4.12 Residential Visits

Overview

Residential visits provide valuable opportunities for young people to develop confidence, independence and social skills. Spending time away from their usual environment can support personal development, strengthen relationships and enhance learning.

Effective planning is essential to ensure that residential visits are safe, inclusive and educationally meaningful.

Choosing a Residential Experience

When selecting a residential visit, you should consider:

• The age, abilities and needs of the group
• The learning objectives, whether subject-based or focused on personal and social development
• The cost and overall value of the experience

Choosing a visit that matches the needs of the group helps ensure the experience is both accessible and beneficial.

Types of Residential Experiences

Residential visits vary in complexity. Examples include:

School-based residentials

Overnight stays on school premises or grounds. Requires additional fire and safety planning

Residential centres

Accommodation and activities provided by specialist centres

Hotels or hostels

Ideally with sole/zoned occupancy for the group

Buildings not designed for accommodation

Require additional fire and safety planning

Self-catering accommodation

Requires attention to accommodation safety standards, food hygiene and safe participation in cooking activities

Camping or bivouacs

Require careful planning and consideration of weather conditions

Homestays or exchanges

Refer to specific guidance on exchange visits

Overseas residential visits

Refer to overseas visit guidance

Overseas expeditions

Refer to expedition guidance

The level of planning and supervision should increase with the complexity of the experience.

Key Planning Considerations

The STAGED framework can support planning.

Parental Engagement

Parents should be informed early about the visit and its purpose. Where contributions are required, clear payment arrangements should be provided.

Staffing and Supervision

Ensure there are sufficient competent staff for the location, activities and needs of the group. Staffing decisions should consider potential contingencies if a leader becomes unavailable.

Sleeping Arrangements and Safeguarding

Sleeping arrangements should ensure privacy, safety and appropriate supervision. Arrangements should be clearly explained to participants, staff and parents.

Inclusion and SEND

Anticipate what inclusion challenges there may be. Plan early to ensure reasonable adjustments can be made. The SENCO should be involved where appropriate, and staff should understand individual needs.

Additional staffing for individual support should not normally affect overall supervision ratios.

Safety and Wellbeing

You must ensure that appropriate measures are in place to manage:

• Fire safety and building evacuation procedures
• Group safety and site security
• Hygiene and infection control
• Behaviour expectations, including alcohol, smoking or relationships where relevant
• Safeguarding and supervision levels
• Emergency procedures and communication arrangements

All staff should understand their responsibilities and know how to respond in an emergency.

Reviewing Plans

Even where residential visits are repeated each year, arrangements should always be reviewed to ensure they remain appropriate for the current group, environment and conditions.

Careful planning and review help ensure residential visits remain safe, inclusive and rewarding learning experiences.

Links to further reading:

OEAP National Guidance available at https://oeapng.info

Learning Away – How to achieve Brilliant Residentials https://www.learningaway.org.uk/how-to/