2. Year 5 Residential: Learning Outside the Classroom
Thank you for coming…
Eskdale Junior School
Wednesday 21st – 23rd March 2018
Thank you for coming
Although this is just over 6 month away we wanted to give you a flavour of what your child may be doing ..and the fun they will have!

3. Where are we going? Kingswood Peak Venture Security
Kingswood is the name given to the company that has many learning centres around the country (France)
The place we are visiting is called Peak Centre which is on the doorstep to the Peak District near Sheffield.
It sits in 9 acres of land. Within the grounds around the main building are woodland and fields where most of the activities take place.
The centre is surrounded by a boundary fence which has coded security gates to ensure the children are safe and secure

4. Why Kingswood?
As a school, we have been visiting Kingswood for many years, as it continues to offer us the sort of programme that we want for our children.
Peak venture has a warm, supportive environment for the children so they quickly feel at home.
For your peace of mind…
There is always a qualified First-Aider on centre 24/7.
All staff are fully DBS checked
Regular checks on equipment before and after every activity session
There will always be an Eskdale member of staff with children during all activities.
As a school we have been visiting Peak venture for a number of years as they continue to offer us the experience that we need.
The centre itself is very comfortable and the staff there are always really friendly and helpful and want the best for the children
There is always a first aider on site from the centre, and indeed always staff around just in case we need them at any time of the day or night.
All the staff are fully DBS checked
Just to make you feel a little happier all equipment is checked before and after each activity
And of course the children will always be accompanied by a Eskdale member of staff during activities. The children will all be divided into activity groups and will be allocated a member of staff (us) They stay with these groups throughout the 3 days.

5. A typical day at Kingswood:
• Breakfast is served between 7.30am and 9am
• First activities start around 9.30am
• 10 minute juice break
• Lunch time allocation between 12pm and 2.30pm
• A full afternoon of activities
• Evening meal time allocation between 5pm and 7pm
• Evening entertainment from 8pm followed by
hot chocolate (on request)
• Lights out by 10.00pm
• Six activity sessions per full day plus one final evening session
• Fully qualified Kingswood activity instructors lead all activities
All the children are encouraged and praised during activities and are NEVER forced to take part if they are not comfortable doing so.  
There will be other groups present on Centre during our stay, however all our programmes and activities are directed separately.
This is what a typical full day looks like.
6 sessions + evening activity which could be watching a film in the cinema room, or a group activity to complete a challenge.
Fully qualified Kingswood activity instructors lead all activities – they are great fun!
All the children are encouraged and praised during activities and are NEVER forced to take part if they are not comfortable doing so. 
There will be other groups present on centre during our stay, however all our programmes and activities are directed separately.

6. Food glorious food!
Food is a very important part of any residential as it is
important that the children maintain their energy levels in
order to do the activities.
At Peak venture the meals are both plentiful and delicious... 
All food is served in the communal dining area and each school is allocated a set time to eat.
Peak venture freshly-prepare three healthy buffet style meals which are nutritionally balanced and meet the latest Government standards on children's meals
A varied choice is always offered, with both hot and cold meals, a salad bar, at least one vegetarian option and yes, sometimes even chips!
Plenty of juice and water is available at all times throughout the day
Most dietary requirements can be catered for as long as
we tell them in advance
Most important subject …especially to us teachers
Main parts to draw out from this slide is
- all meals are prepared on site and served in the communal dining area
- buffet style – so all the children line up and say what they would like – they do get plenty!!!
- there are hot and cold choices, including a salad bar, vegetarian options and CHIPS!!!
- drinks served all day
***** any special dietary arrangements then please let us know so that we can organise menus with Kingswood – just let me or one of the class teachers know******

7. Bedtime routine – lights out!!
To finish off each day, hot chocolate is served on request before the children return to their dorms. Plenty of sleep is required to recharge the batteries, so lights will be turned out by 10.00pm or as directed by your teacher.
To us teachers this a very important part of the day – and for as long as I've been going we have never had a problem with the children getting to sleep. They are so tired they are soon in the land of nod. First night they are excited but after a full day and hot chocolate they are soon asleep.
We’ve always been praised by the centre and by other schools at how well our children behave and I don’t think this year will be any different.

8. The Dorms
• All residential dormitories are warm, comfortable and 100% secure
• Girls and boys sleep in separate areas and teachers rooms are located close by to allow for plenty of close supervision
• All bedding is provided at the centre - one of the very first tasks for all children is making up their own beds!
• Separate showers and toilet facilities are available for girls and boys
Dorms sleep between 4-8 children.
The dorms are all nicely painted in this lovely green and are warm and comfortable
Separate boys and girls dorms and our rooms are situated on the children's corridors and will have a sign on the doors so they children know where we are if we were needed in the night. (emergency only!!!)
Children expected to make their own beds – so their homework is to learn how to put a duvet and pillow cases on if they don’t already know how to do so!!!

9. So what will we do? Jacobs ladder Leap of faith Climbing
Team building games
Low ropes
Orienteering
Den building
Zip wire
Quad biking
Abseiling
3D swing
to name a few….

10. Thanks for coming!
If you have any questions then please catch one of us after this meeting