Tours & Visits with Schools

In our long experience in traveling and arranging tours and visits with schools we have developed some guidelines.

When you travel with schools to some of the locations and venues described here in the OzVisits website, you should consider the following:

• Book your venue in good time by phone and in writing. (Mention that you saw the venue advertised on OzVisits.com)
• Check that your transport is reliable and available on time.
• Talk with the proprietors of any accommodation venues you are going to use to ensure that the arrangements are to your requirements.
• Check that your meal arrangements are within your budget (and easily prepared)
• Be sure the children (or your group) know what clothes to wear and to take.
• If your class is not wearing school uniform, be sure that the children know what alternative is acceptable.
• Have a policy on radios, tape and CD players
• Ensure that you have emergency medical information and contact home phone numbers readily available.
• Ensure that all children going on the excursion know why they are going and what is expected of them on the excursion.
• Do you know where the venue is located and how to get there? Sometimes bus drivers don’t know either. (Check the "how to get there" section on OzVisits.com)
• Have you checked on the length of time needed for the visit and how long it takes to travel so that your time of departure and arrival back home is as accurate as possible. Allow for traffic delays and sick children.
• Make sure you have an adequate amount of parent help. Refer to the appropriate supervision section in each entry. Let these people keep an eye on the children while you make sure the arrangements are in place.
• Adhere to the supervision ratios recommended by the venues, especially so far as payment is concerned. Don’t expect a free ride.
• Put all activity material into a booklet format for easy handling. Some venues can actually supply this material for you.
• Visit no more than two venues in any one day. (Unless the visit is for less than an hour).
• Keep the salt, red food colouring and sugar to an absolute minimum by limiting opportunities to purchase such items. Always support the kiosk etc. at the venue you are visiting, but do it at the end of your visit.
• On overnight trips it is best to avoid the kiosk all together, but explain the situation to the proprietor when you arrive.
• If at all possible, don’t drive the bus yourself. You need time to think and interact with the children and to keep them happy.
• Telephone ahead on the morning of the excursion/visit to make sure that you are expected.
• Remember the importance of having something for the children to do in the evenings on overnight trips. Talent quests, show and tell, games, disco, a walk exploring the area etc. are all useful.

Communicate with the parents:

• Six months ahead with a letter and a parent meeting to explain the activity, especially if it is an overnight visit and involves the payment of more than $100.
• One month ahead with a letter and perhaps another meeting to finalise details
• One week ahead with a reminder note.
• One day ahead with a further reminder note.

YOU CANNOT SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN THIS REGARDS

• Arrange for a network of parents to relay phone messages if you are running late on returning from the excursion.
• Travel sickness can be a problem. Don’t be afraid to use travel sickness medication (with written parent approval). It’s much better than cleaning up vomit. Sit children prone to travel sickness in the front seats (or on the front step if the driver is happy with the arrangement).
• A buddy system should be instigated and maintained during the excursion.
• Don’t forget your mobile phone.