Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS)

Questions and Answers

Why should I bother?

Increasingly, Schools are looking for assurance that farms are safe places to visit and provide good educational experiences. CEVAS is an accepted measure of good practice on farms that are open for educational visits. The Government has introduced a badging scheme for all School visit locations and CEVAS has been recognised as the symbol for the agricultural sector. The badge is from the Learning Outside the Classroom (Lotc) Council.

Who can become a member of CEVAS Part 2?

Anyone with a farm (including horticultural units and woodlands) who has completed CEVAS Part 1.

How much will it cost?

The cost is £100 + vat (£115 until the end of December 2009 then £117.50 from 1 January 2010) if all evidence is provided satisfactorily and on time.

Will I be inspected?

A percentage of applications will be inspected however the majority of the assessment of Part 2 applications will be completed as a desk exercise and if the farm is judged to meet all the required standards, the Assessor will recommend that a CEVAS certificate be awarded.

Will I receive any recognition?

Yes you will receive a certificate, a plaque and a ADF logo for use on your publicity materials, supplied from Farming and Countryside Education. Access To Farms can also help publicise your facilities through the Growing Schools website, and when schools make enquiries. (http://www.growingschools.org.uk and http://www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk)

Can I get help to prepare the farm for visits and to fill in the forms?

CMS UK will, if you wish, carry out a farm visit to offer explanation on how to achieve the standards, however this will involve an additional charge of £180 + vat. Informal help and advice is also available by telephone (see below).

What if I can't send all the supporting information with the application?

CEVAS Part 2 is based on a complete set of supporting documents being submitted with the application. If it becomes necessary for repeated requests to be made to obtain the supply of documents or information which results in extra work for CMS UK, a charge of £50 + VAT will be made. You are therefore advised to be certain that you have all copies of the required supporting information available before making your application.

What happens if the application does not meet the standards?

If on inspection and verification of the application by CMS UK, any supporting documents are found to be missing or incomplete, you will be contacted by letter to request the additional information. You have 30 days prior to your certificate end date to correct this without any cost. Should your certificate end date expire and you are still outstanding any additional information, £50 + vat will be charged by CMS UK to cover the additional administration costs.

What happens if we have a spot check and we don't meet the standards?

Again, you will have 30 days to correct this without any cost. After 30 days, should any non-compliance's not be closed out your existing certificate will be withdrawn. Your certificate, and promotion on the Growing Schools (www.growingschools.org.uk) and Lotc website (www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk), will be withdrawn if you have failed to supply all the necessary evidence in time, and you will be required to remove references to the accreditation and certificates from any promotional materials (printed, web-based or electronic). To rectify your non-certified status you can re-apply to the Scheme as a New Application at the relevant fee.

How long does the certificate last?

The certificate will last for one year and then you must re-apply using the 'Confirmation of Compliance' form, and sending updated supporting evidence. CMS UK will send out reminders 30 days prior to your certificate expiry date. This will only require signed confirmation that you are still complying with the scheme requirements, and submission of specified copy certificates.

Further reading:

• Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS)
• CEVAS Training
• CEVAS Assessment