Are you using a company for this trip?  Who is actually running the trip (someone from the other school)?  Get the company or the organiser to send you the info you need.  presumably at some point before you go you will be holding a meeting with all te parents and kids.  You can always stall their questions by saying that everything will be provided at that meeting.

One tip regarding parents.  When I take trips abroad I have a special sim card for my phone.  I can give the parents the number on that sim and I also store their emergency numbers on the it. Thus I can contact them or vice versa if required (not always an emergency but it could be a delay in a flight or crossing or a change to a meeting time). I also give the kids on the trip that number so in an emergency they can contact me if they are not with the group.  Once the trip is over I can delete the info from the card and return my normal Sim to the phone.  Plus when I put credit on my 'trip' Sim I can give the receipts into school and they pay.  Just remember to give the school the new number so they can get in touch. Also you may wish to give your bank the new number if you are planning on using your credit or debit cards abroad.

Make sure someone in your school (usually SMT) has your number and that you have their in case you need to speak with them during the trip.

Surely if you are using a company they will provide all the necessary kit in the price?  Surely you are not planning on hauling a loads of kids plus all the equipment to Switzerland?  Coals to Newcastle and all that!

Hi Rich

I've no connection with this school, but you may find this information leaflet I found on the web to be helpful: http://www.biddickschoolsportscollege.com/uploaded/2010torgonSKIbooklet.doc. I've been involved with a number of ski trips and it seems to cover the essentials.

I'm not sure if there is any current guidance about helmets, but non of the groups I was involved with (most recently 3 or so years ago) used them, except for junior-school aged kids accompanying the staff. At that thime I don't think that the local ski hire shops would have been set up to provide helments in the quantities that would be needed either, though that may have changed.

Good luck with your planning.

Hi there

I ran my 1st ski trip last year, with the next one going out at Easter, and the one for 2011 already in the planning!

Regarding helmets, I think they are a legal requirement in Italy for u14's, so you should be ok in Switzerland - although personally I'm making them compulsary for all of my students this year.

Kit - Aldi/Lidl tend to get good quality ski wear in at very reasonable prices.

Make sure kids take plenty suncream, and lip protection.

Also, just as an aside, last year we had a locker at the gondola station to keep the pupil's skis/shoes in. In the morning i'd head up and get everything laid out, then the other staff would bring the kids up. The kids would then go up the gondola when they had their kit together, and meet their instructors at the top. One day when about half our kids were up the hill, they shut the gondola due to bad weather - but we had no members of staff at the top of the hill. Then 2 wee girls got lost, phoned their parents in a state, then i had the parents phoneing me in a state, it was all rather messy. So, make sure you always have a staff member in the 1st gondola - even if the instructors are waiting at the top of the hill!

My son went on a ski trip with his collège a couple of years ago (we live in France). Trip is run every year by experienced PE teachers who are also qualified ski instructors.

Helmets must be worn, it's common sense and every year several people die in the alpine resorts because they were not properly equipped (remember actress Natasha Richardson this year?)

Thsy should remember to take several layers of clothing: long sleeve t-shirt + fleece under outer wear for example.

Better to have anorak+ trousers than one of those all-in-one things.

Don't forget 50+ protection, ski quality lip balm, gloves and GOGGLES (sunglasses are not good enough

Can't help much with ski wear as it's readily available in all sports shops here. Have a look online. Decathlon (French sports retailer) sells in the UK and other online sports retailers should havejackets at least.