Safeguarding Policy
Download the HET Safeguarding Policy
Travel Insurance
The Holocaust Educational Trust takes out travel insurance for each participant going on the visit to Poland. Copies of this policy will be available on request shortly before the visit.
Please be aware that the policy excludes any claims or expenses arising directly or indirectly from any medical condition for which medical advice or treatment has been given during the 12 months prior to the visit. Please be aware that there is a £50 excess on all claims with this insurance policy.
Download a summary of our insurance policy
Global Health Insurance Card/European Health Insurance Card
It is strongly advised for all participants to have a GHIC/EHIC and to inform the Trust of the Personal Identification Number of the card. If participants do not already have an EHIC they should apply for one before the visit to Poland. Participants can apply for a card online from the NHS. They are free of charge; please note they can take up to a week to be delivered.
If participants do not hold a UK or EU Passport but have been granted residency in the UK they are still entitled to an GHIC/EHIC, however they will need to apply by post. Application forms can be obtained from the Post Office. With application forms they will need to include a photocopy of their UK visa or a copy of the letter from the Home Office granting them residency in the UK. Please be aware that applications by post will take longer than 7 days so please ensure participants apply as soon as possible.
Travel
Travel times and flight details will be provided to all participants, coordinating teachers and participating schools prior to the course.
Travel and tour arrangements are managed and organised by Peltours Group. Peltours are a well-established travel company and are ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licence) protected, number 1886 and a fully bonded member of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents), number V7117. For coach travel within Poland, Peltours Group use Jordan Travel. Coaches and their drivers are certified to current Polish standards. A full and independent risk assessment has been carried out for coach travel within Poland on behalf of Peltours Group.
In the event of travel delays, resulting in the need for overnight accommodation, group accommodation will be organised by the tour operators and all parents or guardians will be contacted immediately. Please see accident and emergency procedures below for more detail. For the flight to Poland Peltours Group will charter a plane for the group so there will be no cause for concern regarding the cancellations of flights.
Travel to and from the seminars and UK airports is the responsibility of the participants and at their individual expense. However, provision will be made for participants if flight delays result in late arrival back to the UK and travel by public transport is no longer possible.
Accident and Emergency Procedures
A number of precautions and measures have been put in place for accident and emergency procedures.
Whilst completing application forms, participants are asked for all dietary and medical conditions, next of kin, passport and emergency contact details. These details are kept with the group leaders at all times during the visit. The Trust has the facilities to call, email and send text messages to all participants' next of kin immediately should they need to. All participating schools must nominate a coordinating teacher who is contactable throughout the duration of the visit.
A full contingency plan has also been drawn up by our tour operators, Peltours Group, to be used in the event of a major incident. Peltours Group is a professional and well established company which has vast experience of writing and implementing major incident plans. If needed, the major incident plan would be carried out by a dedicated and experienced team from Peltours alongside close liaison with Trust staff.
The plan will also cover any major unforeseen events resulting in major changes to the itinerary including the need for accommodation in Poland as a result of travel delay.
ATOL and ABTA Numbers
Our ATOL number is 1886
Our ABTA number is V7117
Levels of Supervision
There are a number of adults on all parts of the course, including a number of teachers, Holocaust Educational Trust trained educators and members of the Holocaust Educational Trust staff team all supervising the participants.
During the visit to Poland there is at least one adult to every eight students. The participants are organised into groups of approximately 20 and are accompanied by a Trust educator and a local polish guide. The groups will also include at least two teachers participating in the course. Additional logistical staff and a fully trained medical technician will be on hand throughout the day to support the group.
During the visits there are two groups per coach and each coach has a local Polish speaking guide who has a thorough knowledge and experience of the visit and the local area.
Minimum supervision ratio of adults to students – 1:8
LFA Project Staff
LFA Project staff will be made up of Trust educators who are in the majority qualified teachers and are well known to the Trust. A small number of the educators come from the informal education sector and have been working in this capacity for a number of years and are also very well known to the Trust. The educators are fully trained to deliver the interactive and sensitive Lessons from Auschwitz Project to sixth form students. Preparation for this project includes a comprehensive five day training course for all educators in Poland and regular ongoing support. The educators will also be supported during each visit by Trust facilitators who will ensure, where possible, the smooth running of the visit and will act as liaison between all project staff. The facilitators on the trip will be made up of Trust staff. All project staff are DBS checked and cleared.
Project staff will be fully briefed prior to the event. All staff will have a clear and full understanding of their roles and responsibilities, the itinerary and emergency procedures.
Each educator and facilitator on the trip will be provided with an event pack for their use during the project. This pack will include:
- Participant lists, and their school details
- Dietary and medical requirements of all participants
- Itinerary details
- Flight details
- Contact details for all project staff in Poland
- Contact details for Trust staff in the UK
- Incident report and procedures form
Each participant and their school will be provided with a detailed project pack which will include:
- Flight details with check-in procedures for the day
- Emergency contact details
- Check list including clothing and footwear suggestions