Residential trips are often a highlight of a child’s time at school. It is essential to plan ahead to ensure that children with physical impairments are included in residential trips, taking part in activities that are appropriate for the individual, and allow staff to support them as necessary. Activities may need to be adapted following the advice of medical professionals and may take longer than usual to arrange and/or put in place. The suggestions below are generic and are by no means exhaustive.
- How will the young person get there? If a coach is needed, can they get on and off independently? What alternatives are there for transport?
- Has a site visit taken place?
- Ensure that only staff who have had the appropriate generic and person-specific moving and handling training assist with transfers.
- What are the child’s overnight needs?
- If a child has an occupational therapist/physiotherapist, they should be consulted.
- Does the setting have all the equipment necessary? For example, therapy couch, hoist, lift, accessible toilet.
- Has equipment been checked/serviced regularly?
- Do you need to alter the activities or where they take place so the young person can take part?
- Have risk assessments been completed and shared for all activities?
- Have any necessary care plans been completed?
- Has a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) been completed and shared in case of emergency?
- Adventure staff may do different transfers than school staff, but they should still adhere to the advice given. Adventure staff are under a different insurance and have had different training for their role.
- Members of staff who know the child’s needs well should visit the setting prior to writing the risk assessments and plans, as they know what is needed by the individual. The setting may believe they are accessible, but this does not mean that every activity/area is accessible to every individual.