Over 2,200 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 three 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?

Read one farmer's story on choosing to become accredited.

The Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS)

Through the Open College Network, the ATF scheme accredits farm staff who are working with school groups.

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 full 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

ATF (Access to Farms): Ian Egginton-Metters 01373 302204 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Courses under the auspices of Access To Farms but administered by other organisations:

FACE-Wales: contact Jane Powell 01970 622248 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GRE (Growing Rural Enterprise) contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 07971 666474 or visit website www.growingruralenterprise.co.uk

MYER: contact Robert Burrow, Myerscough College, Preston This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 01995 642206

WILTS: contact Sheena Awdry, Wiltshire College, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 0HL telephone 01249 715036 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it