School day trips have been permitted since Monday 12th April [1].
Since then, the great outdoors has been the sought-after destination with schools taking advantage of the outstanding opportunities across the UK, even in London.
Our dedicated school trips team at Creative DMC have been taking bookings for Covid-safe itineraries featuring zoos, national parks, castles, gardens and other outdoor pursuits, helping students connect with nature, wildlife and more.
From 17th May 2021[2], art galleries, museums, and theatres began to reopen, however, with the
rule of 6 still in place, overnight trips have been a challenge to arrange, and large groups difficult for most venues to manage. However, we now have a full list of West End shows with confirmed opening dates and group rates.
On Monday 14th June, phase three was extended by four weeks, delaying phase four of the government’s roadmap until 19th July 2021, when remaining restrictions should be lifted and the full gamut of school trips can resume.
There was, however, some relaxation of rules.
Overnight school trips are allowed for self-contained class or year group bubbles of up to 30 children, thus ending the rule of 6. This means that class groups who are regularly in contact with each other can go on overnight trips together, but schools can't mix group bubbles.
While disappointing for theatres, shows, and many tourist and hospitality venues, most do seem to be sticking with their reopening plans, even though capacity limits will remain in place.
Currently there are no updates on international school trips, but given the additional logistical challenges regarding international travel with BREXIT and COVID-19, we do not anticipate international trips to resume before Easter 2022.
What we’re doing to support school trips
Theatre Workout has a “We’re good to go” badge from Visit Britain, a recognition of our safeguarding protocols to minimise the risk of catching COVID on all our programmes.
Throughout the lockdown we have been volunteering to support the London Tourism Cooperative
(LTC). The LTC is working with industry leaders including attractions, hoteliers, restaurants, tour operators and other suppliers to rebuild public confidence in travelling to London, and can confirm that our partners are making extensive efforts to keep staff and guests safe, minimise risk, and stop the spread of COVID-19 so we can get back to normal as soon as possible.
With the LTC, we have helped launch the Festival Of Hope, featuring a children’s art exhibition at the O2, Wishing Trees, and the Music Escapes festival, and various other activations taking place over the next year.
Theatre Workout has also launched Creative DMC, our dedicated school trips co-ordinator. Creative DMC aims to curate bespoke itineraries featuring creative learning opportunities across the curriculum throughout the UK.
**** The following is taken from the gov.uk website regarding school trips.
[1] In line with the roadmap, schools can resume educational day visits from 12 April.
Any educational day visits must be conducted in line with relevant coronavirus (COVID-19) secure guidelines and regulations in place at that time. This includes system of controls, such as keeping children within their consistent groups and the COVID-secure measures in place at the destination.
Schools should undertake full and thorough risk assessments in relation to all educational visits to ensure they can be undertaken safely. As part of this risk assessment, schools will need to consider what control measures need to be used and follow wider advice on visiting indoor and outdoor venues. Schools should consult the health and safety guidance on educational visits when considering visits.
[2] Schools may begin planning for new domestic residential educational visits to take place. Should step 3 commence as planned, new visits will be possible from no earlier than 17 May.
Schools are advised not to enter into any new financial or contractual commitments at this stage. This advice will remain under review and updated at the earliest opportunity.
Any new domestic residential educational visits must be conducted in line with relevant coronavirus (COVID-19) secure guidance and regulations in place at that time.
We are working with Public Health England and the sector on what coronavirus (COVID-19) secure residential visits will look like at step 3, and further advice will be provided.