice has long been supportive of school staff taking pupils out on visits, even when others were advising their members against it.
"Safely conducted and properly supervised, education outside the classroom is an integral part of learning."