School Trip Safety Information
The following information and links provide an introduction to Travelbound's commitment to ensuring your school trip is enjoyable, educational and most importantly: safe. We offer our customers 24-hour support, easy to follow risk assessment information, full financial protection and a straight forward breakdown of health and safety procedures. We are full members of the School Travel Forum (STF) and proud achievers of the LOtC Quality Badge Award.
Travelbound & The LOtC
The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge provides, for the first time, a national accreditation combining the essential elements of provision - learning and safety - into one easily recognisable and trusted Quality Badge for all types of Learning Outside the Classroom provider organisations. As members of the scheme Travelbound throughly endorse the LOtC organisation and regularly feature links to their website within our own site.
Lessons in School Trip Safety
The ash cloud in April, that was caused by the Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajökull, disrupted the travelling plans of many Travelbound customers.
Undaunted by the task at hand, we were able to reassure, inform and update all of our parents, teachers and pupils through our website and Facebook page.
Customer feedback about the Travelbound team
Join our Facebook page to keep updated
Inspection Visits
An inspection visit is perfect for teachers wishing to preview the accommodation, excursions and educational value of a proposed school trip. We understand the necessity for preparing your days while on tour and completing risk assessments for teachers' and parents' peace of mind.
Travelbound are pleased to be able to offer all of our confirmed party leaders two night's bed and breakfast accommodation in your tour destination, subject to availability and time of year. All you have to do is get to the destination under your own steam.
We often offer group inspection visits at the Chateau du Molay in Normandy where you can meet members of the Travelbound team and also other teachers. These events are always good fun and provide full board accommodation, call us today to book your place on the next Chateau IV.
24-Hour School Tour Assistance
As Travelbound are part of TUI Travel Plc, we can guarantee that a highly trained member of staff will be on-hand to help you with any queries or emergencies 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Don't worry about getting through to the single emergency number that other operators offer. We have a dedicated specialist team with the skills and worldwide knowledge to assist you with anything you may require.
We have the utmost confidence in the TUI Travel duty office so you can rest assured knowing that your students are in safe hands.
Our dedicated 24-hour contact number can be found within the party leader final documentation pack.
School Travel Forum
Travelbound is a full member of the School Travel Forum (STF) which is a group of leading school tour operators that promote good practice and safety in school travel.
All full members of the STF adhere to a rigorous Code of Practice and Safety Management Standards which meet the requirements of DCSF guidelines and are externally verified each year.
The STF initiative has the support of the following organisations:
SHA - Secondary Heads Association, NAHT - National Association of Head Teachers, ATL - Association of Teachers and Lecturers: the education union, PAT - Professional Association of Teachers
Details on the School Travel Forum Code of Practice are available online or alternatively from the team.
Water Sports & Adventure Tours
For your peace of mind our water sports and adventure tours receive the most rigorous safety checks and only use the best possible equipment and professionally trained instructors and guides. Our water sports and adventure tours are not covered by the LOtC Quality Badge however; the School Travel Forum, and the Council for Learning Outside of the Classroom, are currently working towards clarifying specific criteria needed within water sports and adventurous programmes.
Travelbound are proud to be part of the STF Quality Badge scheme. We have shown that we have pledged to engage in an ongoing process to sustain high-quality learning outside the classroom and have demonstrated that we meet six quality indicators:
- We have a process in place to assist users to plan the learning experience effectively;
- We provide accurate information about our offers;
- We provide activities, experience or resources which meet learner needs;
- The provider reviews the experience and acts upon feedback;
- The provider meets the needs of users;
- The provider has a safety management processes in place to manage risk effectively.
Our inclusion within the STF remit does not normally cover visits that are exclusively outdoor and adventurous activities or expeditions. However, where such activities are included as a minor part in a wider package, the STF scheme ensures such activities are covered.
Promoting safety and good practice article
Risk Assessments
We aim to offer you a school trip that is as safe as possible without compromising your students' enjoyment and learning experience. To do this we undertake our own risk assessments and offer you a step-by-step guide to help you compile your own.
Safety Management System
Each component of a tour has been individually assessed and externally verified to manage the risk undertaken by your students. Our Safety Management System will assist you in completing your risk assessment documentation.
Tour Safety
No matter whether you are on a school trip to our Chateau in Normandy or trekking through the Himalayas in Nepal, we will do our utmost to ensure that your trip is as safe as possible.
The government's travel website
Financial Safety
Travelbound is a full member of the School Travel Forum and we only use transport that is financially protected under regulatory bodies such as: ATOL, ABTA and IATA.
School Travel Insurance
Travelbound are an Appointed Representative of Fogg Travel Insurance Services Limited, (FSA reference 307304) and therefore we can offer you wide travel insurance specifically designed for school trips and which matches most LEA's requirements. As with any insurance it is important that you read the insurance policy, especially regarding any pre-existing medical conditions on anyone on whom the travel plans depend prior to booking so that you and other members of the group understand the level of cover provided. We suggest that you email details of the insurance to all members of the group at time of booking so that parents are also aware of the cover provided.
Travelling within the European Economic Area EEA - We strongly recommend that all members of the Party have an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), formerly known as E111. The EHIC is accepted by many State hospitals and doctors within the EEA, BUT is not a replacement for travel insurance as for example in France, the EHIC does not pay for all cost of treatment and does not cover any necessary repatriation to the UK.
