School Risk Assessment

Zoo Responsibilities:

Colchester Zoo strives to provide a safe and enjoyable day out for schools. Colchester Zoo’s risk assessment guidance sheet provides a general outline of potential risks and controls. Please note that these are guidelines only and all organisers are recommended to complete their own risk assessment prior to a school visit. Two free familiarisation tickets can be requested for this purpose after you have made a school booking.

Click here to open the general visit Risk Assessment in a new window.

Click here to open the educational sessions Risk Assessment in a new window.

If required, provided is a letter which includes a description of Colchester Zoo’s Public Liability Insurance: Click here to open the Public Liability Document in a new window.

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Teacher Responsibilities:

Teachers and supporting adults are responsible for the behaviour of students towards  animals, staff, and other visitors.

Students in years Reception to Year 9 must be supervised at all times.

All students must be supervised when attending educational sessions.

Teachers must ensure appropriate hygiene when students are in contact with animals.

Teachers are responsible to ensure all students follow instructions and rules.

Play areas are not supervised by Colchester Zoo staff and are open to general visitors.
Teachers are responsible for supervising any students who are eligible to use the play area. 
It is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure students do not use play areas they are not allowed on.

• Primary school groups can only use the Kid’s Safari play area between 12 and 2pm.
• Reception – Year 6 children can use the other outdoor play areas at any time of day.
• Secondary school students in years 7 and above are not allowed on any play area at any time.
• No schools are permitted to use the indoor Jungle Tumble play area.