As of Monday 12th April, phase two of the government’s roadmap means that schools trips can resume day trips[1].
The great outdoors offers outstanding opportunities across the UK, even in London, and our dedicated school trips team at Creative DMC can create Covid-safe itineraries featuring zoos, national parks, castles, gardens and woodlands, helping students connect with nature, wildlife and more.
If the outdoors is not your cup of tea, many art galleries are now open with fantastic exhibitions across the UK.
Why are galleries open? Well, most of them sell art, so those which do have been able to reopen along with non-essential shops!
From 17th May 2021[2] and the launch of phase three, residential trips can resume, and we are full of an-ti-ci-pation for theatres to reopen, even if with limited capacity. Many shows have already announced their opening dates, with many expecting to reopen by the beginning of June.
From this date, museums and remaining galleries, indoor attractions, restaurants and other hospitality venues will finally be able to reopen, and we can resume our multi-award-winning West End Workshops too, although with limited capacity.
Finally, from 21st June 2021, with the expected launch of phase four of the government’s roadmap, remaining restrictions should be lifted and the full gamut of school trips can resume.
Currently there are no updates on international school trips, but given the additional logistical challenges regarding international travel with BREXIT and COVID-19, we do not anticipate international trips to resume before Easter 2022.
What we’re doing to support school trips
Theatre Workout has a “We’re good to go” badge from Visit Britain, a recognition of our safeguarding protocols to minimise the risk of catching COVID on all our programmes.
Throughout the lockdown we have been volunteering to support the London Tourism Cooperative (LTC). The LTC is working with industry leaders including attractions, hoteliers, restaurants, tour operators and other suppliers to rebuild public confidence in travelling to London, and can confirm that our partners are making extensive efforts to keep staff and guests safe, minimise risk, and stop the spread of COVID-19 so we can get back to normal as soon as possible.
With the LTC, we have helped launch the Festival Of Hope, featuring a children’s art exhibition at the O2, and various other activations taking place over the next year.
Theatre Workout has also launched Creative DMC, our dedicated school trips co-ordinator. Creative DMC aims to curate bespoke itineraries featuring creative learning opportunities across the curriculum throughout the UK.
**** The following is taken from the gov.uk website regarding school trips.
[1] In line with the roadmap, schools can resume educational day visits from 12 April.
Any educational day visits must be conducted in line with relevant coronavirus (COVID-19) secure guidelines and regulations in place at that time. This includes system of controls, such as keeping children within their consistent groups and the COVID-secure measures in place at the destination. Schools should undertake full and thorough risk assessments in relation to all educational visits to ensure they can be undertaken safely. As part of this risk assessment, schools will need to consider what control measures need to be used and follow wider advice on visiting indoor and outdoor venues. Schools should consult the health and safety guidance on educational visits when considering visits.
[2] Schools may begin planning for new domestic residential educational visits to take place. Should step 3 commence as planned, new visits will be possible from no earlier than 17 May. Schools are advised not to enter into any new financial or contractual commitments at this stage. This advice will remain under review and updated at the earliest opportunity.
Any new domestic residential educational visits must be conducted in line with relevant coronavirus (COVID-19) secure guidance and regulations in place at that time.
We are working with Public Health England and the sector on what coronavirus (COVID-19) secure residential visits will look like at step 3, and further advice will be provided.
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