ELC additional guidance (updated 2026)

Each expedition team must have a designated Expedition Supervisor who:

• Holds a current qualification appropriate to the terrain in which the expedition is taking place;

• Holds a current Outdoor First Aid qualification; and

• Has completed the DofE Expedition Supervisor and Assessor Training Course.

These requirements ensure that the Supervisor has the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to support the team effectively and respond appropriately to any issues that may arise during the expedition.

As a general principle, an Expedition Supervisor should be responsible for only one team at a time. In exceptional circumstances, a Supervisor may oversee more than one team, provided a suitable risk assessment demonstrates that this can be managed safely. Factors to be considered include the Supervisor’s qualifications and experience (typically exceeding the minimum Lowland Leader standard, for example holding a Summer Mountain Leader qualification), the nature of the route, terrain, group competence, communication arrangements, and other relevant risk factors.

Expedition Assessor

For a Qualifying Expedition, the Assessor does not hold responsibility for the safety or supervision of participants. Their role is to assess whether the group has successfully met the DofE Expedition Requirements.

An Assessor may assess more than one group during the same expedition. Unlike a Supervisor, they are not required to hold a terrain-specific qualification. However, they must have completed the DofE Assessor Training and be suitably competent to assess the expedition against the DofE requirements.

• All residential/ overnight expeditions must have a minimum of 2 staff.

ELC additional guidance

Please make sure ALL pupils participating in an assessed expedition, have completed ALL relevant training and practice expeditions to the required standard.

ELC additional guidance

Please make sure ALL pupils participating in an assessed expedition, have completed ALL relevant training and practice expeditions to the required standard. 

ELC additional guidance

 All assessed expeditions should be remotely supervised where safe to do so.

Weather forecasts must always be checked before embarking on outdoor training or expeditions.  If there is a Met Office weather warning in place for any part of the expedition a further Risk Assessment must be carried out.

Red - Do not embark on the event if the forecast is for a Red Weather Warning

Amber- Consider postponing the event or moving to plan B.  If your revised risk assessment concludes you are going to carry on with the event or move to plan B, this needs to be in writing and added/uploaded to the EVOLVE form.

Yellow - Risk Assess accordingly and add/upload any significant changes to your EVOLVE form

Met office Weather Warnings Guide - HERE

• Team members may carry mobile phones, they should be fully charged, turned off, placed in a plastic bag and sealed with tape.  In an emergency, phones can be used, as per the teams training on emergency procedures.

• Each team may either have one team members phone turned on or ideally, be carrying an older type 'brick' phone so that there can be two way communication between the team and supervisory staff if needed.

• The expedition area should be checked (where possible) for phone signal availability along the route and phone network differences.

• If phones are requested for taking photos, options can include using phones without sim cards or older style digital cameras.

• Any agreements regarding phones should be shared with parents and carers at the initial sign up or information sharing event, when expectations are set and agreed upon by all.  This may also involve a signed pupil/parent/staff contract or agreement.

ELC additional guidance

• Bronze training must include a practice expedition of a minimum 2 days, 1 night.

• All practice expeditions should follow the same format as the qualifying expedition i.e. same number of days/ nights/ mode of transport/ sleeping arrangements/ similar terrain etc.

• Expeditions should take place between 1st April & 30th September.

These are all the updated DofE changes to expedition guidance (post COVID) as of November 2023