10^th June 2024

Year 6 Residential: Essex Outdoors – Mersea (Monday 24^th June – Tuesday 25^th June)

Dear Parents / Carers,

Please find attached an overview of the key information discussed at the parents’ information session.

If you would like your child to have a packed lunch prepared by the school kitchen, please complete and return the slip below by Wednesday 19^th June 2024.

We hope that our Year 6 will enjoy this day and can celebrate the time that they have spent at Whitehouse. If you have any questions, please contact either myself or the office. Thank you for your continued support.

Miss Payne

(Year 6 teacher and trip co-ordinator)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I would like my child to have a packed lunch for the Mersea trip.

Name of child: ____________________________________

Child’s class: _____________________________________

Please choose one: cheese / ham

Are you eligible for free school meals? Please circle one:   Yes  /  No

Essex Outdoors - Mersea 2024

Key Information

Itinerary:

• We will be departing school at 11:00am on Monday 24^th June. Children are to come to their classroom as normal by 8:40 with everything they plan to take on the trip. If you wish to wave the coach off, you are welcome to do this from the main school entrance on Marlow Road at 11:00.
• We will be returning to school around 3:00pm on Tuesday 25^th June. If you child usually has permission to walk, they will be allowed to walk home alone. If you are picking up your child, please meet them at the main entrance on Marlow Road.
• The members of staff attending will be: Miss Payne, Mr Williams, Miss Manning, Mr Taylor and Mr Trewern.

Activities:

• During the trip, the children will have the opportunity to do five different activities: climbing, caving, ziplining, an adventure course and the It’s a Knockout inflatable competition. To complete these activities, the children will be in groups of about 9-10 people. Each group will have an accompanying member of staff from Whitehouse and staff from Essex Outdoors, who will lead the activity. The It’s a Knockout inflatable competition will be a whole-group activity where all the children can participate at the same time.
• Between activities, children will have down times where they can relax and play at the campsite and where they will eat meals.

Sleeping arrangements:

• The children will be sleeping in large tents in groups of 6-8. The tents are split into girls-only and boys-only. The tents are set up right outside staff accommodation so that we can supervise the children and address any issues which arise during the night.
• Please make sure that your child has a sleeping bag or other appropriate bedding as this will not be provided by Essex outdoors.

Meals:

• Children must have a packed lunch with them on Monday 24^th June (no glass bottles or fizzy drinks please) as the first meal that Essex Outdoors will be providing in dinner that evening. If you would like the school to provide a packed lunch, please complete and return the slip by the 19^th June.
• Essex Outdoors provides hundreds of thousands of meals each year and have a kitchen that aims to please even the fussiest eaters. They are also well equipped to handle any dietary requirements (including allergies and religious dietary restrictions) and we will let them know our requirements ahead of time.

Kit:

• A full kit list went home some weeks ago. The most important thing is that children have weather appropriate, comfortable clothing that they can do outdoor adventure activities in. Old, worn items are ideal because they might get wet or muddy.
• To make sure the children can comfortably participate in all activities, clothing should cover children’s arms and knees. If it is likely to be cold or rainy, please make sure that children have jumpers, warm socks and a waterproof jacket with them.
• A spare outfit and a plastic bag are a good precaution in case children get wet or muddy and need a spare change of clothes.
• Following guidance from the venue, mobile phones and other electronics are not permitted on the trip. The children will be busy socialising with their friends and if they need to call home in an emergency they will be able to use the school’s emergency phone held by staff.
• Valuable or previous items, including jewellery, are best left at home. They can be easily lost or damaged at the campsite or during activities and generally cause the children a lot of concern.
• Please make sure that, where possible, children’s clothing and equipment is labelled to avoid confusion.

Medical needs:

• All members of staff, as well as the first aiders, are briefed on the medical issues of children attending and Essex Outdoors is well equipped to handle any first aid issues which occur.
• If you child habitually takes any medication, please make sure an adult brings it to the school office as soon as possible so that the appropriate forms can be filled in. Our first aiders will carry medicines for pupils and ensure they are taking the correct dosage. Please do not give children any medication to self-administer.
• If your child suffers from travel sickness, we recommend that they take some medicine before school. We would then require a medication form to be completed so that it can be administered for the return journey. Please visit the school office to complete.