Derwent Hill - training

It is a requirement that every school or educational establishment (including nursery schools, children's homes & youth organisations) appoints an educational visits coordinator.  This duty falls to the head teacher if there is no coordinator (see the updated guidance for health and safety on educational visits of 26 November 2018 www.gov.uk).

EVC training is a one day course to make the EVC aware of what is required in carrying out this role.

Training dates for 2019 are detailed below:

Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) Revalidation 14 November 2019 1.30-4.30pm
Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) Training 15 November 2019 1.30-4.30pm

We will be running further courses in March and will advertise these on the EVOLVE site (or we can be contacted direct at Derwent Hill on 017687 72005, by email on derwent.hill@sunderland.gov.uk, or via the contact us page on our website https://www.derwenthill.co.uk/contact/

Training is delivered by approved members of the outdoor education advisers panel. For Sunderland this is the educational visits advisory service (EVAS) based at Derwent Hill, comprising Matt Ellis, Andy Morris, Nigel Hooker and Dan Steels.

Training courses look at the role of the EVC as being a promoter and enabler of learning outside the classroom. Courses deal with a summary of the legal framework educational visits must work within, national guidance (from outdoor educational advisers panel) and the Sunderland Educational Visits Policy.

The requirements of risk assessments are discussed and practical training in writing risk assessments given. Other training areas include planning visits, staffing visits, ways of assessing the suitability of external providers and emergency procedures.

EVC's are made aware of web based resources available to help their role. Training is also given in the use of EVOLVE as an online system for recording visit plans and seeking the appropriate level of approval for visits.

Once trained there is a requirement that EVC's attend a half day revalidation course every three years.

Visit leader training is also available. This is a one day, nationally recognised and certificated course looking at the role of the visit leader - this covers planning visits, the legal framework and risk assessment from the perspective of the visit leader with an emphasis on practical training in common visit scenarios.

EVC & EVC Revalidation Courses are run each term in Sunderland. Visit Leader Training can be arranged on request. For further information on all courses refer to the Sunderland City Council homepage on EVOLVE or by contacting the EVAS service at Derwent Hill Centre.