Outdoor Education

The Outdoor Education Service concerns itself with two main areas of work:

• providing advice, guidance, regulation and training on all aspects of good practice and safety management when off-site and engaged in educational visits and outdoor learning. This is for schools, youth groups and associated voluntary groups, as well as other Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton or West Berkshire Council agencies that work with young people;
• the promotion and development of all aspects of outdoor learning: in the school grounds, on local educational visits, on field trips, on residentials, in environmental centres, whilst taking part in adventurous activities or during visits abroad.

Key tasks

• To operate the Children's Services Department’s educational visits, off-site activities and adventurous activities guidance, support and approval systems.
• To promote, manage and develop the Trailblazer Scheme as a successful structure for outdoor learning opportunities in all forms. To actively support the schools and youth groups involved with good practice ideas, strategies and resources, as well as training.
• To maintain appropriate insurance cover and keep relevant Council agencies informed.
• To obtain and operate the relevant Children's Services Department’s Adventure Activities Licensing procedures and practices.
• To provide a comprehensive training programme that is available to all Council agencies and recognised volunteers.
• To support the Children's Services Department’s emergency action plan.
• To improve the quality of outdoor education in schools, youth groups and other Council recognised organisations and groups.

Partnership in action

The service is provided for Hampshire County Council, where the Outdoor Education, PE and Sport Service is based, and for Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and West Berkshire Council. The regional nature of this service, working in the same way, to the same standards, is one of it's great strengths.