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School Trip Risk Assessment — Day Trips & Residentials Covered
Describe the trip — destination, transport, group size, age range and activities. We generate a fully written educational visit risk assessment aligned with DfE and OEAP guidance, suitable for Ofsted inspection, in minutes.
Used by class teachers, EVCs and trip leaders in primary schools, secondary schools and colleges across the UK
🚌 Taking pupils off-site? A written risk assessment is required by DfE guidance before any educational visit. Anyrisks generates a specific, compliant document for every trip — in the time it takes to brief your class.
Legal & Regulatory Requirements for School Trips
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require schools and local authorities to assess and manage the risks of all activities — including educational visits. The duty of care to pupils on trips is the same as in school: employers must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure safety.
The DfE Health and Safety on Educational Visits guidance (2018) sets the framework for planning and approving school trips in England. It requires headteachers (or their delegates) to ensure that every off-site visit is properly risk assessed and that the appointed Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) has approved the visit plan and risk assessment before departure.
The OEAP (Outdoor Education Advisers Panel) National Guidance, 9th Edition is the industry-recognised benchmark for educational visit planning and risk assessment in the UK. OEAP guidance is referenced by local authorities, Ofsted, and DfE as the standard against which school trip risk assessments are evaluated. The OEAP framework distinguishes between routine visits (day trips, local visits), residential visits, and activities requiring specific competence (adventurous activities, overseas visits). The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) requires that providers of certain adventurous activities for under-18s hold a licence — schools should verify AALA licensing before booking any activity that falls within scope (caving, climbing, trekking, watersports). For overseas visits, schools should follow FCO travel advice and the additional parental consent and emergency contact requirements of the DfE overseas visits framework. Visits requiring Local Authority approval (residential trips, overseas trips, and any involving significant adventurous activities) must receive LA sign-off before the risk assessment is finalised.
How It Works
1. Describe the Trip
Tell us the destination, transport method, group size, age range, activities planned, supervision ratios and any pupils with specific medical needs or additional requirements.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written educational visit risk assessment covering destination hazards, transport, medical needs, emergency procedures and OEAP-aligned controls.
3. Instant Download and Use
Download as PDF and Word. Submit for EVC approval, file with your school’s visit records, or produce it for an Ofsted inspection. £29, no subscription.
What It Covers
Every school trip risk assessment is written in full — covering the complete scope of the visit.
Destination hazards and site-specific risks
Travel arrangements — coach, public transport, minibus, walking
Supervision ratios and roles (teacher, volunteer, EVC)
Pupils with medical needs, allergies or disabilities
Missing child procedures and communication protocols
Parental consent and information requirements
Residential stays — overnight supervision and accommodation safety
Water activities and adventurous activity licensing
Emergency procedures and first aid provision
Weather-related risks and contingency plans
Public interaction and crowd management
Food safety, allergen management and dietary requirements
Works For
Any off-site visit or educational activity involving pupils.
What Customers Say
“As our school’s EVC I was spending an hour on every trip risk assessment. Anyrisks gets me a full, specific document in minutes that I can review and submit straight away.”
Jane P.
EVC, primary school, Berkshire
“Ofsted asked to see our educational visit risk assessments during inspection. The Anyrisks documents were specific, well-structured and satisfied the inspector completely.”
Mark S.
Deputy headteacher, secondary school, Midlands
“We take Year 6 on a residential every year. Anyrisks covered the overnight supervision, water activities and emergency procedures in one document. Exactly what we needed.”
Claire W.
Year 6 teacher, primary school, Lancashire
Anyrisks vs DIY Templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| DfE and OEAP guidance aligned | ✓ | ✗ |
| Specific to your destination and activities | ✓ | ✗ |
| Suitable for Ofsted inspection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers medical needs and missing child procedures | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download — £29 | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this meet the DfE and OEAP guidance for educational visits?
Yes. Anyrisks generates educational visit risk assessments aligned with the DfE Health and Safety on Educational Visits guidance (2018) and the OEAP National Guidance 9th Edition. The assessment covers destination hazards, transport, supervision ratios, medical needs, emergency procedures, and the specific requirements for the type of visit described.
What’s the difference between a domestic and an overseas school trip assessment?
For domestic visits, the assessment follows DfE and OEAP guidance, with LA approval required for residential and adventurous activity visits. For overseas visits, schools must additionally follow FCO travel advice for the destination, obtain appropriate parental consent, arrange emergency contact and medical cover, and comply with the DfE overseas visits framework. Describe whether the trip is UK-based or overseas and Anyrisks will include the appropriate additional requirements.
Does this cover AALA-licensed adventurous activities?
Yes. The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) requires providers of caving, climbing, trekking, and watersports for under-18s to hold a licence. Anyrisks will flag the AALA licensing requirement for any activity that falls within scope, and include the controls and checks schools should carry out before booking.
Can a class teacher generate this, or does it need to be the EVC?
Either can use Anyrisks to generate the draft assessment. The Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) should review and approve the final document before the trip, in line with DfE and OEAP guidance. The EVC is responsible for ensuring the assessment meets LA and school requirements.
What if we have pupils with medical conditions or SEND?
Describe the relevant needs — severe allergies, mobility requirements, medical equipment, behavioural needs — and the assessment will include specific individual risk controls. For trips involving pupils with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, additional consent and communication with parents and support staff is required.
How long does it take?
Under 2 minutes. Describe the trip — destination, transport, group size, age range, activities — and Anyrisks produces a fully written, DfE and OEAP-aligned school trip risk assessment. £29, no subscription.