She was found lifeless at the bottom of the basin and an investigation has since been opened. After the drowning of a 6-year-old girl, schooled in CP, Monday during a school trip to the Georges-Hermant pool in Paris, the mayor of the nineteenth arrondissement François Dagnaud had assured the Parisian that the rate of supervision was "largely respected", thus sweeping away questions relating to a lack of supervisors.
It was a lifeguard who dived to rescue the little girl who was in cardiorespiratory arrest. According to witnesses, she remained submerged between 30 and 60 seconds under water. "The children were accompanied by the three class teachers, two teachers of the City of Paris (PVP), two municipal educators and two lifeguards of the pool manager," or 9 adults for 36 students, said the edile.
What are the rules for activities that take place outside the walls of the primary school? These, legally framed, are different depending on the type of outing, the number of students and the duration of the school trip (with or without overnight stay).
At least two adults
When it comes to a so-called "regular" outing, on a place near the school (gymnasium, sports hall, municipal library ...), "the teacher can go alone, with his class," says the circular dedicated to the organization of school trips in the first degree, which can be found on Eduscol, the site of the Ministry of Education.
The need for additional supervisors arises when it comes to a so-called "occasional" outing, such as a cultural activity (visit to a museum, a monument, etc.). In this case, supervision must always be provided by at least two adults, including the teacher, reads the circular. This rule is valid for a class of up to 30 students. From the 31st, the presence of an additional adult for every 15 children is required.
The rate of supervision is also reinforced when it comes to a longer outing, with overnight stay(s), such as a discovery class for example. "There, one adult is needed for every 20 students," Guislaine David, co-secretary general and spokesperson for FSU-SNUiip, told Le Parisien.
"Not all parents are good supervisors"
Who can be the other adult supervisors? Another teacher, an educational assistant, a specialized territorial nursery school agent (Atsem), a parent or a volunteer, says the circular. The teacher has the choice of accompanists, and this is "very important," says Guislaine David. If parents are often solicited, "not all are necessarily good supervisors".
This former school teacher in Ille-et-Vilaine says that "some confuse accompanying her child on an outing and accompanying the whole class". However, the task incumbent on them is not the same as for a simple family outing. "We have to make sure that they are able to enforce safety rules, that they are extremely vigilant, because we have to have an eye everywhere and zero risk does not exist. "
It is for this reason that during discovery classes, for example, teachers tend to "favor young animators holding the BAFA", illustrates the spokesperson of FSU-SNUiip.
Qualified supervisors for certain outings
Experienced supervisors are sometimes mandatory, especially during physical and sports activities. In the case of an outing to the pool, for example, the teacher must be accompanied to the edge of the pool by "a qualified or volunteer speaker, approved," reads the circular. The supervision of students in the water must be ensured by people who have graduated either from the title of lifeguard or from the national certificate of safety and aquatic rescue, according to the Code of Sport.
The number of adult supervisors must this time be increased from 24 students, says the circular. In addition to the teacher and certified counsellor, one additional adult is required for every 12 children.
If all these rules are not respected, "the outing must be canceled or postponed," insists Guislaine David. He added: "A school trip is a heavy responsibility for the teacher who hires his. If a parent or supervisor is not available, there is a potential danger to students. »
