How to Keep Your Child Safe on a School Trip

Keeping your child safe on a school trip starts before they even leave. From the child’s point of view, three things matter most, and they need to be agreed with a parent in advance. First, the child has to know what to do in a difficult situation; second, the group leader needs to have the important information. The third aspect is the backpack, which should be packed sensibly – not “just in case”, but practically. 

For a child, a school trip is usually an adventure. For a parent, it’s often a mild source of stress too. In theory, everything has been arranged well in advance. The consent form is signed, the itinerary is known, the group leaders are in place. And yet the question remains: what if your child gets distracted, doesn’t answer the phone or leaves their backpack on the coach? 

This isn’t about scaring your child or controlling their every step. It’s about preparing a simple plan. The child should know how to behave, and the parent should feel confident that the most important things have been properly communicated and taken on board. 

How do you prepare a child for a school trip? 

Before the trip, your child should know one simple rule – I stay with the group, I listen to the group leader and I don’t wander off on my own. If I lose the group, I stop and ask an adult for help: a member of staff, a security guard, a teacher or a police officer. 

This conversation doesn’t have to be long. A few minutes the day before the trip is enough. It’s best to be specific, without moralising. Children often don’t need a lecture, just clear instructions. 

You could say something like “if you can’t see your class, don’t try to chase after them. Stay where you are, look around and ask an adult who works there for help. If you have a card with your parent’s number on it, show it to that person” 

This matters, because a stressed child may forget a phone number or not know what to say. A simple card in the backpack still makes sense, even if the child has their own phone. 

What should a child pack in their backpack for a trip?

A child’s trip backpack should be light, comfortable and packed so that the child can find the most important things on their own. The backpack should weigh around 10-15% of the child’s body weight. For a pupil weighing 30 kg, that’s a maximum of 3–4.5 kg. A backpack that’s too heavy quickly becomes a problem when the child has to move around. 

For a day trip, water, a packed lunch, tissues, a light hoodie or jacket, a phone, a card with a parent’s number and anything the school has asked for are usually enough. There’s no point packing as if the child were going away for several days. 

A simple division of the backpack is a good idea. Food in one place, the phone and important items in another, tissues within easy reach. The child should know where everything is. If it’s all thrown in loose, it will be hard to find anything under stress. 

It’s also worth checking that the backpack isn’t too heavy. A child who tires quickly is more likely to put the backpack down, leave it by a bench, on the coach or with a friend. And that makes it easier to lose something. 

What packed lunch should a child take on a trip?

A packed lunch should be simple, easy to eat and able to survive the conditions of travel. Sandwiches, fruit, a small snack and water work best. 

On a trip, children often eat on the coach, during a short break or in a large group. That’s why food should be easy to open and not too messy. 

It’s best to avoid things that melt quickly, crumble or need to be eaten calmly at a table. A chocolate bar on a warm day can end up not only on the hands, but also on clothes and all over the backpack. 

Don’t overdo the quantity either. Your child should have enough to eat and drink during the day, but an extra half a kilo of snacks is often more of a hindrance than a help. 

What should you check on the trip consent form?

The consent form for a child’s trip should include the child’s details, the date and destination, a parent’s phone number and any important health information. 

Schools usually provide a ready-made consent form, but it’s worth reading it before you sign. What matters most is whether the group leader has an up-to-date phone number and knows about anything that could be relevant during the trip. 

In short, check the following on the trip consent form:

• Logistics: check that the dates, times and exact pick-up point for your child are correct.

• Contact: make sure your phone number is correct and that contact details for the group leader are provided.

• Health: add information about allergies and travel sickness, and confirm there are no medical reasons your child can’t take part in physical activity.

• Medication: check that you’ve given consent for first-aid medication to be administered, or that you’ve attached dosage instructions for any regular medication.

• Medical consent: make sure you’ve signed the authorisation for treatment decisions to be made in an emergency.

• Return: state clearly whether your child will go home on their own or whether someone needs to collect them.

How do you arrange to keep in touch with your child during the trip?

It’s best to agree specific moments for getting in touch, rather than calling every few minutes. A good plan is a short message on arrival, one update during the day and a call before the journey home. 

Your child should know they don’t have to reply immediately if they’re busy sightseeing, eating lunch or listening to the group leader. At the same time, they need to understand that if there’s a problem, they should get in touch straight away. 

A phone is helpful, but it shouldn’t be the only safeguard. It can run out of battery, be muted or end up buried deep in the backpack. That’s why it’s worth agreeing a simple back-up plan too: a card with a parent’s number and a rule about who to approach for help. 

Here’s how to arrange contact with your child during the trip, in 4 practical points:

• School rules: Check whether, and at what times, the school allows phones to be used (they’re often collected during sightseeing).

• A fixed time for calls: Agree on one short call a day with your child, ideally in the evening, so you don’t interrupt their fun and time with friends.

• The group leader’s number: Save the trip leader’s number in your phone – it’s your main point of contact in an emergency.

• Preparing the equipment: Make sure your child’s phone is charged, has an emergency (ICE) number saved and that they know how to keep the device safe.

Does a GPS tracker in a child’s backpack make sense?

A GPS tracker in a child’s backpack makes sense as an extra safeguard for a school trip, summer camp or residential trip. It’s most useful when a parent can’t reach their child or wants to check where they are.

This doesn’t have to be about control. It’s more about simple peace of mind. A child may not hear the phone, the phone may run out of battery, and the backpack may be left on the coach, in a cloakroom or by a bench. In situations like these, it’s good to have one more point of reference. 

This is exactly where notiOne GPS PLUS comes in. You can put the tracker in your child’s backpack and check its location in the notiOne app whenever you really need to. It doesn’t replace the group leader, a conversation with your child or safety rules, but it can be practical support during trips and longer stays away from home.

Summary: how to keep your child safe on a school trip.

Keeping your child safe on a trip isn’t about constantly checking where they are. It’s about making sure they know the rules, have a well-packed backpack and know how to ask for help. 

The basics matter most: a conversation, a way to keep in touch, a light backpack, a parent’s phone number and the information passed on to the group leader. If you want to add one more layer of safety, a GPS tracker in the backpack can be a sensible form of support. 

A well-prepared trip is one where your child gets to enjoy a great adventure, and you don’t have to spend the whole day nervously staring at your phone. 

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