In Practice
We all know that taking young children out often involves transporting large changing bags stocked with nappies, wipes, drinks and meals, but it is worth spending a few minutes making sure that you have everything you need in case of an emergency. For example on a daytrip to Godstone Farm one of your minded children gets bitten by a goat. You get to the local hospital and can’t answer any of the Doctor’s requests for information as you have left their medical forms at home and you can’t inform Mum as you forgot to bring her work number with you. What could have been a minor incident suddenly becomes a very serious one.
One way of ensuring you have all the vital information you might need is to make up Emergency Contact Cards for each child. These could include a small photo of the child, emergency contact details, medical information and details of allergies etc. If you use a small font, make them keyring fob size and laminate them then they can be attached to your keys and with you whenever you are out and about.
The use of identity bracelets for the children is becoming more popular on outings, especially if you are taking the children to places where they are mingling with others and more likely to become separated from you.
Invest some time before outings talking to the children about keeping safe. The importance of staying near you, not talking to people they don’t know etc. If you are taking school aged children on an outing, point out a place nearby where they can go if they get separated from you so you can meet up with them again.
If you are going on a long outing for the whole day, consider taking another adult with you, maybe another childminder and their children. Sometimes it is difficult to go to the toilet with a group of minded children. And an extra pair of eyes and hands are always useful!
The provider must take necessary steps
to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
OUTINGS
Specific legal requirements
For each specific outing, providers must carry out a full risk assessment, which includes an assessment of required adult:child ratios. This assessment must take account of the nature of the outing, and consider whether it is appropriate to exceed the normal ratio requirements (as set out in this document), in accordance with providers’ procedures for supervision of children on outings.
Statutory guidance
to which providers should have regard
Providers should obtain written parental permission for children to take part in outings.
Providers should take essential records and equipment on outings, for example, contact telephone numbers for the parents of children on the outing, first aid kit, a mobile phone.
Records should be kept about vehicles in which children are transported, including insurance
details and a list of named drivers. Drivers using their own transport should have adequate insurance cover.
Downloads
Risk Assessments for a variety of different outings
can be downloaded from
the EYFS Risk Assessment Page.
Parental permission for general outings
Parental permission for a specific outing
