Mickle Trafford Village School Conway Parents Meeting 26th February 2014

What is the Conway Centre? The Conway Centre is a residential educational facility set in idyllic surroundings on the island of Anglesey North Wales. The Conway Centre is a residential educational facility set in idyllic surroundings on the island of Anglesey North Wales. It is owned by Cheshire Education Authorities. It is owned by Cheshire Education Authorities. The Centre occupies 170 acres of National Trust parkland and gardens which extend down to the Menai Strait and include a Private Dock, Adventure Playground, Tipi, Playing Fields, Natural Ponds, Sheltered Shoreline and Mature Woodlands. The Centre occupies 170 acres of National Trust parkland and gardens which extend down to the Menai Strait and include a Private Dock, Adventure Playground, Tipi, Playing Fields, Natural Ponds, Sheltered Shoreline and Mature Woodlands. Qualified expertise is available for the Arts, Field Studies and Outdoor Education. All of their senior staff are qualified teachers and hold a high level of qualification in a wide variety of disciplines. Qualified expertise is available for the Arts, Field Studies and Outdoor Education. All of their senior staff are qualified teachers and hold a high level of qualification in a wide variety of disciplines.

Where is the Conway Centre?

How safe is the Conway Centre? It is regularly and rigorously inspected by a range of outdoor education authorities to ensure that Health and safety standards are met. E.g. AALA (Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority). It is regularly and rigorously inspected by a range of outdoor education authorities to ensure that Health and safety standards are met. E.g. AALA (Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority). All leaders are first aid trained and CRB checked All leaders are first aid trained and CRB checked The accommodation is securely locked at night and teachers have an alarm to alert them if the door is opened The accommodation is securely locked at night and teachers have an alarm to alert them if the door is opened Sensitive smoke sensors – no aerosols please Sensitive smoke sensors – no aerosols please

What will my child do? Each year group undertake different challenges building on the skills learned in previous years, including team work and cooperation. Year 4: Raft building/Canoeing Raft building/Canoeing Night line- taking a partner through Night line- taking a partner through Problem Solving Problem Solving Orienteering Orienteering Teacher led activities- pond dipping, art Teacher led activities- pond dipping, art

Year 5 Sailing/Canoeing Sailing/Canoeing Low ropes Low ropes Zip wire Zip wire Night line- Navigating a group through a more testing course. Night line- Navigating a group through a more testing course. Problem solving Problem solving Orienteering- again a Orienteering- again a more difficult course more difficult course

Year 6 Long distance orienteering Long distance orienteering Wall climbing Wall climbing Canoeing Canoeing Abseiling Abseiling Bushcraft activities Bushcraft activities Art and drama Art and drama

Evening Activities Self-staffed Self-staffed Art work Art work Drama/dance Drama/dance Quizzes Quizzes Disco Disco Board games Board games DVD DVD Hot chocolate and biscuits Hot chocolate and biscuits

What is the accommodation like? We stay in Hafod- a separate house with its own showers, toilets, drying room, common room and dormitories. We stay in Hafod- a separate house with its own showers, toilets, drying room, common room and dormitories. There are two sides to the house- one for boys and one for girls. There are two sides to the house- one for boys and one for girls. Each side has a staff bedroom and bathroom Each side has a staff bedroom and bathroom The buildings and common rooms have coded locks and staff have an alarm for use at night which is triggered when a door is opened. The buildings and common rooms have coded locks and staff have an alarm for use at night which is triggered when a door is opened. The accommodation is fitted with very sensitive fire alarms- NO AEROSOLS TO BE USED! The accommodation is fitted with very sensitive fire alarms- NO AEROSOLS TO BE USED!

What is the food like? A canteen system like we have at school A canteen system like we have at school Wide variety of food on offer- traffic light system to guide children to healthy options Wide variety of food on offer- traffic light system to guide children to healthy options Bread and salad bar Bread and salad bar Happy to accommodate food allergies etc. if we give them plenty of notice – even preferences like no butter on sandwiches! Happy to accommodate food allergies etc. if we give them plenty of notice – even preferences like no butter on sandwiches!

What equipment and clothes will my child need? See kit list. See kit list. All clothes to be named and packing to be done by the child (with supervision!). All clothes to be named and packing to be done by the child (with supervision!). Old clothes- not their best designer gear! Old clothes- not their best designer gear! Vests, t-shirts, log sleeved tops, fleeces etc. so the children can layer their clothes Vests, t-shirts, log sleeved tops, fleeces etc. so the children can layer their clothes Plenty of socks and underwear! Plenty of socks and underwear! Track suit bottoms, cargo pants, leggings etc. for day wear (jeans aren’t recommended except for the evening) Track suit bottoms, cargo pants, leggings etc. for day wear (jeans aren’t recommended except for the evening) Old trainers (at least two pairs- one that can get wet) Old trainers (at least two pairs- one that can get wet) Conway Centre will provide waterproof coats and trousers and specialist equipment. Conway Centre will provide waterproof coats and trousers and specialist equipment. Sun hat, sun cream… woolly hat, gloves!!! Sun hat, sun cream… woolly hat, gloves!!!

What other facilities are there? Nightline Nightline Shop- send £5 maximum please Shop- send £5 maximum please Play area- children only allowed to use it when supervised Play area- children only allowed to use it when supervised

What do we expect from your child? Well behaved- they are ambassadors of our school. Well behaved- they are ambassadors of our school. Listening skills (important for safety). Listening skills (important for safety). Prepared to work as a team. Prepared to work as a team. We won’t call home unless there is a good reason- look for updates on the website. We won’t call home unless there is a good reason- look for updates on the website. Children should pack their own bag for Conway- so they know what is theirs and where it is! Children should pack their own bag for Conway- so they know what is theirs and where it is! Absolutely no aerosols. Absolutely no aerosols. Water bottle, this is essential, Conway Centre no longer provide this. Water bottle, this is essential, Conway Centre no longer provide this. Packed lunch for the first day. Packed lunch for the first day. Old clothes. Old clothes. Named medicines to be given to the teacher on the morning of departure and collected by an adult on return. Named medicines to be given to the teacher on the morning of departure and collected by an adult on return.

Any questions? Please also feel free to discuss matters of a personal nature with your child’s class teacher. Please also feel free to discuss matters of a personal nature with your child’s class teacher.