Union welcomes change to child group travel ratios

A relaxation of adult-to-child ratios for group ferry travel means "most school trips are likely to be viable going forward", a teachers' union has said.

The revised rule of one adult for every eight children was introduced by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company this week after tightening the ratio to five last October on safety grounds.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) had expressed concerns the need for more staff on education trip would prevent them going ahead.

The union said while the new supervision rules would still "require extra staffing", it was grateful the firm had "listened to our feedback".

The updated measures also mean schools and organisations would be required to review and sign updated travel conditions before booking and group leaders can join a maximum of four children moving around the vessel.

Steam Packet managing director Thompson previously said the changes had been introduced to ensure young passengers were "appropriately supervised" and had been endorsed by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.

Regional head for the NAHT Niamh Sweeney said the union had feared that the lower ratio proposals would have made it "impractical" for schools on the island to take pupils to the UK for educational trips.

She said while the union took safeguarding pupils "extremely seriously", local school leaders said there had not been any concerns about safety on board.

Ms Sweeney said although the update from the Steam Packet was welcomed, it would still require extra staffing, but "not to the same extent".

That meant most school trips were "likely to be viable going forward, with all the benefits they offer in enriching children's education and cultural awareness", she added.

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