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282 <h2>
282 Holidays and School Trips Outside the UK
282 </h2>
284 </div>
287 <div id="scope_box">
288 <h3>
288 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
288 </h3>
289 <p>
289 This procedure applies to day trips and holidays within and outside the UK for all
289 <span>
289 Looked After Children
289 </span>
289 .
289 </p>
290 <h3>
290 RELATED CHAPTER
290 </h3>
291 <p>
291 <a href="p_del_auth_fc_resid.html">
291 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers Procedure
291 </a>
291 </p>
292 <p>
292 <a href="p_overnight_stays.html">
292 Overnight Stays and Social Visits Procedure
292 </a>
292 </p>
293 <p>
293 <a href="p_contact_parents.html">
293 Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings Procedure
293 </a>
293 </p>
294 <h3>
294 AMENDMENT
294 </h3>
295 <p>
295 This chapter was amended in April 2017 to emphasise that children should not be taken on holiday
in term time unless the request has been agreed by the practitioners manager and then Head of the
school. The chapter also reflects the Bexley management structure and local practice.
295 </p>
296 </div>
297 <div id="sections">
299 <h3 id="sections_list">
299 Contents
299 </h3>
300 <ol>
301 <li>
301 <a href="#holslac">
301 Holidays for Looked After Children in the UK
301 </a>
301 </li>
302 <li>
302 <a href="#holsoutuk">
302 Holidays for Looked After Children Outside the UK
302 </a>
302 </li>
303 <li>
303 <a href="#schtrips">
303 School / Organisational Trips of up to 4 Days Away
303 </a>
303 </li>
304 </ol>
305 <h3 id="holslac">
305 1. Holidays for Looked After Children in the UK
305 </h3>
306 <p>
306 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. This
will be kept under review following a recent high court judgement.
306 </p>
307 <p>
307 Where there is a proposal for a looked after child to go on holiday in the UK, the child's social
worker must obtain full information about the holiday.
307 </p>
308 <p>
308 This will include:
308 </p>
309 <ul>
310 <li>
310 Proposed dates and duration of the holiday;
310 </li>
311 <li>
311 Address(es)/contact details of the holiday location/what type of holiday;
311 </li>
312 <li>
312 Insurance details;
312 </li>
313 <li>
313 Who will be present on the holiday e.g. names of other children and other adults;
313 </li>
314 <li>
314 If the holiday involves staying with friends or relatives, their names and addresses;
314 </li>
315 <li>
315 Emergency contacts;
315 </li>
316 <li>
316 Any risk assessments that may be required, which should include any health or behaviour issues
of the child as well as the holiday environment itself.
316 </li>
317 </ul>
318 <p>
318 The child's social worker should seek the views of the child and parent / persons who have
Parental Responsibility as soon as practicable.
318 </p>
319 <p>
319 If the parents consent, their consent must be obtained in writing.
319 </p>
320 <p>
320 Where the social worker, parent and staff/carer agree to the proposed holiday, the holiday can be
approved and should be included in the child's Placement Plan.
320 </p>
321 <p>
321 For children who are in a long term placement and there is agreement with the Children's Services
that the carers have Delegated Authority, (see
321 <a href="p_del_auth_fc_resid.html">
321 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers Procedure
321 </a>
321 ), depending upon the nature of the delegation agreed, it may be the case that the carers are able
to make such decisions themselves. However, good practice should ensure that decisions by the
carers are shared in a timely way with their Supervising Social Worker and / or child's allocated
practitioner. The parent/s should be advised as appropriate – especially if the holiday affects
contact arrangements.
321 </p>
322 <p>
322 Requests must be made in writing. (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'.)
322 </p>
323 <p>
323 Where the social worker considers that the holiday should go ahead despite the parents' opposition
and legal advice supports this, the approval of the social worker's manager to the holiday should
be sought. The request for such approval should include the legal advice given.
323 </p>
324 <p>
324 Written confirmation of the manager's decision, together with the reasons, should be provided to
the parent.
324 </p>
325 <p>
325 Where the holiday will involve additional costs, the social worker should obtain approval for the
costs from the relevant manager before the holiday can be agreed.
325 </p>
326 <p>
326 If approved, the holiday should be included in the child's Placement Plan.
326 </p>
327 <p>
327 Where the holiday will interrupt contact arrangements between the child and parents, consideration
should also be given to arranging additional contacts before and after the holiday.
327 </p>
328 <h3 id="holsoutuk">
328 2. Holidays for Looked After Children Outside the UK
328 </h3>
329 <p>
329 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. This
will be kept under review following a recent high court judgement.
329 </p>
330 <h4 id="holacc">
330 2.1 Holidays for Accommodated Children
330 </h4>
331 <p>
331 Arrangements for notifying and consulting the social worker about holiday plans should be agreed
in the Placement Plan.
331 </p>
332 <p>
332 The consent of the parent(s) or person with Parental Responsibility must be obtained and consent
form signed.
332 </p>
333 <p>
333 The child's social worker must obtain full information about the holiday/trip. This will include:
333 </p>
334 <ul>
335 <li>
335 Address(es)/contact details of the holiday location/ type of holiday;
335 </li>
336 <li>
336 Responsible adult(s) accompanying the child including adult/child ratio if group holiday;
336 </li>
337 <li>
337 If the child is going with a family or person who is not known to Children's Services, whether
the appropriate checks have been made;
337 </li>
338 <li>
338 Dates of holiday;
338 </li>
339 <li>
339 Emergency contacts;
339 </li>
340 <li>
340 Views of the child;
340 </li>
341 <li>
341 If any cost to the authority, including insurance;
341 </li>
342 <li>
342 Any additional information.
342 </li>
343 </ul>
344 <p>
344 <span class="bold">
344 NOTE
344 </span>
344 : If there are any issues such as the holiday destination experiencing political unrest, concern
that the child may not return as planned or other circumstances which may place the child at risk,
these should be highlighted to the social worker's Manager. A check should be undertaken through
344 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
344 Foreign Office, Foreign Travel Advice
344 </a>
344 and a balanced decision regarding the outcome made.
344 </p>
345 <p>
345 If it is a group day trip or holiday, the social worker must be satisfied that adequate health and
safety precautions including appropriate risk assessments are taken and in place.
345 </p>
346 <p>
346 Children must not be taken on holiday during term time. In exceptional circumstances this should
be approved by Designated Manager who should consult with the Virtual Head of School. Requests
must be made in writing.
346 </p>
347 <h4>
347 2.2 Holidays for Children on Care Orders
347 </h4>
348 <p>
348 <span class="bold">
348 Holidays of Less Than One Month
348 </span>
348 </p>
349 <p>
349 The procedure is the same as for those for Accommodated Children (see
349 <a href="#holacc">
349 Section 2.1, Holidays for Accommodated Children
349 </a>
349 ) except that the consent of the parents or person having Parental Responsibility is not required
but should be sought and obtained wherever practicable or possible. Any objections by the
parent(s) should be recorded on the child's electronic records.
349 </p>
350 <p>
350 The social worker should ensure that arrangements are in place through the Placement Plan to be
notified well in advance of any plans for holidays abroad in order to obtain required consent
wherever practicable or possible.
350 </p>
351 <p>
351 <span class="bold">
351 Holidays of One Month or More
351 </span>
351 </p>
352 <p>
352 This requires either the written consent of every person who has parental responsibility for the
child, or the leave of the court.
352 </p>
353 <p>
353 Where a Court Order is required, the social worker should contact Legal Services as soon as
possible for the necessary application to be made and advise the parents of the intended
application.
353 </p>
354 <p>
354 It is usual for the court to require evidence of the views of those with Parental Responsibility
or the efforts made to obtain them.
354 </p>
355 <p>
355 If the holiday is authorised by the Court, the holiday should be included in the Placement
Plan and a copy of the court order giving leave for the holiday should also be given to the foster
carer.
355 </p>
356 <h4>
356 2.3 Holidays for Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers
357 </h4>
358 <p>
358 The procedure is the same as for Accommodated Children (see
358 <a href="#holacc">
358 Section 2.1, Holidays for Accommodated Children
359 </a>
359 ) except that:
359 </p>
360 <ul>
361 <li>
361 Approval is unlikely if the child/young person wishes to go on their own and/or to a destination
which could call into question the integrity of their original claim for asylum;
361 </li>
362 <li>
362 The child's social worker would have to endorse the holiday by signing the consent form.
363 </li>
364 </ul>
365 <p>
365 <span class="bold">
365 Note
365 </span>
365 : The social worker should check as to whether there are any restrictions with regards to the
child/young person's ability to travel outside the country. A young person may not be able to
travel abroad with his/her foster carer if the trip was planned at the last minute, as travel
documents would have to be applied for.
366 </p>
367 <h4>
367 2.4 Insurance
367 </h4>
368 <p id="medical">
368 <span class="bold">
368 Medical Treatment during visits to EEC Countries
368 </span>
368 </p>
369 <ul>
370 <li>
370 Children travelling within EU/EEA countries and Switzerland will be covered for medical
treatment through a European Health Insurance Card. An application form can be downloaded from
or be collected from the post office. The Department of Health and Social Care also provides
health advice for travellers. For children under 16 years old, the form needs to be completed by
the parent(s) or foster carer(s) and be submitted as a family application. Young people over 16
can apply for a
370 <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
370 European Health Insurance Card
370 </a>
370 in their own name.
370 </li>
371 </ul>
372 <p>
372 <span class="bold">
372 Private Medical Insurance Cover or Insurance Cover for Holidays
372 </span>
372 </p>
373 <ul>
374 <li>
374 In situations where medical cover is required at short notice, it is suggested that private
insurance cover is taken out;
374 </li>
375 <li>
375 The insurance referred to above in
375 <a href="#medical">
375 Medical Treatment during visits to EEC Countries
375 </a>
375 only covers a child for medical treatment and not for loss of luggage, cover for cancellation of
the holiday etc. Therefore a private insurance policy is needed for a child travelling abroad.
375 </li>
376 </ul>
377 <h4>
377 2.5 Obtaining a Passport
377 </h4>
378 <ul>
379 <li>
379 The
379 <a
href="http://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/keywords_online/nat_cont/contacts/ips.html"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
379 United Kingdom Passport Agency
379 </a>
379 provides Guidance for
379 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-notes-for-social-services-departments-
when-applying-for-passports-on-behalf-of-looked-after-children" target="_blank"
rel="noopener">
379 Social Workers seeking to obtain a passport for a Looked After Child
379 </a>
379 ;
379 </li>
380 <li>
380 If Children's Services have previously applied for a passport on the child's behalf and are
applying for a renewal or extension, a letter outlining the circumstances mentioned above
stating that these have not changed is sufficient. In these circumstances there is no need to
complete the application form. This should be signed by the Service Manager;
380 </li>
381 <li>
381 Where there is a proposal for a child to go on holiday abroad and the child does not currently
hold a valid passport, the request to the Service Manager in relation to the holiday should
include a written request for the authority to obtain a passport for the child;
381 </li>
382 <li>
382 If it is an urgent application where an application is made in person, the social worker must
provide evidence of their identity and a signed letter of authorisation from the Service
Manager;
382 </li>
383 <li>
383 Where the child requires a passport for any other reason, the approval of the Service Manager
should be sought. The written request for such approval should include the reason for the
request, the wishes of the child; the views of the parent; the views of the Staff/Carer where
applicable. Where the Service Manager gives authority for a passport to be obtained for a child,
this must be confirmed in writing. The social worker must inform the parent of the decision;
383 </li>
384 <li>
385 The social worker will obtain and complete the necessary application for the child or assist the
child to complete the necessary application form.
386 </li>
387 </ul>
388 <h3 id="schtrips">
388 3. School / Organisational Trips of up to 4 Days Away
388 </h3>
389 <p>
389 The social worker should ensure risk assessments have been conducted.
389 </p>
390 <p>
390 The child's participation in school/organisational trips should be considered at the time of the
placement, and the consultation required before they can be agreed should be included in the
Placement Plan.
390 </p>
391 <p>
391 Where a child is placed with the parents, the Placement Plan will usually provide that a school
trip of up to 4 days can be agreed by the social worker in consultation with the school and the
parent.
391 </p>
392 <p>
392 Where a child is placed in foster care or residential care, the Placement Plan will usually
authorise the staff/ carer to agree to the child going on school or other organisational trips of
up to 4 days away without prior consultation with the social worker or the parent - see
392 <a href="p_overnight_stays.html">
392 Overnight Stays and Social Visits Procedure
392 </a>
392 . If the staff/carer have not been so authorised, the child's social worker and parents must be
consulted before agreement can be given.
392 </p>
393 <p>
393 Where parental consent is not given, the social worker should consult their Manager and obtain
legal advice as necessary. Where the Manager agrees to the child going on the trip despite
parental opposition, the reasons must be recorded and explained to the parent.
393 </p>
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