We believe that the children in our school should have the opportunity to discover new environments, gain confidence and develop life skills through residential experiences. Our involvement in the Learning Away Programme, funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, has given us the opportunity to explore ways of providing low cost residentials for all of our pupils. Parents are instrumental in supporting us to provide these experiences.
Information regarding residentials is released usually in autumn term and each residential is arranged on a class by class basis. Below are some of the opportunities that our pupils are given.
In Reception
Children come back to school early evening and ‘camp’ for a few hours. We cover the same aspects of the curriculum as Nursery, but at a higher level and also include reading. Children enjoy activities and sharing books in the tents with their classmates and staff. They have hotdogs, sing songs around the campfire and then parents join them for the last half hour of the event.
In Year 1
In Year 1, children visit Bamburgh where they find out more about the life of Grace Darling. They visit the Grace Darling Museum, the beach, church and graveyard. The children have a fantastic time staying overnight at the youth hostel in Alnwick with their friends and teachers. The following day they visit Bamburgh Castle and have a picnic in the park. Year 1 learn lots about Grace Darling and use this to support their writing and topic work around her life.
Quotes from children
‘I knew what to write about because I had been to the museum and I was on the same beach as Grace Darling had been.’
‘It is special when you have a giant sleepover with your friends,’
In Year 2
Year 2 visit Alnwick Castle and stay overnight in the youth hostel in Alnwick with Year 1 . Children have the opportunity to storm the barbican, make soap, make a clay tile, take part in broomstick training, roll down the hills, look around the castle and visit the state rooms. The following day they visit Bamburgh Castle and look at the similarities and differences between the two castles. Back at school the children complete lots of writing and history based on the visit.
Quotes from children;
‘I was a bit worried about leaving my mam, but I am having a great time with my friends.’
‘I think it would be horrible to live in a castle because it is cold and dark.’
In Year 3
Pupils in Year 3 have the opportunity to visit Robinwood in Alston Cumbria. The children have the chance to experience climbing, canoeing, swinging on the giant swing, splashing in the piranha pool and many other activities. They get a chance to take part in teambuilding activities and problem solving.
In Year 4
Last year, Year 4 visited Dukeshouse Wood near Hexham. This is a similar experience to Robinwood but they had the chance to mix with children from other schools within Tudhoe Learning Trust. It was a fun filled, exhausting time and they had the chance to take part in climbing, crate stacking, obstacle course and many other activities. Children also took part in many teambuilding activities and problem solving.
‘ I was a little bit worried about some of the activities, but I had a go at everything, it was amazing.’
This year, Year 4 will have the opportunity to visit The Wilderness Outdoor Activity Centre at Barnard Castle. Children will sleep in tents on a safari style camp and will have the chance to experience a number of outdoor adventurous activities such as gorge walking, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding.
In Year 5
Year 5 visit Eden Camp to explore how life was during WW2. There are different huts which contain artefacts from both WW1 and WW2 which give the children an insight into the way people lived, the vehicles used and the war effort, during this historical period. Children then stay in the Youth Hostel in Helmsley overnight, where they unpack and make their own beds before having their evening meal. The following day the children visit Helmsley castle and have lunch at the Youth Hostel. Back at school children complete writing and research tasks based around the experience.
In Year 6
Year 6 visit London for 3 days. On arrival, children visit the Rainforest Café for their evening meal before going to the hotel. Once settled in the hotel, children visit the local park and watch the planes take off from Heathrow airport. The following day involves a visit to the Science Museum followed by a walk from the Houses of Parliament to Trafalgar Square via St James’ Park, Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Horse guards Parade. On the evening, children experience a west end show. After a tiring day, it is back to the hotel for a well deserved rest. The following day, the children visit the Natural History Museum, where the dinosaurs are usually the highlight. Following this, children are given a memorable shopping experience through a visit to Camden Stables before returning home. Back at school, children have lots of newly acquired knowledge that they can use as a context for writing.
‘ Wow, it is unbelievable the size of the dinosaurs in the museum.’
‘ London is amazing, I am so pleased I have seen Buckingham Palace.’
‘Wicked was just wicked!’
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