Route 2
Route 2
Some activities require a degree of technical knowledge and experience that are beyond the lay person, such as visits to farms, knowing which beaches are safe to use for field studies at certain states of the tide, or how to ensure a group of children are operating safely on a high ropes course.
Providers of these activities must follow Route 2, where their safety management systems will be assessed by a suitably competent assessor before the award can be made. They will have to meet the same criteria for ensuring quality as the providers following Route 1.
Five sector-specific Awarding Bodies undertake the onsite assessments on behalf of the CLOtC, their respective definitions are given as follows:
Farming & countryside education sector
Adventurous activities sector
Overseas Expeditions sector
Natural environment sector
Study, sport and cultural tours sector
Farming & countryside Sector assessed by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) Activities that take place on a farm or horticultural premises, and where livestock, soil or horticultural inputs, products or equipment may be handled (excluding small horticultural sites such as allotments and community gardens; and petting areas in a non-farm environment). For the purposes of the LOtC Quality Badge it is the active involvement of children in farming practices or the handling of livestock or soil in a farming environment that determine whether a provider should be assessed via the Route 2 process. CLOtC manages the administration and assessment of applications for the Farming & Countryside Sector. In order to register your interest, please complete the Route 2 registration form. CLOtC will then send you the relevant forms and guidance. More details on the application procedures, as well as the Self Evaluation Form, Application Guidance and Code of Practice Declaration are available here. |
Adventurous activities assessed by Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC) 1. In terms of its role as the awarding body for Adventurous Activities, AAIAC sees the extent of its scope as the assessment and accreditation of providers of:
2. AAIAC’s scope does not extend to activities overseas which operate to different standards and / or are impracticable to inspect. AAIAC understands that there is guidance on using sub-contracted activities overseas in the EPA standards. In order to register your interest, please complete the Route 2 registration form. The Awarding Body will then send you the relevant forms and guidance. For more information please contact Activity Adventure Associates: info@adventureactivityassociates.co.uk or 01479 811448 |
Overseas Expeditions assessed by Expedition Providers’ Association (EPA) The EPA Code of Practice defines an expedition as: “Overseas travel that involves a deliberate element of risk, challenge or adventure and requires specialist skills for its safe management”. These can range from a 1-4 weeks in duration and include in their programme: Treks in remote regions in challenging terrain Ascents of mountains Journeys by foot, horse, kayak, bike, camel, raft Cultural projects often with remote village communities Other cultural or adventure activities Most EPA programmes are at the lower challenge end of this range, and only differ from a more traditional school trip in that they specifically include an element of risk such as a project, or an activity provided by a third party provider, such as white water rafting. Expeditions will have a UK leader who will have overall responsibility for the management of all activities that form part of an expedition programme even if the activity is being delivered by a third party provider Expedition Leaders are required to have the experience and knowledge to manage all aspects of an expedition programme. In order to register your interest, please complete the Route 2 registration form. The Awarding Body will then send you the relevant forms and guidance. For more information please contact EPA: membership@expeditionprovidersassociation.co.uk or 01483 810785
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Natural Environment Sector managed by CLOtC The Natural Environment Sector sees its scope within the LOtC Quality Badge as being providers of fieldwork and other hands on field study activities. As with other sectors, some fieldwork doesn't require any specialist risk management and so can legitimately be assessed through Route 1. The characteristics of fieldwork and other hands on field study activities which would require assessment through route 2 are where the learners would take part in one or more of the following activities:
The studies could be taking place outdoors in a wide variety of environments – the common theme is the high priority given to the learning outcomes with the activity or process being devised specifically to achieve the identified learning outcome. In order to begin the Route 2 application process, please complete the Route 2 registration form. CLOtC will then send you the relevant forms and guidance. If you consider that a Route 1 application would be more appropriate for your provision, please go the Route 1 information page. Study, Sports & Cultural Tours administered by School Travel Forum (STF) The STF’s Code of Practice sets operating standards based on UK tour operators whose travel related business is to promote and sell inclusive school or college tours as packages, as defined by the Package Holiday Regulations 1992. The integral Safety Management System covers the provision of accommodation, transport, sports, snowsports, activities and other excursions that form the package. In addition, it specifies requirements for emergency support, client information, training, accident monitoring and process reviews. Note:
In order to register your interest, please complete the Route 2 registration form. The Awarding Body will then send you the relevant forms and guidance. Contact STF: info@schooltravelforum.com or 01989 764242 |
Where your organisation offers activities in more than one sector, first approach the Awarding Body that covers the majority of your provision and discuss your assessment requirements with them.
If it isn’t clear which Awarding Body is appropriate or you need any other guidance please contact the LOtC Quality Badge Helpline on 07545 696881 or at qualitybadge@lotc.org.uk