Access to Farms Training
Access To Farms (ATF) is a partnership of national organisations aiming
to improve the opportunities and quality of educational access to farms
by schools.
Set up by FCFCG in 1999, ATF has 15 national partner members (see below) and has developed the country's most comprehensive database of farms providing educational access.
The partnership shares information and good practice, arranges joint educational projects, accredits farms that work with school groups, provides training and manages an online database allowing teachers to identify the nearest or most suitable farm to visit. The database is hosted by the Growing Schools programme at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/growingschools/region
The Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS)
The ATF scheme is in two parts: it both accredits farm staff who are working with school groups and endorses the farm premises as being appropriate for school visits.
The Open College Network accredited training is the first part of CEVAS - the accreditation of the person working with school groups. For further information a CEVAS brochure is available to download here in PDF format.
What does CEVAS training involve?
Access To Farms (ATF) is offering training to farmers who host
visits from school parties. On completion this will result in a
qualification from the Open College Network (OCN), and ATF will provide
the farmer with a logo and certificate of achievement to use for
promotional purposes.
The training is being made possible mainly through support under the England Rural Development Programme by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Some courses are funded entirely or in part by other organisations, and sponsorship of future courses is welcomed.
There are two (usually) one-day training sessions based on three units. These are:
1. Preparing for farm visits
2. Food, farming and the countryside in the National Curriculum
3. Talking to pupils, students and teachers
In between the sessions, farmers are asked to gather evidence to support the things being learnt. It might include a leaflet you have made or a sample risk assessment. Some farmers will already have the evidence while others will be helped to produce them during the course.
For those with significant prior experience of working with schools some intensive one-day courses will be arranged; eligibility criteria available from Ian below.
What other help is available?
A folder of course materials containing examples of evidence, information sheets and CDs from which to produce templates etc will be provided to the farmers. You can also access this information and more through the Growing Schools and FACE (Farming And Countryside Education) websites. Individual ATF partner organisations will also offer advice and support.
Booking your place
PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to be notified when new courses are arranged please send an email with your contact details to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
General papers for CEVAS courses: download and complete both the
following forms and send them with a cheque (payable to 'FACE') to:
Ian Egginton-Metters, Access To Farms, c/o 61 Marston Lane, Frome, Somerset BA11 4DR.
CEVAS Training Needs Assessment
General enquiries can also be addressed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 01373 302204
Available course
|
Start Date |
2nd day |
Venue |
CEVAS Code |
| 23 Sept. 2008 |
24 Sept. | Plumpton College, East Sussex | 122 |
| 6 Oct. | 13 Oct. |
East Leake, Loughborough, Leicestershire This course is partially sponsored by The Co-operative |
132 |
Setting up educational visits: an option to find out what is involved
- Ever thought about hosting occassional visits to your farm from schools or other groups?
- Would you like to find out what visits might involve without committing at this stage?
- Would you like to know more about CEVAS training, but don't want to sign up to a course at the present time?
These events events are designed to give an overview of the CEVAS course and give you tips and help on how to set up one-off visits to your farm with minimal difficulty. The trainer will explain how to set up your farm to take a visit, what schools will be looking for and how you and your farm meets their requirements, the necessary health and safety considerations, and how to make a visit effective and fun too!
Events are being planned across the country and in Wales. Some will be listed here but others are yet to be confirmed. If you would like to be put on a mailing list to be notified when an event is organised in your are, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with your full contact details.
Setting Up Educational Visits events:
If you are uncertain about attending a full CEVAS course why not attend a 3 hour FREE introductory session on educational visits? This will include an outline of the CEVAS courseand give you an opportunity to ask questions. Please also consider encouraging other farmers to attend these events.
Setting Up Education visits - Stoughton Estate
Setting up education visits - Berners Hall| Date | Venue | Time |
|
3 July |
Stoughton Estate (The Co-operative Farms), Leicester | 10.00-13.00 |
| 4 July | Berners Hall Farm (The Co-operative Farms), Ongar, Essex | 10.00-13.00 |
| 8 July |
Higher Stavordale Farm, Wincanton, Somerset (buffet supper incl.) | 19.00-22.00 |
| 15 July |
Pwll Caerog Farm, St David's, Pembrokeshire | 10.00-13.00 |
| 17 July | Pleasance Farm, Kenilworth, Warwickshire | 10.00-13.00 |
| 17 July | Lakeside Farm Park, Bridgend | 10.00-13.00 |
| 24 Sep | National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire | 10.00-13.00 |
Access to Farms partner organisations are:
Country Land & Business Association (CLA), Countryside Foundation for Education (CFE), Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Farming And Countryside Education (FACE), Farms for Schools (FFS), Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG), Groundwork UK (GW), Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF), National Farmers Union (NFU), National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN), Natural England (NE), The Country Trust (CT), The National Trust (NT), The Soil Association (SA).
