Evolve Advice - The Educational Visits Specialists (EVC)

Hillingdon Council commissions EVOLVE Advice annually to provide community maintained schools with expert advice, guidance, training and support on all educational visits matters.  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.  

Other schools can use EVOLVE Advice directly.

Hillingdon Council and EVOLVE Advice Guidance

Guidance for Educational Visits 2025/26 (community maintainedschools)

National Guidance

Hillingdon Council 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. 

Staff Training 

EVOLVE offer training courses suitable for all school staff responsible for leading, planning or co-ordinating educational visits and other learning outside the classroom activities. Educational Visits Co-ordinators (EVCs) in Hillingdon's community maintained schools are required to undertake an approved EVC training course annually.

Other mainatined schools, academies and independent schools are also recommended to undertake this training in line with current best practice. Other training providers are available. Visit the OEAP website to find out more. 

EVC Register

The LA 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

Advice and Guidance for users: visit EVOLVE. EVOLVE System technical support: support@evolveadvice.co.uk 

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