EVC Magazine Autumn 2025_digital - Flipbook - Page 27
Bitesized advice: venues and providers
Is it a venue
or a provider?
What’s the difference?
In a nutshell, a venue is where you
go to enjoy an experience, such
as a museum, gallery or theatre
but doesn’t provide specialist
instruction. A provider organises
and/or leads activities: examples
include an outdoor activity centre,
DofE centre or tour operator.
It’s not always that clear-cut though.
Some venues may also lead
activities, which means they’re
classed as a provider in OEAP
National Guidance and may need
to meet additional safety and
quality requirements.
How does that affect
my planning?
Aside from picking ‘venue’ or
‘provider’ in EVOLVE, you’ll also
need to consider what checks
to make as part of your risk
management and planning.
You’ll need to be confident that
a venue is suitable and safe for
your group and activities. If they’re
not normally open to the public,
make sure they’ve got appropriate
insurance and arrange a pre-visit.
Providers must show that they have
appropriate health and safety policies
and procedures and meet acceptable
quality and safety standards, including
in staff competence, insurance and
data protection.
The LOtC Quality Badge is a good
indicator. To get this they must have
a certain level of public liability
insurance and (if they provide
adventurous activities in scope) have
an AALA licence, which means you
won’t need to check this – although
you’ll still want to ask about specific
needs for your group.
No Quality Badge? Ask them to
complete a provider form (e.g.
8.1q Provider Statement available
at →oeapng.info) and use this to
identify any areas you need to know
more about.
guidance
Other useful guidance includes 4.4f Provider Checklist, 4.4h Using External
Providers, and 3.2i Contracts and Waivers. OEAP National Guidance is
available at →oeapng.info
THE EVC MAGAZINE – AUTUMN/WINTER 2025-26
Top tips for
picking providers
1. Choose a company that
takes safety seriously.
They should give you all
the information you need
and, better still, offer it
unprompted.
2. If you can, arrange a previsit to find out how the
provider/venue will work
with you and your group.
3. View the facilities, meet the
staff and identify aspects
that need to go into your
risk assessment.
4. Ask them about their
staff and check that your/
their expectations about
supervision, safeguarding
and conduct are the same.
5. Trust your instincts and
ask other schools for their
views (and/or check sites
like Kaddi.com).
Remember: even when using
external providers, the duty
of care remains with you,
which is why you must do due
diligence before contracting,
and actively supervise during
the visit.
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