LOtC Quality Badge

What is the LOtC Quality Badge?

The LOtC Quality badge is the only national award assessing both the quality of risk management and educational provision across all types of learning outside the classroom providers including museums and castles, botanical gardens and city farms, theme parks and zoos, field study and adventure centres, and expeditions and study cultural tours abroad. It is recognised by the Department of Education and Welsh Government, and therefore by schools as an indication of quality.

Why apply?

The LOtC Quality Badge provides you with a framework to ensure you are the best you can be.

The Department for Education’s guidance on Health & Safety on Educational Visits recommends that schools look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing external providers of educational visits.

The Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel endorse the LOtC Quality Badge and most Local Authority Outdoor Education Advisers accept it in place of some or all of their checks, so reduces schools’ and your own paperwork. 

Senedd Cymru endorse the advice provided by OEAP Cymru which includes using LOtC QB accredited providers.

 CLOtC offers opportunities to promote your organisation for free via our website and social media.

How to apply?

Due to the wide-ranging LOtC opportunities the Badge covers it is assessed by different organisations with expertise in their fields, known as Awarding Bodies. You can also be assessed via your membership of BAPA and AHOEC or as a top-up to your AALA licence.

Each LOtC Quality Badge holder needs to demonstrate that they meet the same Quality Indicators but the procedure for assessment and the cost is set by each Awarding Body. Council for Learning Outside the Classroom oversee the LOtC Quality Badge certification however the Awarding Bodies determine how the Badge is administered for their sector.

Scroll down to find out more…….

How to apply?

Select the options below to identify which Awarding Body your organisation will be assessed by and how to apply.

Are you a provider of .......

Do you offer activities that include everyday risks that non-specialist school staff could assess for themselves?

Some activities and venues fall within the scope of everyone’s experience, such theatres, art galleries, museums, historic houses, science learning centres, theme parks, zoos, places of worship, parks, woodlands, allotments, gardens, city farms, and some nature reserves/field studies. This also includes cookery classes, theatre groups, mobile planetariums and other visitors.

Or

Do you offer activities that require technical knowledge and experience?
 

Some activities require qualifications and experience to be delivered safely such as adventurous activities, field studies in remote settings, visits to working farms, trampoline parks and other leisure and recreation facilities, study, sports and cultural visits abroad and expeditions overseas. Alternative provision/work with vulnerable children/young people is included here. 

Do the activities you offer fit within...

Nature, Countryside & Farming with technical Risk management
alternative Provision
STUDY, SPORT AND CULTURAL TOURS ABROAD
OVERSEAS EXPEDITIONS
Leisure and Recreation including TRAMPOLINE PARKS
OTHER

If you do not feel you fit into one of these categories or are unsure, please email our LOtC Quality Badge team. 

Nature, Countryside & Farming with technical risk management

You offer activities in a natural environment where students are:

  • Entering water or the intertidal zone e.g. shore ecology, beach profiling to collect measurements/samples
  • Working in remote areas or areas with difficult access without vehicle access
  • Working as small groups away from direct supervision
  • Using tools as part of practical conservation, bushcraft or Forest School activities.
 
Or you offer activities within a working farm or similar venue where livestock, soil or horticultural inputs, products or equipment may be handled in a day visit or residential setting.
 
This is assessed by CLOtC

Alternative Provision

For providers of educational activities arranged by local authorities, schools or Academy Trusts for students who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive suitable education.

Adventurous Activities

You offer activities that require technical risk management and staff with technical competence, such as rock climbing and mountaineering, sailing, paddlesports, surfing, skiing, and high ropes courses.

Most activities will have established National Governing Body qualifications and some may require an Adventurous Activities Licencing Authority licence.

This is assessed by Adventure Activities Associates on behalf of the Awarding Body Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee, AAAIC. 

You can also be assessed via your membership of MIAS, BASI, BAPA, and AHOEC or as a top-up to your AALA licence.

Study, sport and cultural tours abroad

You offer international packages including accommodation, transport, sports, activities and excursions. These may include hotels or hostels and are usually undertaken for cultural, study, or sporting objectives including ski trips and language exchange visits.

This is assessed by School Travel Forum, STF.

Overseas Expeditions

You lead groups overseas to remote areas requiring complex risk management.

This is assessed by Expedition Providers Association, EPA.

Leisure and Recreation including Trampoline parks

You offer high quality facilities and a range of experiences and learning opportunities linked to a school’s curriculum at a Trampoline Park or offer other activity provision that does not fit into one of the other sectors.

Leisure and Recreation including Trampoline Parks are assessed by British Activity Providers Association, BAPA.

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