Monday 5th June – Friday 9th June 2017 Whitemoor Lakes Monday 5th June – Friday 9th June 2017

Located in the heart of Staffordshire, just between Lichfield and Burton-on-Trent. Whitemoor Lakes is a purpose built activity centre, opened in 2011. The main aims of the week are to: To have fun To learn new skills To become more motivated as individuals as well as work effectively as a team To take part in new and enriching experiences To discover more about themselves and their capabilities To learn to support and value others and celebrate their successes as well as those of other people To encourage resilience and determination

We leave school at approximately 9:30 (or as close as possible to that time). Leave luggage on grassy area outside school on arrival. Parents are welcome to stay and wave their children off. The children are allowed to take small games/cards/books etc on the coach to keep themselves busy. We do ask that no electronic games are brought along, due to the cost to replace if lost. Cameras can be brought at parents’ discretion. Definitely NO mobile phones.

The children are assigned to their groups and bedrooms on the way to Whitemoor Lakes. Before we go, the children are asked to list two people they would like to be with. We make sure that they are with at least one of these people for their day group and their room to sleep in. We take into account friendship groups, any friendship ‘issues’ and also group people together if we think they work well.

Whitemoor Lakes accommodation is private and secure. • It is self contained and all rooms are together with a meeting room large enough for everyone to meet together. It is modern and achieves the highest of safety standards. All bedrooms are en-suite and sleep between 2 and 6. Children will be responsible for all their own belongings which is why we enforce the ‘no electronic devices or expensive clothes’ rule and would request that you encourage this when they’re packing- which they need to do themselves please!! A list of suitcase contents is useful, also bin liners for wet clothes.

The food is fantastic! If your children are ‘fussy eaters’ fear not, there is something to cater for all tastes. We encourage the children to try everything (they tend to have a go because everyone else is). Children clear up/serve and good table manners are highly encouraged. All food is freshly prepared on the premises and special dietary requirements are catered for. The children will have breakfast, lunch and evening meal and water is available 24 hours a day. There is also a tuck shop which we will be available for the children to visit each day.

All the activities are overseen by fully qualified instructors and with fully tested safety equipment (e.g. harnesses and life jackets). The children are expected to follow rules set by Whitemoor Lakes for their own safety. The centre is registered with all the relevant safety services and risk assessments have been carried out for all activities.

Activities may include: High ropes Challenge courses Archery Zipwire Fencing Climbing Abseiling Raft building Canoeing Problem solving Camp fire Disco Team building

Before going to Whitemoor Lakes, many children’s fears tend to be associated with water. Before we go we ask that you fill in a form about your child's swimming abilities so that we can be sensitive to this. However, we still encourage the children to participate in all activities before refusing.

Many of the water activities involve being with members of the group that they are in, so it’s more than likely they’ll have a friend for support.

Many, if not all, the activities in Whitemoor Lakes encourage the children to work together. By the end of the week, we have a year group of people who are great team.

As well as a full day of activities, we have planned evening activities. These again are overseen by the Whitemoor Lake instructors. One of the evenings will also be a disco so be sure to pack disco clothes and shoes!

Finally: Dates- Monday 5th June – Friday 9th June (this is the Monday after the half-term break). Staff- Mr Morrissey, Mrs Adams, plus two others tbc. Payments (£335) – to be paid by 26th May. Payment options are on Parentpay. Medical forms and kit lists to follow before Easter holidays.