Visit requirements
To assist schools in planning visits and going beyond of legal requirements, the IME Field Officers will have visited the hosts premises and satisfied themselves that the company’s Risk Assessment is relevant to young people on the proposed route.
They will have had sight of the company’s Public Liability Insurance, making note of the Insurance Company, the policy number and the date of expiry. They will have checked that there is First Aid provision.
We advise, where possible, the inclusion of the schools Business Advisor or Link Engineer (Science & Engineering Ambassador) to accompany the trip with the purpose of answering students’ questions about the host company. For sources of information about the host see the relevant IME website page.
The school has responsibility whilst during transportation of the students to and from the host’s premises. During the site visit they are covered by the hosts Public Liability insurance but the supervising teacher is responsible for the conduct of the students and that they comply with the Hosts instructions. The supervising teacher must comply with the Health & Safety requirements and the Teacher/pupil ratio of their own school/ Education Authority to the satisfaction of their Head teacher (this can preclude the use of parents or other non-teacher adults accompanying the group being counted in the pupil/Teacher ratio) and for clearing the visit with the schools educational visit coordinator (they usually require a minimum of 2 weeks notice).
The visits are organised on the basis of students having no special needs, behavioural problems or physical disabilities. If schools wish to take students in these categories please contact your local Field Officer for advice and the potential host will be approached to try to make special arrangements. If there are students in your group who have special medical requirement e.g. epilepsy, asthma, where they could be affected by the environment, again, please check through the local Field Officer that this poses no problem.
It is normal practice that the school has responsibility to obtain parental permission for taking students on educational visits and we ask that this permission includes the taking of photographs of students during the visit for publicity, case studies and example material. Please take special note that some hosts, particularly those in the food industry have very particular hygiene and health requirements, check with your local Field Officer for further details. The school is advised to impose a dress code on the visiting students (e.g. football colours are a possible source of problems).
Take careful note of any host that requires visitors to wear Stout Footwear, those not complying with the request will be denied entry! (N.B. Trainers are NOT acceptable).
Do not assume that you may take photographs, enquire through local Field Officer. Remember to prepare a register of students you are taking on a visit (most hosts require it a week before or you will not be allowed on site), leaving one with your school office, one to take with you, one for the host company and one for the IME records.
A high standard of behaviour is required form any visitors, remember you will be guests on the hosts premises and both yourselves and other schools would like to visit in the future. You and your students will be required to fill in a quick feedback response form (before the funding support will be released).
Copies of the feedback forms and maps can be sent to you beforehand but they are available, along with links to relevant maps, to download on the website (see below). It is normal practice for schools to write a letter of thanks to the host company after a visit. If schools cancel after bookings have been confirmed they will be charged a £75 administration fee.
