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School trips are invaluable for the students’ education allowing them to broaden their horizons and learn in new environments. With borders reopening and international travel steadily returning many schools are now looking to restart travel. While travel is becoming easier again there are still many factors to consider when taking pupils abroad to ensure you’ve mitigated any foreseeable risks. Experts from Together School and World Travel Protection discussed challenges that schools will be facing when they return to travel, including:- Risk assessment for trips- Legal standards you need to follow- Management of incidents when abroad- Communications - strategies and tools- Implications of COVID-19 on International Travel The Powerpoint presentation is here - Returning to Travel - Risk Mitigation Webinar 20211208.pdf A full recording of the session can be found here Returning to Travel - Risk Mitigation Webinar 20211208.pdf

Travel is a part of regular operations at International Schools - whether that’s staff travelling from their home country to the school, or students going on international trips and this brings inherent risks. It is a legal requirement with significant implications that risks associated with travel are mitigated. Now the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has created a framework to guide organisations on managing travel risks, which was released in September. While travel risk management has been a key part of an organisation's legal, compliance and duty of care responsibilities for some time, this is the first globally recognised standard. Meeting these standards will showcase your school's commitment to traveller safety, help you stand out as an employer and school of choice, and provide peace of mind to your travel managers, staff and families that you have mitigated all foreseeable risk. Please see the attached document for insights on how to mitigate travel risk. To book a one on one meeting with experts from World Travel Protection to learn more about this ISO Standard or explore your schools risk exposure, please click BOOK MEETING Schools Utilising the New ISO 31030 - 360p.mp4 WTP_Returning to Travel School - Read-Only.pdf

Key Takeaways Students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority. Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports. Masks should be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated. Consistent and correct mask use by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors and in crowded settings, when physical distancing cannot be maintained. CDC recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing by people who are not fully vaccinated, to reduce transmission risk. When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully re-open while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as indoor masking. Screening testing, ventilation, handwashing and respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and getting tested, contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation, and cleaning and disinfection are also important layers of prevention to keep schools safe. Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care. Many schools serve children under the age of 12 who are not eligible for vaccination at this time. Therefore, this guidance emphasizes implementing layered prevention strategies (e.g., using multiple prevention strategies together consistently) to protect people who are not fully vaccinated, including students, teachers, staff, and other members of their households. COVID-19 prevention strategies remain critical to protect people, including students, teachers, and staff, who are not fully vaccinated, especially in areas of moderate-to-high community transmission levels. Localities should monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to guide decisions on the level of layered prevention strategies (e.g., physical distancing, screening testing). For more information and details, please visit the CDC Website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html?utm_campaign=June%2FJuly Brand Recognition&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=140164645&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_Wk4u-QrSo37Hs04UeQaHofqTTlrT3-xaqJB48MJlA7okdWwENGAO7cKJcifhBJNy5OrFABmn6uBEUcfISlvoSYMgxYCCUXrkkAUHJT-cMD-ceNp4&utm_content=140164645&utm_source=hs_email

As part of our recent Webinar Series - Returning to Normal in COVID Times at International Schools – Kevin Lloyd of The School Collaborative held a discussion with Ben Cooper of World Travel Protection to address a variety of concepts on how schools can support student travel, trips and events, including: Duty of Care for schools Insurance and supporting resources Risk assessments Awareness of changing environments during travel Communications Bus travel Our panel included: Ben Cooper – International Travel Risk Management Expert – World Travel Protection Kevin Lloyd – Founder – Together School Overview During the pandemic international schools are all in the same storm, albeit in different boats – as such to help us navigate, sessions such as this hosted by The School Collaborative can help to share and learn. International trips and events with schools from other locations are a main part of the experience attending an international school. Since the start of the pandemic, these have all come to a halt and most schools are expecting a return of these experiences before the winter of 2021/22. CONSIDERATIONS Risk Assessment for International Trips Unlike a local or domestic trip, where many of the risks can be easily identified and planned for, international trips have many more uncertainties. Many resources exist that schools can draw upon; however, these are fragmented, require a proactive effort, and require interpretation to effectively assess and plan to mitigate risks. Controlled or uncontrolled environments: When sending students on a school trip, it is important to consider whether the environment that your students and staff will be in is controlled or uncontrolled as this will impact your overall assessment. In most cases, the situation will be mixed. For example, there will be an uncontrolled route to a destination, then at the destination they may have a controlled environment, such as a host school or a hotel. Duty of Care Schools have a “Duty of Care” at all times, including whilst on school trips that must be considered. In doing so, schools need to avoid negligence when planning trips. Risk assessment and mitigation are important elements of preparation for these trips. Reasonably foreseeable: Schools need to consider what are the risks specific to the location they’re travelling Reasonably practicable: Schools need to consider what can be reasonably mitigated and what cannot. Schools generally have an obligation to consider the “reasonably foreseeable risks”, to mitigate the “reasonably practicable risks” and finally to understand those that remain. As part of the school’s planning and preparation, they should have tools and processes in place to address issues, especially the unmitigated risks that remain. Resources exist that can provide expertise in planning, preparation and support such as those of World Travel Protection. They can remove a great deal of these concern as well as reduce the time and resources needed from the schools to plan for the trip . Insurance Schools need to have their travel and medical insurances in place, which mitigates most of the financial risk. Your insurance may also provide some support to help manage incidents when they arise at your destination. Rarely, however, does insurance help you before the trip begins. Preparation is a major challenge when travelling into overseas environment, and now more complex than ever with COVID-19 and other related risks that need to be mitigated and monitored. Schools should consider travel risk mitigation solutions that include support for both pre-trip preparation as well as for incidents that occur during the trip and at the destination. These resources with global access to expertise, information, and technology, can help schools to better assess risks, plan travel, and manage trips in ways that mitigates risks and provides support when incidents occur. It also helps to and give parents peace-of-mind and protect the school’s reputation. The impact of COVID-19 COVID-19 has highlighted how fast conditions can change. Regulations, procedures, etc., can change from one day to the next and this has raised concerns as to how schools will handle these challenges on a trip. Although COVID-19 has made schools focus more on the need to prepare, the requirement is really the same now as it has always been. After the pandemic, these same efforts must remain in place too. One significant challenge that COVID-19 has created is that schools are challenged to keep on top of all the information that exists, and this is expected to remain the case for the foreseeable future. Therefore, having a resource available that provides global access to the current local threat and regulations related to COVID-19 is so important for schools. Communications For any trip, schools should have in place an effective means to communicate with all parties in the community. Incidents happen, parents worry and communicating effectively is of paramount importance, especially when children are involved. Social media is fast and students, if they have access to it, will share information that may be harmful to the situation and cause undue stress for those involved. Being able to inform school management, students, staff, and families quickly via official school channels is very important. It builds trust, reassures parents, limits rumours and maintains the trust and reputation of the school. Note that schools should not rely upon social media or tools such as WhatsApp – these tools are not official channels and are not owned by the school, so data and information can get out to people who should not have it. Considerations for bus transportation: Consider how you vet the bus operator, drivers, etc. Plan your journey as much as possible in advance – such as planning stops, bathroom breaks, food breaks, etc. so you’re not stopping at a random location. How are you keeping track of the students on the bus – when they get off / get back on, etc.? Always know the status of your students to be sure you have not lost a child.

Introduction COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future and its impact on international schools will continue. The virus itself is evolving, the science related to the virus, to vaccines, and to testing is also evolving. Although the pandemic is global, mitigation of the impact of the virus needs to be managed at a school and local level. A current understanding of the situation with the virus will enable schools to implement up to date mitigation strategies. These strategies should incorporate vaccinations, screening, process and procedures as well as communications. Our Panel on April 15th included: Dr David Teo – Regional Medical Director, Asia for International SOS Colin Brown – Founder Nex.D, COO Skoolbo, Edtech investor Andrew Duffield, Group Health and Safety Director, International Schools Partnership (ISP) Our expert panel shared insights to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 at International Schools as a framework. Key points include: Need to be aware of the status of the pandemic in the local community Use of screening tools and procedures will remain an important component A policy on vaccinations will be important, including requirements and verification. Schools need to have a plan to shield their vulnerable / non-vaccinated population Integrated communication strategy is vital to ensure clarity and secure trust at your school You will find further details below on the Mitigation Framework. Background Virus – it continues to evolve New waves can be expected into 2022 Children are increasingly infected and symptomatic 11.2% of cases in USA in 2021 5 Times more likely to be admitted to hospital in India in 2021 50% of children in India in one study had antibodies Mutations Reason for new flu vaccines annually is due to mutations Every 50K cases, going to get a mutation Impact of a mutation can be that the virus: becomes more infectious weakens and coexists with humans like the flu virus kills the virus The mutations of concern those that become more infectious those less susceptible to anti-bodies, making current vaccines less effective Vaccines Vaccine development was very fast and now new candidates are coming very quickly Likely situation is that for the forceable future, boosters are likely necessary None of the vaccines have 100% efficacy You can still catch the virus when vaccinated, however it makes the symptoms less severe Some protection is better than no protection The best vaccine is the vaccine that you can get You will always have a Non-vaccinated population Currently for people 16 and above - By September / October possible down to 11 years of age Testing RT-PCR and RT-LAMP These tests have been around a long time with a demonstrated history PCR tests are relatively slow and do not scale Technology is coming now to automate and bring PCR testing closer to the consumer. LAMP tests are faster and better suited for “point of care” Countries are more likely to rely upon proven tests Rapid tests (Lateral flow tests) All new and have only be tested against COVID-19 Reliability is still now well known Easier to scale Before using these, it is important to understand the viral load within the community. Antibody testing is still evolving, may not effectively address new mutations and as such may not be beneficial nor recognised in your country. Follow local guidance. The evolution of testing is going to help countries to better understand the situation with the virus which may impact how schools address this. Vaccination passports / status certification Standardisation efforts are underway. Many variations of a passport or COVID status certification exist What is official should be based on local regulations Digital is optimal as then this information can be easily verified by the school when needed – trips, use of facilities, bus access, etc. Vaccine Considerations for International Schools A vaccination strategy should be part of your schools Business Continuity Plan. Those eligible for the vaccine should get the vaccine – consider vaccinating or requiring vaccinations for people who will visit your campus, but also consider the laws of your country as preventing access due to not being vaccinated could be considered discrimination – staff, contractors, parents and students that are eligible. Verification of vaccinations may present a challenge due to the International the make-up of the school community – people are coming from various countries with different laws, different vaccines, different tools for verification. Local laws should form the basis and as above consideration needs to be given to local law so that you do not discriminate. Remember to shield those who cannot be vaccinated – health issues, age, etc. Mitigation framework for International Schools Understanding the status Be aware of the country’s situation in terms of the virus. Case levels will impact the benefit of testing and should influence your strategy. Keep informed as to the progress of the pandemic - vaccines, testing, laws and other mitigation tools - these are changing and evolving quickly. Understand and follow local laws and regulations Be aware of and leverage local resources – can increase the tools available to mitigate and lower your costs. Consider use of testing and vaccination centres if they are near by Check what funding might be available to the school from local governments Access local information sources and consider how to share this information with your community (language and comprehension can be a concern). Local resources and authorities - utilise where possible for testing, vaccinations, etc. Recognise your school community is not likely well informed of the local situation and local laws. Although a simple concept, this is very important! Your parents and staff may get their guidance from their home country, their personal network and then share within your community. Understand your countries laws around discrimination (what is permitted in respect of vaccinations etc.) Screening Contact-tracing - utilise tools such as an App or portal to capture information. Who has been on campus, on the school bus, etc., You may need to review this after several days and as such a digital resource is optimal. Self-reporting - your school should require some level of self-reporting. The situation with the virus in the country will help dictate to what level. ie, where high numbers of infections are present, a daily report may be necessary. Where it is low, reporting on travel, etc., may be the priority, Again consider the use of a digital tool such as an App or portal. Testing - follow your local country's guidance on testing as a starting point. A variety of models for testing exist depending on requirements for your school. For reliability, consider PCR or LAMP tests. Pooling of tests is possible. Testing is evolving so remain aware of the progress with testing technology. Temperature screening - Schools have indicated that this has not been overly effective however it is visible and establishes trust. Vaccinations Have a policy on vaccinations and communicate the policy clearly. Consider A vaccination requirement – must meet your local legal requirements and limitations Verification - this will be complex as certification varies from country to country. Local law should be the basis for what you can accept. Shielding Consider who your shielding - your school will always have a vulnerable population (non-vaccinated due to health, age or other limitations) Ongoing barriers should continue to be part of your shielding efforts such as social distancing, masks and hygiene tools Disinfection gates are getting increased attention now and something that the school can consider Integrated Communications An Integrated communications strategy needs to be part of your mitigation strategy - it is the tool you have to create confidence and to ensure clear understanding. Communicate early, often and consistently Should support buy-in and understanding Be positive, encouraging and supportive. Utilise your communications channels appropriately - website, email and a mobile app should all be part of your strategy Website – regulations, process and procedures Email – updates where documentation delivery and archiving are necessary The mobile App should be a key component and be integrated to your varied school tools. We would recommend the use of a School Compact Must be signed by all members of the school community Outlines school policies and regulations including explanations. Be clear about what information is required, what information you will share and where you may be restricted (Privacy). This will instil confidence and support. It will also simplify enforcement For those who participated in the live webinar, due to a technical problem our Chat function was disabled preventing questions from being asked. Please post any questions you may have had on this site and we will respond. Should you wish to get directly in contact with any of our expert resources, contact details are below: International SOS – sin.marketing@internationalsos.com International Schools Partnership – aduffield@ispschools.com Nex.D Partners – colin@nexd.partners Together School – kevin.lloyd@togetherschool.com The actual recording can be found here - Meeting Recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/GCIHRZuZ77xWP9B8yB2TS4gec5me2qX8Tb_EkslDpOHYz_q9tdq82JCFptotGGRL.apglMQTYyQG0UTiY