Education Business

The importance of school trips to a child’s development is undisputed but the current economic situation has resulted in a drop in the number of teachers taking children on educational visits. The recession has put severe financial pressure on both schools and parents, meaning that many teachers are reluctant to put together school trips that they believe will not be supported by parents. However, should grown up matters be allowed to hold our children back?
    
Research has demonstrated time and again that learning outside the classroom benefits pupils both academically and personally. Ofsted recently claimed that well-organised educational visits have the potential to significantly raise standards and improve social, physical and emotional development. The majority of teachers are only too aware of the vital role that learning outside the classroom plays in a child’s development and do want to facilitate this kind of ‘hands-on’ learning. However, when the country is gripped by financial woes, teachers find it understandably difficult to push parents to help fund trips and often do not feel that they have the support of other members of staff who will be left behind to cover.

Changing with the times
At Education Travel Group, we arrange educational visits for over 250,000 children every year and have done so for over 75 years. Over the years, as with any business, we have developed new ways to keep up with the changing needs of our customers. We have found new ways to extend the learning experience beyond the classroom, keep up with the ever-changing curriculum and deliver parts of the curriculum that are difficult to deliver in the confines of a classroom.
    
The current economic situation is just the latest example of how the changing world has influenced our work. As a school trips provider, our livelihood rests on our ability to create programmes that make it easier for teachers to deliver the curriculum, and to support them through the process of organising educational visits. Our philosophy over the last 75 years has been to give teachers value for money and make sure that learning outside the classroom is accessible to everyone, regardless of background. This philosophy has never been more important than in the current crisis, and we have recently developed a range of new products to make educational visits even more affordable to cash strapped parents and over-stretched schools.
    
For example, STS School Travel Service has made a range of new options available for teachers and schools, enabling them to select the right trip for their needs and budget, no matter what they might be. As the UK’s leading school tour operator, STS has created recession-busting, shorter itineraries for all its key trips, enabling teachers to take pupils away for less and making learning outside the classroom more affordable for all. STS is now offering itineraries from just two days, travelling to much loved destinations such as WW1 Battlefields from just £95 per child, and is able to arrange trips for smaller groups with a minimum of 10 students but maintaining great rates.

Tailor made trips
For teachers with limited resources and budget, it is important to find a tried and trusted provider who will be able to guide them seamlessly through the process. A good educational trip provider will discuss the educational and developmental needs of a class with the teacher and suggest, then build, a cost-effective itinerary for the group based on these discussions.
    
Despite what many teachers may initially think, it is not the case that pupils need to be taken very far for them to feel the benefit of learning outside the classroom. London, for example, is one of the most historical and cultural cities in Europe and is right on our doorstep – perfect for stimulating a broader understanding of history, art, science and politics, whilst residential stays at UK education activity centres such as Kingswood will build camaraderie and enable teachers to deliver areas of the curriculum that are otherwise difficult to facilitate.
    
Tours to Northern France are an excellent option for teachers who still want to take their pupils abroad. As well as being very close to the UK, the area has a wealth of history and the benefit of exposing pupils to another language and culture.
    
It is also important to build links with parents and to demonstrate what your trip will bring to their child. All Education Travel Group educational visits are closely tied to the curriculum, and Equity School Travel has indexed each one of their tours to the curriculum, giving teachers and parents an easy reference point. Many educational travel providers will be more than happy to come to events such as parents’ evenings to discuss your trip and bring learning to life for the parents, as well as the children. I would advise teachers to contact a provider early in the process for more information and to ask as many questions as possible, to ensure that you are able to answer any questions parents may throw at you.
    
It would be a huge shame to let school trips slip from the spectrum of educational opportunities afforded to children because of the current financial situation. Together, we must find a way to give every child the education he or she deserves – in and out of the classroom.

For more information
Web: www.educationtravelgroup.com