01743 852100 Basket Login Search About Us Courses and Experiences Resources Centres Shop Contact Us Donate Customer Information FSC is proud of its long history of safe, enjoyable educational visits. The enthusiasm, and commitment of our staff in working to our systems and procedures is just one way that our staff ensure a positive experience for our customers. This page includes our codes of practice and policies that underpin our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our customers and our staff. FSC has extensive Operational Codes of Practice (OCoPs) that support our staff in greater depth through appropriate training which forms the basis of our operations. Terms and Conditions (updated for bookings from 1st June 2021) Group Agency Agreement If you are booking on behalf of individuals such as a school, membership organisation or university you may be asked to enter into this agreement. This only needs to be done once per organisation and may already have been signed on your behalf. If your organisation needs to sign it we will let you know, but you may find it useful to know what is included in the agreement. FSC Covid-19 Statement We maintain systems and procedures to: Clearly establish the standards to which FSC centres operate. Ensure consistency across the centres, whilst recognising centre needs. Ensure we meet our legal requirements and sector best practice. Meet customer expectations. Demonstrate our commitment to safety to our customers, other interested parties, local authorities and governing bodies including HSE, AALS and LOtC. Demonstrate our values and commitment to minimising our environmental footprint. Definitions can be found in the FSC Terms and Conditions, including: Room Hire Booking Centre Hire Booking Group Booking Individual Booking Centre Course Customer Group Leader(s) Participant(s) Health and Safety FSC is passionate about what we do. We prioritise the health and safety of all FSC’s visitors and aim to function in a safe and secure manner so that visitors can focus on fully immersing themselves into the environment and their chosen activity. With over 75 years of experience we have been able to establish effective policies in all areas where sensible care and attention is required, and these policies are reviewed continuously. FSC promotes a risk benefit approach to learning outdoors. FSC complies with all relevant regulations including: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 Activity Centres (Young Persons’ Safety) Act 1995 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 FSC systems are aimed at providing an appropriate level of support to Group Leaders during their visit to an FSC Centre whilst fulfilling FSC’s own Duty of Care as a provider. Group Leaders, in exercising their duty of care, remain responsible for the overall safety of their participants at all times, other than whilst undertaking a technical activity e.g. Rock Climbing, where a higher level of care is transferred to the technical specialist. FSC Policy is that safe and productive out-of-classroom activities must be based upon a partnership between the provider, organisers and participants. FSC also hopes that organisers and accompanying staff will participate as fully as possible in the planning, support and follow up of the course to ensure that its educational potential is fully realised. Teachers and other staff in charge of young people have a common law duty to act as any reasonably prudent parent would do in the same circumstances. (Ref Health and Safety: Advice for Schools DFE-00035-2014) Supporting Group Leaders We ask for the support of group leader(s) in contributing to the health and safety of everyone during their visit. We want to help you to ensure the whole visit is as successful as possible. To ensure this we provide: Staff with the necessary training, qualifications and experience to work safely and effectively with your group. The opportunity to carry out a pre-visit to one of our centres (*Group Bookings only). Clear guidance on the responsibilities of FSC, of group leaders and of participants with regard to safety, supervision and welfare. A behaviour code of conduct we ask all our visitors to adhere to (Appendix 1.3). Opportunities for group leaders to liaise with staff in advance of their visit. Staff who will support your group throughout their stay. Public Liability Insurance for £10 million and Employers Liability cover for £10 million. Group Leaders Responsibilities Group Leaders (*Group Bookings only) are responsible for the following: Group Leaders are also responsible for the following: Participants on courses at FSC Centres also have responsibilities: Risk-Benefit Approach FSC support the risk-benefit approach to risk assessment for our outdoor activities that has been adopted by both HSE and RoSPA. The benefit of taking acceptable intellectual and physical risks can be seen in the growth and development of young people. We are committed to the delivery of High Quality Outdoor Learning and we appreciate and assess the risks associated with delivering over 3 million learner hours of outdoor learning every year. A detailed risk assessment for activities and teaching sites is undertaken which forms the basis of a dynamic approach to assessment by trained staff whilst in the field. We know that we cannot remove all risk so we adopt control measures to mitigate risks to an acceptable level. Remaining risk is weighed against the academic and personal benefit of undertaking the activity whether it be a formal education programme, adventurous activity or informal learning and outdoor play. We support the OEAP National Guidance for the management of Outdoor Learning and have aligned our internal processes and procedures to be consistent with this where applicable. FSC Staff FSC staff are committed to providing enjoyable, first hand experiences at our Centres. Many are full time staff, that work for us all year round and all staff have a thorough knowledge of our systems and procedures. When staff are recruited, they go through a formal application, selection and interview process. Any existing qualifications are backed up with documentary evidence. Appointed staff undergo an induction process and a probationary period. Staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are required to undergo a satisfactory enhanced check as appropriate to the role with the Disclosure & Barring Service or Access NI and in Scotland staff are subject to Disclosure Scotland’s PVG Enhanced Disclosures. This process is repeated on a 5 year cycle. All our staff are issued with an employment contract, which is supported by an employee handbook and a health and safety handbook. All our staff also undertake a national and centre induction and relevant training, including externally accredited courses in safeguarding. The exact training will depend on their role, their past experience and the needs of that Centre and includes Centre specific training, national FSC training and/or certified external training. Before teaching, staff are assessed as competent, by experienced senior staff. Throughout their career, staff are supported by peer mentoring, observations, feedback and reviews. FSC complies with relevant industry standards when delivering activities and is supported by appropriate experienced Technical Advisors who are technically qualified to advise on the safe conduct of that activity, in that location. External Badging Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge AALA External Providers ABTOT Financial Protection FSC Systems To support our customers, FSC will ensure the following: Medical and Dietary Requirements Risk Assessments Child Protection and Safeguarding First Aid Catering Equality and Access Transport Outdoor Diseases Novel Coronavirus Emergency Procedures Fire Security Valuables Photographs and Videos Image Consent Smoking and Vaping Drugs and Alcohol Unaccompanied Young People Groups Under Remote Supervision Recreational Swimming How we are run Annual Reports Governance and Trustees Our Commitment to the Environment Data Protection Customer Information Gender Pay Gap Centres FSC Amersham FSC Birmingham FSC Bishops Wood FSC Blencathra FSC Castle Head FSC Dale Fort FSC Epping Forest FSC Flatford Mill FSC Juniper Hall FSC London: Beckenham Place Park FSC London: Bushy Park FSC London: Greenwich Park FSC London: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park FSC London: The Regent’s Park FSC London: Urban Sites FSC Malham Tarn FSC Margam Discovery Centre FSC Millport FSC Nettlecombe Court FSC Orielton FSC Preston Montford FSC Rhyd-y-creuau FSC Slapton Ley FSC Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve FSC Start Bay FSC Virtual Biodiversity Arachnids Amphibian and Reptiles Bats Bees Wasps and Ants Beetles Biological Recording Birds Botany Butterflies and Moths Ferns Flowering Plants Freshwater Invertebrates Fungi Grasses, Sedges and Rushes Habitats and Conservation and Field Skills Lichen Mammals Marine and Freshwater Habitats Mosses and Liverworts NVC and Phase 1 Other Invertebrates Plants Professional Development Soil Invertebrates Tracking Trees Find out about Publications Delivery Information Our Email Newsletter Nature Gifts for Wildlife Lovers – Wildlife Gifts & Christmas Cards Bursaries for Natural History courses Course Level Descriptions Field Studies Journal Geography Fieldwork Biology Fieldwork FSC's COVID-19 Resources and Ideas Jobs at FSC – Join Our Team Sign up to our Email Newsletter Donate First Hand Experiences in the Outdoors Field Studies Council is a Company Limited By Guarantee, reg. England and Wales No.412621, and a Charity No.313364 in England & Wales, and SC039870 in Scotland. Registered Office: Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 1HW Cookies By clicking “Accept all cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie details Accept all cookies Cookie settings