Residentials
Residential trips are school trips that take place over a few days and pupils are required to stay away from home. Our residential trips are activity-based trips that provide a new context for forming relationships. Residential settings and team-building activities break down barriers, allow students to develop and practice important social skills, and encourage students to work more collaboratively, thus building skills such as teamwork and communication.
As part of the Barwell CE Academy “Great Learning Adventure”, we feel that children in both Upper Key Stage 2 and Lower Key Stage 2 should have the opportunity to take part in residential visits. These off-side residentials are undertaken with the agreement of the Academy Governing Body. All of outdoor centres we use have qualified instructors, insurances, risk assessments (which are approved by the LA - as we always submit our paperwork for scrutiny by them in the case of Residential Visits). Charges are made in line with the Charging and Remissions Policy.
Lower Key Stage 2 - Beaumanor Hall
During spring of Year 4, children currently have the opportunity to visit Beaumanor Hall for a 1 night residential during their learning Journey, “It’s The Circle of Life”. The learning journey has links to the big house. During this trip, we enable children to take part in outdoor and adventurous activities as part of their PE work.
To find out more information, please click on the attachment below or for photographs, please have a look at our Trip Gallery.
Upper Key Stage 2 - Boreatton Park
During the autumn of Year 6, children have the opportunity to go to PGL Boreatton Park, Shropshire as part of a 4 night/5 day residential. This trip gives us an opportunity for children to take part in outdoor and adventurous activities as part of their PE work. The multi-activity programme is led by PGL staff. In addition, on day 1 of the trip, the children visit RAF Cosford and participate in a World War Two workshop, this links well to their learning journey during that term: “Let’s Blitz This!”
To find out more information, please click on the attachment below or for photographs, please have a look at our Trip Gallery.
Planning and Risk Assesments of Educational Visits
For each educational visit, a thorough planning and preparation process is followed to ensure that we are meeting the expected standards. All overnight residentials are authorised by the governing body and paperwork is approved by the local authority. Relevant insurance policies are in place for all visits and policies are reviewed regularly.
The appropriate level of supervision (staff to child ratios) is determined and followed based on the guidance from the Department for Education. Any trip will require a minimum of two adults. When possible, an extra adult will accompany the party in case of an emergency.
Risk assessments are completed and shared with staff for all visits, focusing on:
- What are the hazards?
- Who might be affected by them?
- What safety measures are needed to reduce risks to an acceptable level?
- Can the group leader put the safety measures in place?
- What steps will be taken in an emergency?
Inclusion
It is our policy that all children should be able to participate in educational visits. Where a child with an additional need is eligible for a trip, we will make every effort through reasonable adjustments to ensure that he/she is included. Any such adjustments will be included in the risk assessments for the visits.