Hanslope School Primary Residential Frontier Centre, Irthlingborough

Departure arrangements Children will depart from school at approximately 10.30am on Monday 13th May. Parents can bring bags / cases into Linford Hall between 8.25 and 8.45am. Medical forms and Jext can be brought in to the office for those children who need them between 8.15 and 8.45am. All other medications / medical forms should be brought in to the office prior to the departure date. Children will need a packed lunch on the Monday; please use a clearly labelled, disposable bag.

Clothes and equipment Children are not allowed to bring any mobile phones, tablets or electronic games. Please pack with your children so they know what they have brought and can repack their own things to go home. Please ensure that everything is named. Include an empty bag e.g. black sack for wet and dirty laundry. Please supply a named water bottle that children can take out and about each day. Children can bring a small named torch to use.

Kit list Sun cream and hats will be vital if the weather is (hopefully) sunny. Waterproof clothing in case its wet (hopefully not!). An extra towel is necessary for outdoor activities where children may get wet. Old shoes and clothes will be needed for canoeing. A pair of shoes / slippers to use indoors. Lots of old jumpers / sweatshirts are useful for layering if the weather is cold. Jogging bottoms or leggings are better for activities such as abseiling and canoeing as they are more comfortable.

Meals at the centre All meals will be provided apart from lunch on the Monday. Meals are at set times and everyone will eat together in the central dining room. Children can chose who they would like to sit with; no set places. Breakfast will include: cereals, toast, fruit and yoghurt. Lunch and dinner will include 2 choices and a dessert e.g. pizza or sausage roll and salad + potato wedges, rock cakes. All food is nut free and kitchen staff are made aware of any people with allergies.

Snacks School will provide hot chocolate and marshmallows for Monday’s campfire. The children will be offered plain biscuits as a snack. Children will not be allowed to eat snacks / sweets etc in their rooms. Please don’t supply treats.

Accommodation It is a large site with bedrooms in a number of different buildings; the school is using 4 of these. Each building has a meeting place for children to gather with staff. Children’s rooms are generally for 3 – 4 people and have their own toilet / shower facilities. There will be two adults in charge of each block. Bedding is provided and children will make their beds on the first afternoon. Rooms are heated by radiators. Children will be expected to keep their rooms tidy and be responsible for their own possessions at all times.

Rooms and groups Teachers will allocate rooms to children. Children will not be able to choose who they share a room with. Children will be divided into 5 groups for the different activities. Each group will be accompanied by at least 1 adult from school and a member of Rock UK staff. Rock UK instructors are all highly trained. Where possible the centre will try to ensure that the same instructor stays with the children during their stay.

Activities 1 On Monday when we arrive, children will visit Stanwick Lakes to carry out a nature study with school staff. We shall eat our packed lunches during this time. Children will all take part in the same activities; this will be at different times throughout our stay. Activities will include: abseiling, open canoeing, search and rescue, adventure play and walk the plank. Children will be encouraged to have a go at each activity but will not be made to do the activities.

Activities 2 All activities have been risk assessed and there is a summary risk assessment on the Rock UK website. Children will wear the appropriate safety equipment e.g. helmets, lifejackets, harnesses. Rock UK instructors will check that safety equipment is worn correctly. When there are no timetabled activities school staff will use the facilities e.g. sports hall, five a side football pitch to keep the children entertained. On Monday evening there will be a campfire supervised by school staff. https://rockuk.org/activities/.

Rock Shop Children can bring up to £5 pocket money to spend on an item from the site shop. They can buy souvenirs or gifts. They cannot buy the sweets / soft drinks which are available.

Return to school The coach will collect children at 1.45pm. Children and their luggage can be collected from the KS2 playground at the usual time.

Any questions?