Evolve Advice - The Educational Visits Specialists

The Local Authority comissions EVOLVE Advice to provide our community maintained schools with expert advice, guidance, training and support on all educational visits matters.   

EVOLVE Advice

In line with current good practice in over 28,000 educational establishments, the Local Authority uses the robust web-based system 'EVOLVE' for the efficient planning, management, approval, and evaluation of educational visits.  

The EVOLVE Advice  service ensures schools have access to competent advice for all matters related to educational visits. It includes direct access to advisers, signposting to relevant guidance, support with planning visits and approval of all overseas, residential and adventurous visits.  

Staff Training 

All Educational Visits Co-ordinators (EVCs) in maintained schools are required to undertake an approved EVC training course annually. Academies and independant schools are also recommended to undertake this training in line with current best practice.  Training is organised annually for all schools and details can be found here. They also offer additional training courses suitable for all school staff responsible for leading, planning or co-ordinating educational visits and other learning outside the classroom activities. 

Other training providers are available. Visit the OEAP website to find out more. 

National Guidance

The Local Authority and EVOLVE Advice adopt the OEAP's 'National Guidance' (NG) as the definitive source of educational visits guidance. Access this guidance at www.oeapng.info. National Guidance and The Department for Education recommend that schools use providers who hold the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge as this shows that they meet nationally recognised standards. 

EVC Register

The council use The EVC Register as a way of confirming valid EVC training has been completed. EVCs who have been trained by an OEAP course director can be listed on the EVC Register. Those who complete training with EVOLVE are automatically listed. 

Emergencies

In the event of an emergency, visit staff should contact their school emergency numbers, alerting their senior management team. Schools and establishments should ensure that emergencies are included in their critical incident plans. 

Contact EVOLVE Advice

To contact the advisers, please use the details below: 

Advice and Guidance for users: visit EVOLVE to access advice 

EVOLVE System technical support: support@evolveadvice.co.uk 

If you have any queries on EVOLVE Advice please contact education@hillingdon.gov.uk