Information shared at the meeting on 20/10/21
Where is Trewern?
Trewern is an outdoor centre owned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham since the 1960s. The Centre is situated in the beautiful countryside on the border between England and Wales near the small market town of Hay-on-Wye.
About the centre
The centre has more than 50 years experience in running courses at all levels from introductory to advanced. All the instructional staff are qualified teachers and hold a range of national recognised qualifications in outdoor activities.
Accommodation
•The children will be living in the house along with staff.
•Children will be sharing rooms with bunk beds. All bedrooms have washbasins. Toilets and showers are situated nearby. Boys’ rooms and girl’s rooms are in different parts of the house.
•Staff have separate rooms and bathrooms within the same part of the house.
•There is a small lounge to socialise in.
•The house will be exclusive to our school.
Equipment
All specialist equipment for the activities is provided for throughout the duration of the stay. Children to do not need to bring any of their own.
The grounds and travel
•Children can use the gardens and adjoining games field in their free time.
•The grounds can also be used for supervised activities such as orienteering, problem solving and forest skills. There is a new low ropes course, a BMX track and a climbing wall on site.
•The minibuses are fitted with seatbelts and will provide all the transport during their stay at Trewern.
Catering
•All food is prepared on site.
•Children are given breakfast, a packed lunch and a three course dinner. Food is prepared on site using fresh ingredients.
•Special diets can be catered for, but they need to be indicated clearly on the consent form.
•Children are expected to assist with some domestic chores such as setting and clearing tables, washing up and preparing lunches.
Activities
•Trewern provides a range of activities and is very flexible within the week.
•A plan of the week is made but may change depending on the weather.
Canoeing
Canoeing takes place on either the river at Glasbury or on the canal near Brecon.
All children wear buoyancy aids and those who cannot swim or are not confident in water are with an adult. The canal is only waist high.
Climbing
There is an indoor climbing hut on site. This can be used to introduce children to the sport. Children can learn to climb on with safety mats and harnesses.
Gorge walk
This involves following a stream, crossing it using rocks or logs, walking beside or through the water. Children may also crawl behind waterfalls and jump into deep sections of the river if they wish.
Caving
An introduction to the different types of rocks, their structure, characteristics, and the landscape they create. Children can spend time navigating through a cave and exploring what it is like in there.
Waterfall walk
A beautiful walk around the area to visit a waterfall that children can walk behind.
Mountain walk
Children can lead the way up a mountain to see how different the landscape is.
They can learn how to use a compass and a map to navigate their way and look after their group.
Other activities
•Use of the BMX track
•Archery
•Orienteering
•Shelter building
•Cooking outdoors
•Assault course
•Walking through an abandoned train tunnel
Evening activities
Every evening after dinner, we then have an evening activity before bedtime.
•Outdoor games
•Local walk
•Orienteering in the house
•Problem solving
•Centre quiz
•Nightline
•Games on the field
New experiences
•One of key aims of the trip is to provide children with new experiences. Things they may never have encountered before, skills they haven’t had the chance to develop and food they haven’t tried before.
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•For this reason, we don’t allow children access to electronic equipment, including phones.
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•You can be kept up to date with what we are doing either through group calls or the school website.
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•Children are often too busy or excited to worry about what they are missing at home.
Cost
Children will now leave on a Monday and return on the Friday.
The cost per child for the week is £280.
This includes:
Accommodation
Three meals a day
Specialist equipment
Trained instructors
Travel during their stay
Activities throughout the day
24 hour adult supervision
The cost of the trip is affected by many factors. Time of the year, number of students, method of transport, length of stay, additional funding from a school.
The cost for each child to stay at Trewern is fixed but the cost of travel by coach is a set price to be shared by the number of students, so once we know how many are going, we can give the final total and reimburse any over payment.
The total cost does not need to be paid in one go. It can be paid in instalments. At present, a deposit is all that is required to secure a place for your child, but should you wish to start payments then you can. If we cannot get enough children to go on the trip then we will have to cancel it and all money will be refunded.
Deposits need to be paid by November 13th 2021. Full payment needs to be completed by 10th December 2021.
Children will receive a payment card soon after the initial payment. Every time a payment is made, that card should be provided so you can keep a track of how much has been paid and how much is still owed.
COVID-19
Some parents may be concerned about exposure to COVID-19. Below are ways that we can show the risk may be more minimalised than you may think.
Children will be travelling by private coach.
Staff will be taking lateral flow tests before and during the trip.
Children will be living in a house only accessed by the children and staff from Leys Primary School and the working staff at Trewern.
During onsite activities, children will only encounter staff from school or Trewern.
All travel during their stay will be using Trewern’s own minibuses, driven by Trewern staff.
Outside activities are in the open and if members of the public are present they will only be passing by.
A lateral flow test is advised to be taken by children the day before the trip as the children will be living in close proximity with each other.
FAQ
Can we speak to the children on the phone?
Only in special circumstances does this happen. We have your contact details and should we need to contact you then we will make the call.
How will we know when they have arrived?
As soon as we have arrived, we will contact the school and send out a group message. Updates will be added to the Trewern page on the school website. These will often happen after the children have gone to bed or whilst they are getting ready in the morning.
Can they take electronic devices for the coach journey?
We are going to spend the week device-free. Our main focus is on providing new experiences, different from they are used to at home. Any devices found will be looked after and returned when we get back to school. We will accept no responsibility for damage or loss of any devices we are not aware of.
Can I give my child spending money?
Children will only have the opportunity to spend money in the Trewern souvenir shop. The maximum you can provide for them to spend is £10.
What if my child is a fussy eater?
For every meal there are a range of options. We will encourage children to try new food but children will never go hungry.
Can my child take a camera?
Children are allowed to take a camera but it will be their responsibility to look after it and be responsible with regards to the photos they take. Disposable cameras are the most ideal. Staff will take photos throughout the week and some will be posted on the school website. After the trip, a digital photo album will be available to purchase for a small fee.
What time will you get back on the Friday?
We aim to get back in time for the end of the school day but this of course is dependent on traffic. We will be in constant contact with the school to keep everyone updated and leave updates on the website.
What do we need to buy?
A list of what you need is provided on the ‘Kit List’ – Most items you will already have. Don’t bring expensive items. If you buy new items then cheap items will do. Do not buy anything until it is confirmed we have enough students for the trip to definitely go ahead.