Due to the recent terrorist incidents in Belgium we urge schools to check with their insurers and confer with parents and students regarding trips which are planned to Belgium or are routed through Belgium in order to come to a decision about how to continue.
Please do check the updated Foreign Office advice here.
In addition there are two key advice documents which are relevant to considering your trip plans when visiting areas where there is a risk of terrorism.
The OEAP National Guidance document 7r Overseas Visits already includes advice about checking the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, but also includes a link to Government advice “Recognising the Terrorist Threat“. Its “Stay Safe” advice at point 2 raises awareness of what to do if you are involved in a terrorist attack.
Plus there is further Government advice to be found in 4.1c Off Site Visit Emergencies: Guidance for Leaders.
In addition, Handsam’s emergency response & school travel expert Julian Penney examines the security risks and terrorism considerations for school visits in this article which offers practical planning tips and advice.
In most circumstances, it is assessed that school groups are unlikely to be specifically targeted by terrorists but they could become caught in post-incident disruption following an incident. Since not at greater risk than the general UK population per se, our advice for school visit groups is therefore practical and logistical. Much of our advice should be included in the school’s visit specific risk assessment.
General Considerations for All Visit Types
Pre-visit:
- Increase staff to student supervision ratios from normal arrangements. If for example small groups of older students are allowed to spend short periods of time indirectly supervised by staff during visits, consider removing this additional freedom.
- Stay alert to local and national news.
- Avoid religious or political venues and events that could be considered higher risk.
- Further assess the requirements of SEND students and their ability to react and respond to dynamic situations.
- Communicate openly with parents in advance and provide contact details of visit leaders for them to contact during trip.
- Remind students to remain vigilant and alert, reporting anything suspicious to staff.
- Remain alert to more ‘usual’ crime as this is more likely than terrorism.
- Brief participants in advance that if they are caught up in a security situation, that they should try and get away as quickly but safely from the immediate vicinity as possible, leaving baggage or other belongings behind.
- Brief students in advance to follow instructions of police or security forces at all times, being mindful that they may be armed and appear intimidating or more forceful than they are used to.
- Brief students and staff what to do if separated from the group in the event of a security incident. This should include designating specified physical meeting points and contact telephone numbers for staff. Remember that mobile phones may not work in the immediate hours after an incident so it is additionally important to designate a meeting location. Consider use of telephone boxes where they still exist for contacting school.
- Data based communication services such as WhatsApp might work even when voice calls don’t so consider setting up a trip-specific WhatsApp group for communicating in an emergency.
- Consider providing all students with a printed emergency contact card with the school’s landline telephone number on it and space for them to write down their own home landline number.
- Leaders should carry a spare mobile phone (if possible on a different telephone network to the other handset) and spare battery or auxiliary charger.
- Tell students that If they are separated, to ask for assistance from a police officer or other security official and state that they are a part of a school group. Remind them that police and security forces may be very forceful with all members of the public in the immediate vicinity of an incident: this is necessary until people’s identities are confirmed.
- Carry water and snacks on visits in case of travel disruption and long delays.
- Carry additional personal medication in case of long delays.
- Consider changing either the date or visit location to a time or location that carries less risk.
In the Event of a Security Incident on a Visit
- If groups are caught up in a security incident, Leaders should attempt to keep everyone together but need to understand that this may be extremely difficult.
- The Group Leader should notify the school home contact as soon as practicable noting the known whereabouts of all members.
- Activate the school’s crisis plan if a group is caught-up in an incident. Establish a crisis team at the school to become a communication focal point and receiving area for parents and students upon return.
- The school should arrange the group’s return transport as quickly and smoothly as possible. Parents should collect their children from school rather than travel to the incident location.
- The school should communicate with parents using its normal methods where possible, including email and secure website areas.
- Consideration should be given to arranging proactive trauma counselling for students and staff after such an event; this can be provided at short notice by Pharos Response.
Additional UK visit considerations
- Research the venue/s or event in order to avoid occasions when large crowds are likely or political demonstrations are planned in the area.
- Speak to local police (or police force where visit is taking place) for specific advice in advance.
- Speak to venues in advance to understand their own security arrangements for school groups and any events.
- Stay alert to local and national news, especially for any changes to official UK security threat levels.
- Consider using private coach transport rather than the Underground or other public transport when travelling in London.
- Advice for visits to London are available through the Metropolitan Police. here
- Advice for visits using public transport in London are available here
Additional overseas visit considerations
- Research and adhere to the FCO advice for the country being visited, noting any specific advice for cities or areas https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice or via Twitter @FCOtravel.
- Subscribe to updates for the country and carry a smart phone or tablet than can access these updates whilst overseas.
- Remember to do the same for any countries that are being transited.
- Other official advice from the FCO can be found here.
- Confirm with insurers that they will cover costs resulting from acts of terrorism, including medical care, repatriation and cancellation/curtailment. Consider adding this cover if possible.
- Liaise with tour operators and ask them to describe their own risk assessment and arrangements following terrorist acts, including the possibility for changing destinations at the school’s request. (even if FCO advice has not changed to specifically advise against travel)
- Scan copies of passports, visas and travel insurance details and save these onto a secure cloud-based storage system in case of lost documents following an incident.
- Carry additional medication such as anti-malarial tablets in case of lost baggage and delays following an incident.
- Avoid political or religious celebrations / demonstrations or venues such as embassies where possible.
- Avoid locations that are synonymous with Western or European tourism if possible – especially popular bars, cafes or restaurants. Rural and small towns generally attract a lower risk of terrorism than cities and principal tourist attractions.
- Remind students about cultural sensitivities regarding clothing and behaviour, and then proactively monitor this.
- Student behaviour and overall group presence and posture should be conservative and not draw additional attention.
- Comply with instructions from legitimate security forces and officials. If Leaders are unsure of their credibility and time is available, seek advice from the Embassy or High Commission by telephone.
- In more remote destinations, consider hiring a satellite telephone for the duration of the visit.
- Groups leaders should carry a suitable first aid kit at all times, and also carry water purification tablets.
- Notify travel insurance provider as soon as possible if directly affected by terrorism and request repatriation assistance as soon as possible. The embassy will take a direct role in assisting British nationals and will in most circumstances assist other passport holders if they are students at a British school. Consular assistance to school groups will normally be prioritised over adult tourists.
- Consider changing either the date, entire destination or internal itinerary.
In some cases the direct affects of terrorism are difficult to avoid but greater visit planning can help avoid situations and also help the group respond more effectively if they are affected by geographical proximity.
For more information on risk assessments, planning safe school trips or anything else to do with health and safety management in schools please contact Handsam at 03332 070737 or by emailing info@handsam.co.uk. You can also contact us on twitter @handsamltd where you will find info on the latest health and safety news, blogs and Handsam system updates.
