Mickle Trafford Village School Conway Parents Meeting 26th February 2014.

Mickle Trafford Village Mickle Trafford Village SchoolSchool

Conway Parents MeetingConway Parents Meeting

26th February 201426th February 2014

What is the Conway Centre?What is the Conway Centre?

• The Conway Centre is a residential educational facility The Conway Centre is a residential educational facility set in idyllic surroundings on the island of Anglesey North set in idyllic surroundings on the island of Anglesey North Wales. Wales.

• It is owned by Cheshire Education Authorities.It is owned by Cheshire Education Authorities.• The Centre occupies 170 acres of National Trust parkland The Centre occupies 170 acres of National Trust parkland

and gardens which extend down to the Menai Strait and and gardens which extend down to the Menai Strait and include a Private Dock, Adventure Playground, Tipi, include a Private Dock, Adventure Playground, Tipi, Playing Fields, Natural Ponds, Sheltered Shoreline and Playing Fields, Natural Ponds, Sheltered Shoreline and Mature Woodlands. Mature Woodlands.

• Qualified expertise is available for the Arts, Field Studies Qualified expertise is available for the Arts, Field Studies and Outdoor Education. All of their senior staff are and Outdoor Education. All of their senior staff are qualified teachers and hold a high level of qualification in qualified teachers and hold a high level of qualification in a wide variety of disciplines.a wide variety of disciplines.

Where is the Conway Where is the Conway Centre?Centre?

How safe is the Conway How safe is the Conway Centre?Centre?• It is regularly and rigorously inspected by a It is regularly and rigorously inspected by a

range of outdoor education authorities to range of outdoor education authorities to ensure that Health and safety standards are ensure that Health and safety standards are met. E.g. AALA (Adventurous Activities met. E.g. AALA (Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority).Licensing Authority).

• All leaders are first aid trained and CRB All leaders are first aid trained and CRB checkedchecked

• The accommodation is securely locked at The accommodation is securely locked at night and teachers have an alarm to alert night and teachers have an alarm to alert them if the door is openedthem if the door is opened

• Sensitive smoke sensors – no aerosols please Sensitive smoke sensors – no aerosols please

What will my child do?What will my child do?

Each year group undertake Each year group undertake different challenges different challenges building on the skills building on the skills learned in previous years, learned in previous years, including team work and including team work and cooperation.cooperation.

Year 4:Year 4:• Raft building/CanoeingRaft building/Canoeing• Night line- taking a partner Night line- taking a partner

throughthrough• Problem SolvingProblem Solving• OrienteeringOrienteering• Teacher led activities- pond Teacher led activities- pond

dipping, artdipping, art

Year 5Year 5

• Sailing/CanoeingSailing/Canoeing

• Low ropesLow ropes

• Zip wireZip wire

• Night line- Navigating a Night line- Navigating a group through a more group through a more testing course.testing course.

• Problem solvingProblem solving

• Orienteering- again a Orienteering- again a

more difficult coursemore difficult course

Year 6Year 6

• Long distance orienteeringLong distance orienteering

• Wall climbingWall climbing

• CanoeingCanoeing

• AbseilingAbseiling

• Bushcraft activitiesBushcraft activities

• Art and dramaArt and drama

Evening ActivitiesEvening Activities

• Self-staffedSelf-staffed• Art workArt work• Drama/danceDrama/dance• QuizzesQuizzes• DiscoDisco• Board gamesBoard games• DVDDVD• Hot chocolate and Hot chocolate and

biscuitsbiscuits

What is the accommodation What is the accommodation like?like?• We stay in Hafod- a separate We stay in Hafod- a separate

house with its own showers, house with its own showers, toilets, drying room, common toilets, drying room, common room and dormitories.room and dormitories.

• There are two sides to the house- There are two sides to the house- one for boys and one for girls.one for boys and one for girls.

• Each side has a staff bedroom Each side has a staff bedroom and bathroomand bathroom

• The buildings and common rooms The buildings and common rooms have coded locks and staff have have coded locks and staff have an alarm for use at night which is an alarm for use at night which is triggered when a door is opened.triggered when a door is opened.

• The accommodation is fitted with The accommodation is fitted with very sensitive fire alarms- NO very sensitive fire alarms- NO AEROSOLS TO BE USED!AEROSOLS TO BE USED!

What is the food like?What is the food like?• A canteen system like A canteen system like

we have at schoolwe have at school

• Wide variety of food on Wide variety of food on offer- traffic light system offer- traffic light system to guide children to to guide children to healthy optionshealthy options

• Bread and salad barBread and salad bar

• Happy to accommodate Happy to accommodate food allergies etc. if we food allergies etc. if we give them plenty of give them plenty of notice – even notice – even preferences like no preferences like no butter on sandwiches!butter on sandwiches!

What equipment and clothes What equipment and clothes will my child need?will my child need?

• See kit list.See kit list.• All clothes to be named and packing to All clothes to be named and packing to

be done by the child (with be done by the child (with supervision!).supervision!).

• Old clothes- not their best designer Old clothes- not their best designer gear!gear!

• Vests, t-shirts, log sleeved tops, Vests, t-shirts, log sleeved tops, fleeces etc. so the children can layer fleeces etc. so the children can layer their clothestheir clothes

• Plenty of socks and underwear!Plenty of socks and underwear!• Track suit bottoms, cargo pants, Track suit bottoms, cargo pants,

leggings etc. for day wear (jeans aren’t leggings etc. for day wear (jeans aren’t recommended except for the evening)recommended except for the evening)

• Old trainers (at least two pairs- one Old trainers (at least two pairs- one that can get wet)that can get wet)

• Conway Centre will provide waterproof Conway Centre will provide waterproof coats and trousers and specialist coats and trousers and specialist equipment.equipment.

• Sun hat, sun cream… woolly hat , Sun hat, sun cream… woolly hat , gloves!!!gloves!!!

What other facilities are What other facilities are there?there?

•NightlineNightline

•Shop- send £5 Shop- send £5 maximum pleasemaximum please

•Play area- children Play area- children only allowed to use it only allowed to use it when supervisedwhen supervised

What do we expect from your What do we expect from your child?child?• Well behaved- they are ambassadors of our school.Well behaved- they are ambassadors of our school.• Listening skills (important for safety).Listening skills (important for safety).• Prepared to work as a team.Prepared to work as a team.• We won’t call home unless there is a good reason- We won’t call home unless there is a good reason-

look for updates on the website.look for updates on the website.• Children should pack their own bag for Conway- so Children should pack their own bag for Conway- so

they know what is theirs and where it is!they know what is theirs and where it is!• Absolutely no aerosols.Absolutely no aerosols.• Water bottle, this is essential, Conway Centre no Water bottle, this is essential, Conway Centre no

longer provide this.longer provide this.• Packed lunch for the first day.Packed lunch for the first day.• Old clothes.Old clothes.• Named medicines to be given to the teacher on the Named medicines to be given to the teacher on the

morning of departure and collected by an adult on morning of departure and collected by an adult on return.return.

Any questions?Any questions?

• Please also feel free to discuss Please also feel free to discuss matters of a personal nature with matters of a personal nature with your child’s class teacher.your child’s class teacher.