New OEAP National Guidance - What's Changed?

Updated National Guidance On Selecting A School Trip Provider

The Outdoor Education Advisors Panel (OEAP) has updated its national guidance on selecting school trip providers, reinforcing the importance of safety, quality, and financial security when booking educational visits.

We've combed through the latest advice to see what's changed:

Why the LOtC Quality Badge Still Matters

The core advice remains: the simplest way to ensure a provider meets nationally agreed safety and quality standards is to check whether they hold the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge. Schools can rely on this quality mark to confirm that a provider has been externally assessed—eliminating the need for additional safety checks.

What’s New in the Guidance?

The updated guidance introduces additional factors schools should consider before booking a trip. These include:

• Reputation checks – Read reviews and seek references from other schools.
• Membership in professional associations – Look for providers affiliated with trade bodies that uphold industry standards.
• Financial protection – Ensure the provider has insurance or bonding arrangements to cover insolvency.
• Financial stability checks – Schools are advised to consult their finance office to review the provider’s financial health.
• Terms & Conditions review – Understanding contract terms before committing to a booking.

Additionally, the new guidance clarifies how trips combining multiple services—such as transport, accommodation, and activities—may qualify as a ‘package’ under the Package Travel Regulations. This provides additional financial protection should an element of the trip be disrupted.

Why Schools Can Book With Confidence With Voyager

At Voyager School Travel, we don’t just meet these new OEAP recommendations—we exceed them. Here’s how:

• Accredited and trusted – As holders of the LOtC Quality Badge and members of the School Travel Forum and ABTA, our commitment to safety, educational value, and quality service is independently verified.
• Transparent pricing – Schools can plan with confidence knowing that our tours include transport, named accommodation, air duty, and insurance—no hidden costs or unexpected surcharges.
• Exceptional feedback and reputation – With a 4.9-star Google rating and 9/10 teachers recommending our language programmes, we’re proud of the high-quality experiences we deliver.
• Financial security guaranteed – Our trips are fully bonded through ABTOT and ATOL, meaning schools and parents are financially protected in the unlikely event of insolvency.
• Comprehensive package protection – All our trips are organised as packages, ensuring that if one part of the trip is affected—such as a cancelled flight—refunds will apply to other elements, giving schools and parents added peace of mind.

By choosing Voyager, schools can focus on delivering an enriching educational experience, confident that safety, financial protection, and quality are at the heart of everything we do. Contact our experts to start planning your next overseas educational adventure.

 

The Outdoor Education Advisors Panel (OEAP) is a professional association that provides guidance and training related to educational visits. It's national guidance was updated in February 2025.

For more information on choosing a trusted trip partner:

• Safety, insurance and risk assessment resources, including our certificates of compliance
• The difference between ABTA, ABTOT and ATOL and how your school trip is protected
• Our transparent quote commitment - we won't let you down
• How we support you