Over 900 farmers have now passed through the scheme and are qualified. They are entitled to display the trained personnel logo that more and more schools are recognising as the sign of a high quality visit and farm experience.

Is CEVAS for me?

The best way to find out is if you answer Yes to any of the following four questions:

Are you a farmer who encourages educational visits to your farm?

Are you thinking of making your farm available to schools in the future?

Would you enjoy giving talks to school children about farming and the countryside?

Are you thinking about educational access through DEFRA's rural development service?

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 below in PDF format.

NB The price information has changed since this flyer was produced: course fees are now usually £100 + VAT (sometimes lower or higher dependent on regional sponsorship). £100 + VAT is also the charge for farm accreditation which includes the Learning Outside the Classroom quality badge.

CEVAS Flyer

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.

There are two 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.

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

Course fees vary depending on local/regional sponsorship. When you have chosen your course please request a booking form; unless stated these are available from Ian Egginton-Metters, Access To Farms, c/o 32 Mendip Drive, Frome, Somerset BA11 2HT, or phone 01373 302204 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Contact Ian for general enquiries regarding CEVAS.

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 spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Available courses

NB Closing date for bookings is two weeks before the course starts, but some courses fill quickly

For more information about CEVAS training in Wales contact Jane Powell

tel: 01970 622248 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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 spambots. 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 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.