Holidays and School Trips

Where there is a proposal for a child to go on holiday or a school trip in the UK, the relevant social worker should give approval.

If the home is permitted to arrange holidays and trips without seeking approval, the social worker should still be informed, preferably in advance or as soon as possible afterwards.

Children must not be taken on holiday during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances that would be approved by the social worker's Manager for the child and the Head of School. (Note that under the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, the previous ability of headteachers to grant leave of absence for the purpose of a holiday during term time in 'special circumstances' of up to ten school days leave per year has been removed. The 2013 Regulations make clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are 'exceptional circumstances').

• Seek authorisation from Head of Service Delivery (Responsible Individual);
• Form a planning team for the visit and assign roles;
• Develop a budget early on to set realistic expectation on costs;
• Involve young people in the planning of the visit where appropriate and possible, especially in the planning of programme and development of risk assessments;
• Get advice for vaccinations at least 8 weeks in advance of the trip;
• Allocate an 'At Home Emergency Contact';
• Ensure your 'At Home Emergency Contact' understands the visit and has all the necessary information. (Copies of passports, risk assessment for the visit, copies of consent forms, final itinerary, travel details, health forms, insurance summary, emergency contact list for all participants).

Where there is a proposal for child to go on holiday or school trip abroad, the child's social worker must always give approval, having consulted the child's parents.

Where the parents should consent, their consent must be obtained in writing. Where parental consent is not given, the social worker may need to seek legal advice as to whether the holiday can go ahead.

If the child requires a passport, the social worker should be consulted on the procedures within the Local Authority for obtaining a passport.

Sharing your experience when you return allows other groups to learn from your trip.

Where the holiday or school trip will interrupt normal contact arrangements between the child and his/her family and significant others, alternative suitable arrangements should be given consideration. This should be in consultation with the social worker and relevant others and consistent with the child's Care Plan.

See Contact with Parents/Carers, Siblings and Others Procedure.

Residential holiday schemes for disabled children are treated separately from holiday arrangements for children looked after in residential homes and are regulated by means of the Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children Regulations 2013 referenced above.