Kingswood Grosvenor Hall | | Group work demands that the children learn good communication skills and support each other with the activities | 10 January 2023 |
Tower of London - Historic Royal Palaces | | | 10 January 2023 |
Cadbury World | | | 10 January 2023 |
Wath Swimming Baths | | | 10 January 2023 |
Kingswood Dearne Valley | | | 10 January 2023 |
Eaton Vale Scout & Guide Activity Centre | | PHSE | 10 January 2023 |
Mount Cook Adventure Centre | | | 10 January 2023 |
Science Museum | | | 10 January 2023 |
Scropton Riding & Driving Centre | | | 10 January 2023 |
S15 Spy Missions | | | 09 January 2023 |
Bletchley Park Trust | | | 09 January 2023 |
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse | | Fantastic-brilliantly organised by the centre and children had an excellent experience. | 09 January 2023 |
Rutland Watersports | | DofE | 09 January 2023 |
Inspiresport | | | 09 January 2023 |
Etihad Stadium | | | 09 January 2023 |
Cadbury World | | | 09 January 2023 |
National Coal Mining Museum for England | | | 09 January 2023 |
Pensthorpe Natural Park | | | 09 January 2023 |
Butser Ancient Farm | | | 09 January 2023 |
Halsbury Travel Ltd | | | 09 January 2023 |
SkiBound | | There were a couple of issues with the venue including:
Food timings - particularly for those with dietary needs, their food was regularly served a considerable amount of time after the other students (often around 20 minutes)
No towels and not made aware of this before leaving
Staff were cleaning on the final day at 6am with loud music playing even though we weren't due to wake until 7am - antisocial.
On the other hand there were positives to be taken regarding the company:
Transfers between the airport and the resort were organised well.
Ski hire was in the hotel and any issues were quickly dealt with.
Ski reps Alex and Els were both very friendly and helpful.
Location for the slopes was excellent.
| 09 January 2023 |
Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life | | super day. kids loved it | 09 January 2023 |
Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life | | super activities and very engaging, | 09 January 2023 |
Delamere Forest Park | | | 09 January 2023 |
Kingswood Trust | | Fantastic centre, led by enthusiastic and experienced staff | 09 January 2023 |
Hardwick Park Visitor Centre | | | 09 January 2023 |
Butser Ancient Farm | | | 09 January 2023 |
Field Studies Council - Epping Forest | | | 09 January 2023 |
Hereford Cathedral | | | 09 January 2023 |
Sporta Tours | | | 09 January 2023 |
Science Museum | | | 09 January 2023 |
Flag Fen Archaeology Park | | | 09 January 2023 |
Beamish Museum | | | 09 January 2023 |
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) | | | 09 January 2023 |
Wellington College | | | 09 January 2023 |
National Coalmining Museum | | | 08 January 2023 |
Schools Into Europe | | | 08 January 2023 |
Robinwood Activity Centre - Dobroyd Castle | | Exceptional service provided. The staff were fabulous and provided the children with wonderful experiences. The activities were great and had been improved since our last visit. | 08 January 2023 |
Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses | | | 08 January 2023 |
Royal Observatory | | | 08 January 2023 |
Drax Power Station and Skylark Nature Reserve | | Excellent facilities, support and leadership | 07 January 2023 |
Malthouse Stables | | | 07 January 2023 |
Malthouse Stables | | | 07 January 2023 |
Colchester Zoo | | | 07 January 2023 |
Edgmond Hall Centre for Outdoor Learning | | | 07 January 2023 |
Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life | | | 06 January 2023 |
Superbowl UK Macclesfield | | | 06 January 2023 |
Superbowl UK Macclesfield | | | 06 January 2023 |
Superbowl UK Macclesfield | | | 06 January 2023 |
Simply Cycling | | | 06 January 2023 |
Science Museum | | The Wonderlab had fantastic opportunities to explore a range of different Scientific fields and was very practical! The children integrated with the public well.
The Wondershow was invaluable in its knowledge and really excited the children with live experiments - feeding their inquisitiveness.
| 06 January 2023 |
NST Travel Group | | Great company to use for London Theatre trip. | 06 January 2023 |
Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre | | | 06 January 2023 |
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter | | | 06 January 2023 |
Eureka | | | 06 January 2023 |
English Institute of Sport | | | 06 January 2023 |
Science Oxford | | Brilliant hands on sessions as well as great Science show | 06 January 2023 |
Science Oxford | | Brilliant hands on sessions as well as great Science show | 06 January 2023 |
Kingswood Trust | | | 06 January 2023 |
Halsbury Travel Ltd | | Generally Halsbury are an excellent provider. However, we are not happy with the double decker coach not having the correct satnav to plan routes properly, avoiding low bridges. We are in discussion with Halsbury about this | 06 January 2023 |
Halsbury Travel Ltd | | | 05 January 2023 |
Cadbury World | | | 05 January 2023 |
Castleshaw Centre | | | 05 January 2023 |
Polka Theatre | | An outstanding performance, very enjoyable with an exciting plot and lovely humour | 05 January 2023 |
Natural History Museum | | | 05 January 2023 |
Hartpury College | | | 05 January 2023 |
Imperial War Museum London | | | 05 January 2023 |
Schools Into Europe | | | 05 January 2023 |
Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre | | | 05 January 2023 |
Robinwood Activity Centre - Dobroyd Castle | | | 05 January 2023 |
Halsbury Travel Ltd | | | 05 January 2023 |
Aylmerton Outdoor Education Centre | | Great centre with an excellent team | 05 January 2023 |
PGL Osmington Bay | | | 05 January 2023 |
PGL Osmington Bay | | | 05 January 2023 |
Snozone - Yorkshire | | | 05 January 2023 |
Go Ape Thetford Continuous Belay Course | | | 05 January 2023 |
Wellington College | | Excellent insight into social justice around the world | 05 January 2023 |
Voyager School Travel | | Excellent cultural experience | 05 January 2023 |
Harrogate Theatre | | | 04 January 2023 |
NST Travel Group | | | 04 January 2023 |
NST Travel Group | | | 04 January 2023 |
West Yorkshire Playhouse | | | 04 January 2023 |
Newhampton Arts Centre | | Within walking distance, so a very convenient location.
Great performance. not satisfactory that nursery children and staff had to sit on mats on the floor due to venue overbooking
| 04 January 2023 |
NST Travel Group | | | 04 January 2023 |
Visions in Education | | Ski Racing | 04 January 2023 |
Select School Travel | | Prep & Planning:
In hindsight are there any aspects of this you would do differently?
Tour company was helpful in general but sometimes slow to reply to emails. Would consider using again but also get quotes from alternative providers.
Use of Microsoft Form for collecting pupil info was helpful. Need to ensure method of rating children is consistent with that used by the ski school.
Only put QR code up on screen at the end of the pre-trip meeting.
Get someone to dress up in ski clothes to demonstrate the layers needed.
Get kit list out to pupils earlier.
Interski rental organised earlier so that clothing is ready for SnowDome trip.
Ask for money from Accounts at least three weeks prior to departure.
Need to ensure that on arrival, children are promptly give a fire assembly point talk, as well as a talkon rules and expectations, inc:
- Balconies and windows
- Not being in each other’s rooms
- Rubbish
- Noise levels
- Drinking sufficient water (pupils did not take rucksacs with them so they needed to be encoraged to drink more at meal times)
- Having a shower/personal hygiene
Not all of the evening activities advertised were actually available when we arrived in resort. E.g. ice skating, crepes/ice cream. Did manage to arrange alternatives (disco, movie night and hot chocolates) which worked well but would consider alternative resort/going at different time of year.
Swimming – pool too small with others in there. Only had two lanes to start with. Swimming caps definitely needed.
Bowling would have been a really good option if it was option.
Pizza night worked well in principal but the staff clearly did not want us there. Would choose another restaurant.
Movie night worked well but would have been better to take our own device with films on it, as well as a projector. VGA cables/HDMI cables to link up with a TV.
Fill in suitcase labels prior to departure.
Ski labels with names on it were really useful. Consider buying straps to hold skis together to make carrying them each day easier. Fluorescent helmet covers?
Staffing:
Any comments about staff ratios and levels of competence required
Needed 6 staff – always one more than the number of ski school groups. Need staff with experience of leading trips as well as dealing with children who are not eating etc.
Travel/Transport:
Suitability of arrangements, problems encountered. Please rate any commercial provider
Minor issues with luggage capacity on coach in Italy (from airport to hotel).
Venue:
Suitability / appropriateness. Issues encountered or things you might change next
Hotel perfect in terms of location and size. Plenty of space for socializing – lounge was essentially ours for the duration of the trip. Food good and plentiful, though a little repetitive. Would definitely return.
Supervision:
Any thoughts on the way supervision was provided – anything you may do differently
Ratio of children to ski instructors was correct, needed a member of LGS staff with each group, at least for the first 3 days. Would insist on splitting groups earlier, especially the bottom groups.
Ski instructors did change during the week, which was not ideal. Need to get the phone numbers of the ski instructors in case groups were divided. Used WhatsApp group to enable teachers to communicate but radios may have been a better option. Consider taking DofE radios next time.
First Aid:
Suitability of arrangements, first aid administered.
Don’t put in suitcase in case it gets lost!
Some parents still gave children medicines e.g. paracetamol, anti-histamines, travel sickness meds etc. despite clear instructions prior to trip. Had to be confiscated on day three after it became apparent that pupils had been self-medicating and sharing with each other without informing staff.
Incidents or near accidents:
Record here anything you feel was a problem or potential problem.
NG hurt back on first day and had to take Diclofenac for remainder of trip (no prescription reqd in Italy). NG also lost filling and had to use denture cream to fill gap until return.
Riya Thakrar was taken from the slope by skidoo on final afternoon of skiing due to ‘extreme’ fatigue. The ski instructor decided this was the appropriate action and called the police to collect her and take her back to the hotel. Skidoo only had one seat which meant she was unaccompanied but no other option available and it was the police force that collected her. PJC very clearly explained to RT that she must wait where she was dropped until he could return. PJC had to show driving licence as form of ID for the police officer at the time and was collected by the same officer after Riya was taken down.
Joel Peckett suffered a migraine on day 3 approx. midnight. He knocked on KLF’s door and explained that he had a headache – very distressed and complaining of feeling really hot with poor breathing patterns. KLF reassured and sat JP by a window to get some fresh air, but he then complained of feeling really cold so sent him back into bed. KLF tried to give paracetamol which he then vomited. KLF woke NG to check on JP as concerned about worsening symptoms. After discussion with JP, NG suspected migraine due to suffering from them too. There was no record of migraines on medical form, but JP did state that he suffers from them occasionally at home. NG & KLF sat with JP for approx. 2 hours to reassure him and ensure that he was settled and properly asleep. In the morning JP said that he was tired but feeling much better. On return to school, we explained what had happened to Mother who did admit that he had some history of this.
KAC’s luggage was lost by Easyjet on the outbound journey. She logged it as missing whilst at Milan airport. As it had not turned up by the second day, we contacted SRJ to ask how to proceed. School insurance apparently covers up to £750 for lost luggage so KAC bought the items she most needed to be able to proceed with the trip. Receipts were retained. The suitcase was returned on the 4th day.
Incidents involving pupil behaviour:
Please refer specific incidents of note to JWR / CR
None. Some fussy eaters.
Will left his EpiPen in the airport on two occasions.
| 04 January 2023 |
Black Country Living Museum | | | 04 January 2023 |
Chasewater Outdoor Education Centre | | | 04 January 2023 |
Longtown Outdoor Learning Trust | | | 04 January 2023 |
Longtown Outdoor Learning Trust | | | 04 January 2023 |
Wolverhampton Art Gallery | | | 04 January 2023 |
Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery | | Lee is brilliant. | 04 January 2023 |
Sayers Croft Outdoor Learning Centre | | | 04 January 2023 |
Gorsefield Rural Centre | | | 04 January 2023 |
Gorsefield Rural Centre | | | 04 January 2023 |
The Outward Bound Trust, Aberdovey Centre | | | 04 January 2023 |
Pleasurewood Hills Family Theme Park | | | 04 January 2023 |
Barton Turf Adventure Centre | | | 04 January 2023 |
Whitlingham Adventure | | | 04 January 2023 |
Hilltop Outdoor Centre | | | 04 January 2023 |