A TEACHING union is calling on a "common sense" approach so children do not miss out on educational school trips.

The call comes just days after a retiring East Lancashire headteacher spoke of his regret over health and safety guidelines threatening the future of school trips.

The National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) is urging members to stop supervising children outside school in case tragedy strikes. The move, which follows a number of incidents where children have died while on school holidays, would mean an end to field trips, holidays and visits to museums.

The NASUWT say that society no longer accepts the concept of an "accident".

But Britain's biggest union the NUT says banning trips means children "miss out".

Retiring Oswaldtwistle headteacher Peter Linley spoke of his sadness over the decline of children's outdoor education.

Mr Linley, formerly of St Paul's Primary School, voiced concerns over increased health and safety restrictions, which he feels have stifled children's access to the countryside. He said: "Now you can't walk by a river or pond without getting permission. It's over-the-top."

Dick Greenfield, who is the NASUWT's national executive committee member for Lancashire said: "Nowadays when an incident occurs on any kind of trip then someone is guilty because there is no such thing as an accident. Teachers may want to do these kinds of trips, but if something goes wrong they will be to blame.

"That will be the case until common sense comes back into the situation and society can accept there is such a thing as an accident. Most of the time there isn't a problem, but the time there is a problem it will be the adults or teachers involved who will be guilty of negligence. We need to get rid of the blame culture."

Martin Fisher, NUT regional officer, responsible for Blackburn with Darwen, said: "The union is not considering a ban or advising members not to participate on school trips. If members are involved in educational visits and journeys they should follow the guidelines laid down by the DfES, their local authority and the union. It is only in extreme circumstances that any personal liability has been attached."

He added: "Children do benefit from educational trips and visits. It is clear they would miss out if they were not going on theatre visits, geography field trips, musical and sporting activities outside school."