Welcome and thank you for attending Thurston Residential

Welcome and thank you for attending. Thurston Residential Week May 7 th - 10 th 2019

Ashley Primary Staff: Mrs Tuff Miss Sanderson Miss Lawson Mrs Hodgson

Source: Thurston OEC Website

Thurston House Source: Thurston OEC Website

Thurston House Source: Thurston OEC Website

Thurston - The Barn/Stores Source: Thurston OEC Website

Thurston House Staff Dorm Source: Thurston OEC Website

Dormitories • Children will be allocated one of the dorms when we arrive. • The dorms will be male/female only. • Each child will be responsible for making their own bed up at the start of our stay, and as a team, will ensure their dorm remains clean and tidy for the duration! • An award for tidiest dorm will be awarded at the end of our week at Thurston. ☺(Good luck!) (This will also apply to Staff!)

House-keeping Ground rules will be explained upon arrival by the centre staff. This is a fantastic opportunity for your children to demonstrate their responsibility, reliability, independence and teamwork skills – they will very much be relied upon to assist with daily chores and the general upkeep of the house. (This includes cleaning up at meal times!)

A typical day at Thurston 7: 00 am - Rise and shine! Wash, dress, downstairs. 7: 30 -8: 00 am - Meet in the lounge before breakfast. 8: 30 am - Morning chores before preparing for morning activities (meet in classroom). 9: 00 am - Morning activities. 12/12: 30 pm - Lunch. 13: 00 pm(ish)- Afternoon activities. 16: 00 pm - Showers/tidy up kit and meet in the lounge before dinner. 17: 00 pm(ish) - Evening meal. 18: 00 pm(ish) - Evening chores before classroom time. 19: 30 pm - Barn time! 21: 00 pm - Back to the house for bedtime. ☺

Meal times The food is lovingly prepared by Nick the head chef and his team. They devise a well thought out menu which is both tasty and will help fill you up! After each day’s activities you will be hungry and your body will need to stock up on energy. We are fairly confident that fussy eating will not be an issue – Nick is really accommodating and takes all dietary needs into consideration. • A typical breakfast: A selection of cereals, juice/water, warm sausage or bacon sandwich (yes, they do have ketchup) and a cup of tea. • A typical packed lunch: Ham/chicken/tuna/salad/cheese sandwich, a packet of crisps, a piece of fruit and a sweet treat – usually a cake or their world famous flapjack! • Evening meals consist of a hearty meal and a delicious pudding – these range from a cooked roast dinner with vegetables, to pasta and even burgers in a bun served with the usual delights.

Classroom Time Children will be given some time each day in the onsite classroom to complete their Outdoor Education Diary. The Classroom is also used for meeting in groups, lunch gatherings, and deciding the day’s activities. The children will be given the opportunity to send a postcard home on the first evening - hopefully they will arrive with you before we get back!

Groups Children will be divided into 4 activity groups for the duration of our stay: Langdale Grizedale Yewdale Eskdale This will be organised at the centre. Each group will be allocated one member of staff from Thurston and one member of staff from school.

Activities at Thurston Source: Thurston OEC Website

Safety and Standards • Qualified teachers • Quality and Professional Standards • Experts in their field Source: Thurston OEC Website

Equipment and Clothing ● Thurston will provide all outdoor clothing and safety equipment your child will need including walking boots, wellies, waterproofs, rucksacks, lifejackets and safety helmets. ● If you can fit them in your case, you may bring your own walking boots and waterproofs etc should you wish, but your child must take responsibility for these items - honestly, Thurston’s equipment works perfectly! ● No jeans or denim clothing please - this is really very difficult to get dry (even in their spin machines and dry room). ● Old, cheap clothing is best - clothing you don’t mind getting dirty! ● Leggings are fine for those children who prefer not to wear joggers, but make sure they are warm. ● No hugely expensive, designer trainers please!

Departure Day - Tuesday 7 th May It is our aim to depart between 9 - 9: 30 am (dependent on how long it takes to load up the coach). Please arrive at school in good time to allow us to undertake registration and ensure medication etc is in order. Arrive via the MAIN ENTRANCE where you will be greeted and guided through to the MAIN HALL with your child. Once all of the children have arrived, parents will be asked to say their initial goodbyes and head up to the top of the driveway. This will allow us to ensure the safe boarding of the children onto the coach as well as allow the luggage hold to be packed up more easily. You are more than welcome to stay and give us a wave as the coach leaves. A Parent Text will be sent out to let you know when we have arrived safely at the centre!

Departure Day - MEDICATION Any medication must be brought in a SEPARATE bag which must be CLEARLY LABELLED with your child’s name and any administering guidance. We would encourage you not to bring any medication which has not previously been included on your consent and medical form. Any medication that is brought, which has not been included in your consent and medical form, must be added. You will be asked to amend your form accordingly and date/sign the amendment. Paracetamol and first aid supplies will be available throughout our journey to and from the centre as well as for the duration of our stay. (Paracetamol will only be administered if absolutely necessary to those children who have been given signed parental consent. )

Returning to school We will be leaving the centre on Friday 10 th May between 12/12: 30 pm The children will be provided with a packed lunch by the centre which we will stop to have roughly one hour into the journey. We aim to return to school in time for the end of the school day (3: 30 pm). Mrs Todd will be contacted when we are within 30 minutes of returning, at which point a Parent Text is normally sent out to confirm our expected arrival time. The children will be collected from the MAIN HALL.

Things to remember. . . ● Children will need a packed lunch for the journey to Thurston - no fizzy drinks please. ● Don’t forget your child’s medication (clearly labelled). ● Please pack an empty black bin bag - their clothes will most likely be smelly, damp and possibly beginning to walk home on their own. They will be told to pack all wet and dirty clothing in their black bag before packing it in their case! ● No designer labels! You would be amazed at how much clothing remains unclaimed at the end of a week - please label your child’s clothing where possible and don’t go mad buying new and expensive clothes. Children are given the chance at the end of most days to take ownership of lost clothing. ● Clothes that are left behind at Thurston will not be returned. ● Roll-on deodorants only – no aerosol sprays/perfumes please.

Things to remember. . . ● No electronic games or devices please - you will not need a mobile phone! (You may bring a disposable camera but this is not essential as each group will have an allocated digital camera. ) ● This is your chance to leave the digital world behind and enjoy being children in a wonderful setting. Don’t worry, you will survive 4 days without technology… we promise. ● £ 10 pocket money in a purse/wallet - this will cover the cost of your endless supply of juice, a stamp and postcard, as well as give you spends for the tuck shop. You won’t need any more than this. ● You may bring a book/magazine for the journey - but please look after it! ● A pair of slippers/house shoes - essential for cleanliness/comfort! ● HAVE FUN! This is an amazing experience which we hope you will all remember for many years to come…

Thurston Residential - Ashley Primary Year 5 Class of 2018