Useful Resources
Useful Resources
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The following organisations provide guidance, accreditation, and support for educational visits.
Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA)
The Government-appointed body responsible for overseeing and issuing licences for providing high-risk outdoor activities for under 18s. AALA holds a searchable register of licensed providers.
The Association for Physical Education (afPE)
Membership body and subject association for physical education, school sport, and physical activity in the United Kingdom. afPE provides useful resources and CPD for schools, and publishes detailed guidance for PE and school sport in Safe Practice in PESSPA.
Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC)
A professional association for leaders in outdoor learning organisations in the UK. AHOEC manages the AHOEC Gold Standard which assesses providers for safety, quality, and outcomes. Centres with an AHOEC Gold Standard automatically qualify for the LOtC Quality Badge.
British Activity Providers Association (BAPA)
A membership association for activity providers. BAPA members are inspected against its Code of Practice and the requirements of the LOtC Quality Badge and AAIAC Adventuremark, supporting high standards in the outdoor learning sector.
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC)
A UK national charity that champions and supports educational experiences beyond the classroom. CLOtC runs the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge scheme which helps schools identify providers who meet the highest standards. CLOtC offers support and CPD for schools through its schools membership and mentoring programmes, events, and webinars.
Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL)
The professional body for organisations and people who use the outdoors for education, development, and health. IOL provides training and resources including its guide to High Quality Outdoor Learning for Education Settings.
Kaddi.com
A searchable online directory of providers and venues with verified reviews from teachers. Use Kaddi to plan your visit and check provider and venue accreditations and memberships.
OEAP National Guidance
A free, online set of guidance documents for anyone involved in outdoor learning and educational visits.
School Travel Forum
A non-profit trade association for school travel providers. School Travel Forum members have been assessed for the safety and quality of their provision, and STF is an awarding body for the LOtC Quality Badge.
Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education (SAPOE)
A membership body for the outdoor education community in Scotland. SAPOE is tasked by the Scottish Government to write and maintain the official guidance framework for safe practice in outdoor education in Scotland, Going Out There.