Communication is the Key to School Trip Security
Be it a short trip to a local landmark or event, or a longer trip further afield, school field trips are something children can and do look forward to all year. Parents, however, can dread such things, and more often than not it’s because they’re worried about their child’s safety. This is why communication on school trips is paramount and key to the trip running smoothly. But it’s also important to keep your child informed of everything they will be doing on the day, and involve them in all the planning and preparation.
Between Teachers and the Pupils
Make sure you reiterate to your child that they need to make sure they pay attention to their teacher. Communication with the children can include going over the road safety rules with them, and making sure they wear their seatbelts on the coach – all of which is paramount to their safety. Make sure younger children know how to look after their belongings, to cut down on breakages and losses. It would probably be best to pack your child’s bag with just the bare essentials to prevent any damages. For some visual communication, it may be beneficial to check with the school and see if it’s worth having the children wear high-visibility clothing or personalized clothing identifiable to the school. This is to ensure that teachers can easily keep an eye on the pupils with the minimal amount of confusion.
Between Adults and Teachers
Depending on how old your child is and how long the trip is, there will usually be meetings between the school and the parents prior to the trip to discuss activities and the itinerary. From a teacher’s perspective, a school field trip is very demanding so it’s a good idea to be aware of what the teachers will be doing on the trip. Not only will they be keeping an eye on all the pupils and making sure every child is accounted for, they will be educating and guiding the children through all the different activities. If possible, you could always volunteer to be a chaperone on the trip – Make sure the school has all your correct contact details to keep you up to date in case of any delays or changes of plan – also get the contact details for the destination of the school trip, just in case there are any emergencies at home.
Most importantly of all, encourage your child’s excitement! School field trips do not happen every week, so it’s a special occasion for them and a great opportunity for them to bond with their teachers and peers.
