Planning guide

School trip supervision ratios: what the rules actually say

Why there is no single legal ratio for school trips in England, how to decide staffing through risk assessment, and the EYFS ratios that do apply for early years.

There is no single national ratio

Many staff are surprised to learn that, for school-age pupils in England, there is no fixed legal staff-to-pupil ratio for school trips. DfE's guidance on health and safety on educational visits does not set ratios. Instead, the right level of staffing is decided through your risk assessment, within whatever your employer's policy requires.

That is deliberate. A Year 6 class walking to the local library and the same class canoeing on a lake need very different supervision. A single number could never fit both.

Your employer's policy comes first

Your local authority, academy trust or governing body may set its own minimum ratios. If it does, you must follow them. Many employers adopt the OEAP National Guidance, published by the Outdoor Education Advisers' Panel, as their framework for educational visits.

OEAP's guidance on ratios and effective supervision says it is not possible to set definitive staff-to-participant ratios for a particular age group or activity, and that any ratios given should be treated as starting points for consideration rather than definitive rules. If your employer has set a minimum, that minimum still applies.

How to decide the right number

OEAP suggests thinking about four things, sometimes summarised as SAGE. Work through them for your trip and write the outcome into your risk assessment.

Staffing: who is available, their experience and competence, and what happens if one adult is taken ill or has to go to hospital with a pupil.
Activities: what the group will be doing, and whether the venue provides its own instructors or leaders.
Group: age, maturity, behaviour, previous experience, medical needs and SEND. Some pupils may need one-to-one support; OEAP notes that a ratio of 1:1 is not unusual.
Environment: indoors or outdoors, public or private, urban or remote, and the journey between places.

Plan for the unexpected

The most common staffing gap appears when something goes wrong. If one adult has to accompany an injured pupil to hospital, can the rest of the group still be supervised safely? If a leader is working alone with a group for a long period, OEAP advises that participants or adult helpers should know what to do and how to contact the school if that leader becomes ill or injured.

Think about the quieter parts of the day too: toilet breaks, lunch, the gift shop and the coach park are where supervision often slips.

Early years: EYFS ratios are statutory

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework does set legal minimum ratios for children up to five in England. The framework for group and school-based providers effective from 1 September 2026 sets out the following minimums.

Under twos: at least one member of staff for every three children.
Two-year-olds: at least one member of staff for every five children.
Three and over, with a qualified teacher, early years teacher or early years professional working directly with the children: at least one member of staff for every 13 children.
Three and over, without one of those staff working directly with the children: at least one member of staff for every eight children.
Reception classes in maintained schools and academies: infant class size rules apply, with classes of no more than 30 pupils per school teacher.

Early years outings

These ratios are minimums, not targets for outings. The EYFS framework says providers must assess the risks of outings and that the assessment must include consideration of staff-to-child ratios. It also requires that a person with a current paediatric first aid certificate accompanies children on outings. OEAP guidance notes that the appropriate ratio on an outing is always likely to be higher than the legal minimum.

DfE guidance also says a school must always get written consent from parents for trips involving nursery-age children.

Other adults and helpers

Parent helpers and volunteers can make a real difference, but they need a clear role. Give them a list of their group, a brief on timings and expectations, and a named member of staff to go to. Follow your school's safeguarding procedures on checks for volunteers.

OEAP's guidance says there is no absolute requirement for pupils to be accompanied by staff of the same sex, but where the group is mixed and staffing is not, you should have a sound plan for privacy, safeguarding and pastoral support. This matters most on residentials.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own guidance and early years frameworks. If you work outside England, check your employer's or local authority's policy.

Questions

Is there a legal ratio for primary school trips?

Not for school-age pupils in England. Staffing is set by your risk assessment and your employer's policy, which may include minimum ratios that you must follow.

What ratios apply to a Reception class trip?

Reception classes in maintained schools and academies follow infant class size rules of 30 pupils per school teacher, but for an outing your risk assessment should consider whether more adults are needed. Most employers expect a higher ratio off site.

Do parent helpers count towards the ratio?

That depends on your employer's policy and your risk assessment. Many schools count them as additional adults but keep responsibility for the group with school staff.

Sources and further reading

This guide is general information for UK schools, not legal advice. Always follow your employer's and local authority's policies. Last reviewed October 2026.