Noticeboard: School Visits
WOODLAND TRUST: http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
7th July, 2009:
Today, a group of eleven children, along with Mrs Paternoster and Mr Middleditch - plus a guide from the Woodland Trust - took the school's first walk along the private footpath to the ancient wood. The children had been selected after entering a competition to design an outside classroom, to be constructed at the site by the Woodland Trust with sponsorship from TK MAXX. On arrival we were met by representatives of the Woodland Trust, TK MAXX and the press. A series of photographs and interviews were completed, whilst the children enjoyed an interactive lesson on woodland habitats. To conclude, we entered the actual wood, which apparently offers once of the most diverse habitats of any woodland in the United Kingdom.
Full links to the project, including photographs, will be posted on this site after the Summer Holiday.
Click on the following link to discover how TK MAXX and the Woodland Trust are joining together to help promote the care of our local environment: http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/news-media/releases/company/Pages/tkmaxx-elmstead-market.aspx
TREE PLANTING EVENT - 13th February, 2009
In February, the school has been offered the opportunity to send up to forty children to a tree planting event - see letter to parents below. We are holding a letter writing/drawing competition to see which children are selected to attend. Please note that group photograph permission is essential for any child attending this event.
5th November, 2008
Dear Parent/Guardian
Up to forty pupils from Elmstead Primary School have been invited to plant trees with the Woodland Trust and help create a new local wood. The event is part of the Trust's five year campaign called Tree for All and is designed to involve as many children as possible across the UK.
The event is free. Your child will be given the opportunity to discover what it feels like to plant a young tree, enjoy a variety of learning activities led by an educational professional experienced in outdoor learning and have fun during this structured one and half hour session.
The Woodland Trust aim is to increase young people's understanding and appreciation of trees and woodland, ensuring their enjoyment and protection for future generations. Over the next few years your child will see the field turn into a young wood and feel pride in the contribution they made. Tree planting is a winter activity, carried out when the young trees are dormant. For your child to fully enjoy their experience, please ensure they come to school that day warmly dressed, with waterproof clothing and suitable footwear - wellies would be perfect if you have them.
The Woodland Trust has organised many successful planting events with schools over the years and seen thousands of children become inspired from taking part. Your child is warmly invited to attend this special outdoor event. Please sign the attached permission slip, which includes permission for a group photograph to be taken.
Yours faithfully,
(on behalf of the Woodland Trust)
C. A. Middleditch
Head Teacher
Find out more about the "Tree for All" campaign by visiting www.treeforall.org.uk
Click HERE to see picture and article - from East Anglian Daily Times (09/07/09) - about the school's first visit to the new outdoor classroom and ancient woodland in the village.
Click HERE for group photograph of lucky winners of the Design an Outdoor Classroom Competition.
YEARS 1 & 2 ZOO TRIP - 2009
by Charlie
On Tuesday Class 2 went on a school trip to Colchester Zoo. When we got there we split into groups. Then we went through a different way into the zoo. Then we went to see the sloth and it crawled right over our heads. Next, a turtle walked right across the path! Then we went to see Sasha in her enclosure. Some zookeepers came in to feed Sasha meat, but while they weren't looking he ran out the door and then he started running around the zoo and then he ate ten zookeepers - on the path in front of everyone. Everyone else started running and screaming everywhere.
So then we went to see the anaconda and when we got there it stretched out to make itself bigger and bigger. Then it showed its fangs to look scarier and more fierce.
Finally, at four-o-clock the coach arrived and we travelled safely back to school.
OTHONA 2009 - YEAR 6 RESIDENTIAL
Using the wonders of wireless technology we will be updating this site on a regular basis, as we receive the e-mails, so log on regularly for the latest information on the 2009 Othona trip! We will add the latest news in order, so please scroll down...
Tuesday @ 13.00:
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Hello all,
We have arrived in all 34 pieces! No-one was sick on the coach and we are all settling in fine. We've had time in our rooms and explored some of the site. Later, we are making bread and everyone seems to be very happy here. Othona is cool and we are looking forward to our first night all together. It was a bit of a struggle for some of us to carry our bags, but we managed! We are a bit over excited, but the teachers will make sure we all get SOME sleep! We will be playing some more games tonight in the wood, to be followed by hot chocolate.
It is lovely weather at the moment so we are all topped up with sun-tan lotion and enjoying the sun!! We'll stay in touch during the week. Anyway, got to go and make bread now! We hope all is well in Elmstead.
Best Wishes
Emma, Megan and Alison.
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Tuesday @ 20.00
Hello,
Our first day at Othona has been great! We have have had a fun time playing hunt the teacher and man hunt in the forest. Miss O'Sullivan managed not to get caught, so did lots of the pupils. We are going to play again tomorrow.
The views of the sea are great. We had a nice walk and played loads of games. The food is fantastic. We had sausages, mash and carrots with gravy for our dinner, followed by cheesecake for desert.
The bedrooms are wicked. Practising for the talent show is going well and we are really looking forward to the high ropes tomorrow.
Anyway, got to go, the tuck shop is about to open!
From William, Callum and Charlotte. |
Wednesday @ 21.05:
Today has been brilliant!!!
Here is Blythe's comment:
Well, today we went to Bradwell outdoor Centre. I went to Mersea and my team caught 277 crabs. It was so cool, I loved it!!!! I was sooooooooo fun; and thats me.
Here is Rebecca's comment:
Today has been so much fun! We did high ropes and I got right to the top! We also did mountain biking. That was really fun. We went down loads of hills, which were soooooooooooooo fun!!!! And thats it!
Hi, it's Shenise.
Today was really cool. We got to go crabbing and we got soaking wet which was really funny. We went on the high ropes and we had to all get on top of a pole, 3 of
us, it was crazy! We had pasta for dinner and cake for dessert. The food here is really
good.
We are now about to go outside and play manhunt in the forest, which is cool and spooky.
Bye!
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Thursday @ 13.30:
Hi all,
Today we have done pond dipping, minibeast hunting and beach art. In pond dipping we found lots of snails, baby newts and water boatmen.
We have just had a nice lunch and we are going for a walk on the mudflats. After dinner we are having our talent show. We are all looking forward to it and we can't wait for our hot chocolate later.
We did some beach art from things we found on the beach. Nicola made a house out of shells; Isabel and Shenise made a boat and Tommy made a pattern out of shells.
We can't believe we have to come home tomorrow; we are having so much fun and the time has gone really quickly. We hope you are all OK at school and at home.
See you tomorrow!!!
Isabel, Tommy and Nicola.
Thursday @ 20.20:
Hello Everyone!
We are having a great time. The food is GREAT!! This afternoon we went onto the beach and the mudflats. We caught lots of crabs, all shapes and sizes. We had to find different types of shells and we found a limpit, which isn't usually something you would find in this area.
We are all a bit wet and muddy now, so we have had to leave our wellies outside and have showers.
We are now drawing some shells and other things we found on the beach. We are doing the talent show tonight. We think anyone could win, but we all have our favourites.
Wish you were here (not!) - Robert wrote that....
Robert, Kit and Ben.
Thursday @ 20.40:
Hi Elmstead,
We have just had our talent show. The people that work at Othona watched and were really impressed. They really liked Kit and Tommy's dances and said they thought that Tommy was the next Billy Elliot.
Me and Kane did boxing and we didn't expect the punches that were coming. Mr Higgins' flea circus was really good, because they practised a lot.
We are now getting chocolate and sweets from the tuck shop, before games and hot chocolate. I love the hot chocolate!!
See you tomorrow!
James and Kane. |
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Click here to read the School Visits Policy, 2008
Rationale
Every year many visits are made from Elmstead Primary School for a wide variety of purposes. These visits range from a half-hour walk around the village to a four night residential trip. The range of activities is similarly wide. The purpose of the School Visits Policy and accompanying information is to ensure that every trip made from this school combines the safest possible environment for children and the greatest possible educational benefit, both in terms of the National Curriculum and in personal and social development.
Aims
- To provide a framework whereby trips of all kinds may be planned, costed and undertaken
- To draw attention to the Essex County Council Health and Safety at Work Code of Practice no. 28, Safe Practice on Educational, Adventurous and Recreational Visits, April 2003, and its use when undertaking trips
- To set out a series of steps to be followed when planning a trip
- To ensure that all trips are of the maximum benefit to children's education in its widest sense
Objectives
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To develop the child's knowledge, skills and understanding of the wider world outside school and home
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To emphasise links between various areas of the curriculum, and to put into practice skills learnt in the classroom
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To develop the child's confidence in encountering unfamiliar situations
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To develop the child's ability to work with a group, to follow instructions and to complete tasks in co-operation with others
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To ensure that children learn the importance of considering the feelings and needs of others
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To nurture self-reliance, autonomy and leadership
Children's Experiences
As the child moves through the school visits will be arranged to complement the breadth of the curriculum and to emphasise aspects of the programme of study which lend themselves to such an approach. Within the constraints of the various codes of practice, children will be encouraged to be increasingly self-reliant; for instance, children in Key Stage 1 will look after their own sandwich box and coat, while children on the Year 6 residential trip will have sole responsibility for aspects such as personal hygiene and looking after personal possessions.
Management
Teaching Staff are responsible for preliminary planning of trips and any plans must be discussed with the Headteacher at an early stage. The Headteacher has overall responsibility for the suitability and safety of trips, and the Governing Body has ultimate responsibility for the safety of pupils and staff.
Equal Opportunities
All trips will, wherever possible, be accessible to all children in the class, enabling them to gain confidence, acquire skills and build positive experiences.
Special Educational Needs
Educational visits should fulfil the needs of all children. Children with IEPs may need additional supervision or support whilst on a visit and this will be provided if possible.
Implementation
Teachers must follow the Guidelines for Educational Visits which accompany this policy. They must also familiarise themselves with the relevant sections of the Essex County Council Health and Safety at Work Code of Practice No 28, 'Safe Practice on Educational, Adventurous and Recreational Visits', April 2003.
(A copy is kept in the Adminstrator's Office).
Click here for Guidelines for Planning an Educational Visit - (PDF)