Field Trip Parental Consent Form

Field Trip Parental Consent Form

A field trip is one of the most anticipated activities, not only in school. Being immersed in information and practical experiences help children learn, reinforcing classroom materials to bring lessons to life. Since the activity is outside of a school premise, it needs extra precautions. The trip’s organizer will require each student’s parent or guardian to sign a field trip parental consent form. As it releases the organizer’s liability, it ensures the participant’s safety and protection by being aware of the event’s rules and regulations. Continue reading below to find out more about the field trip parental consent form and how it is essential. Read More

A field trip parental consent form is a tool that allows a child (mostly students and minors) to attend a field trip organized by a school or other organizations. Once the child’s parent or guardian signs the form, it will liberate the organizer of any liability. 

A few of the form’s crucial parts are the description of the field trip’s activities and the transportation used during the event. That is why both parents and organizers must ensure that the participants know the rules and regulations to keep them safe. 

Most importantly, the parent or guardian must consider the child’s health, disclose medical history, and permit the organizers to take the child to the hospital if there is an emergency. And, it should be clear that the organizer is only responsible for the medical needs and specialized medical attention written in the consent form. 

Although school bus accidents are rare in the United States, it remains a possibility. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 340,039 vehicle crashes in the US between 2004 and 2003. And 1,214, or .4% of those accidents were related to school transportation. Yes, the numbers are small, but we should not risk it. Even though a consent form cannot stop an accident from happening, it can protect the people involved from further disputes. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you make a field trip parental consent form in PDF and MS Word file formats.

1. Introduce the Parent/Guardian and the Participant

The field trip parental consent form’s main purpose is to process communication. So, it should start with the introduction of the participant’s parent/guardian. Do this by providing the child’s complete name and birth date first. Afterward, indicate the parent/guardian’s full name, home address, telephone number, and email address. All details must be up to date and factual because it will serve as the official contact information if an emergency emerges. Make sure to write these legibly to avoid misinformation.

2. State the Permission and the Field Trip’s Description

After the introduction, compose a paragraph that permits the child to join the field trip. Ideally, it is a statement from the participant’s parent/guardian. But, in this case, provide a space where they can fill in their names instead. More so, indicate that there will be transportation(s) involved. Then, state the people who will look after the participants and the organizations they work for. This way, the parent/guardian know who to reach out after the field trip. Don’t forget to mention the date and time of departure and return. 

3. Sign the Parental Consent Form

Next, provide the terms and conditions and the policies during the trip. The parent must accept the event’s risks and aware of the consequences after that. So, state that they agree with the form’s provisions and liberates the organizers from liabilities under the policies herein. Expectedly, the parent/guardian is subject to the form’s stipulations once they sign it. If things escalate to the court, the violating party will be charged based on the form’s original intention. 

4. Indicate the Child’s Medical Condition

Additionally, create an “Emergency Medical Treatment” sheet and attach it to the field trip parental consent form. This part will indicate another contact person if the parent/guardian cannot be reached during an emergency. Thus, provide the contact person’s complete name, relationship with the child, and phone number. Also, mention the family doctor on top of the family health plan and policy number. Below that, specify the participant’s medical information, such as allergies, physical limitations, date of last immunization, and exposure to contagious diseases. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a permission form?

A permission form is a document used by an individual who wishes to obtain authorization. It could be a written letter or a printed form. You can find the consenter’s complete name, address, and contact details on a permission form.

Purposely, consent forms are used to protect an individual from any risk during an event like a field trip. It is essential because the form ensures an agreement between the consenter (their guardian if minor) and the proposer who will assume the responsibilities if an accident happens while the event is ongoing.

Generally, a person needs a consent form to inform their parent/guardian of any endeavor they are taking, especially if it is risky. A person of legal age does not need a consent form because they are accountable for looking after themselves unless it is required.

A person’s safety is always a priority. Often, a parent’s security comes after their children’s. That’s why some measures allow parents to look after their child in an activity like a field trip. Signing a field trip parental consent form proves that parents and legal guardians think about their children all the time. It does not solely take away the trip organizer’s liability but also ensures the participants’ protection even when their parents are not around.