Q: What experience does Kingswood have in working with schools?

A: As pioneers of educational activity centres, we are entering our third decade of working with schools. If you consider that we work with over 4,000 schools a year – and 130,000 children – that’s a lot of experience! It is this experience – and our ability to listen to what schools want & incorporate it into our programmes, that brings schools back again and again to Kingswood.

Q: Will children need additional pocket money?

A: All children’s needs are cared for. Each Kingswood centre does have a shop, however, where children can buy postcards, limited refreshments, pencils and souvenirs like T-shirts. We recommend £15-20 as a sensible amount.

Q: What are your accommodation arrangements like?

A: Boys and girls sleep in bunk beds on separate floors in warm, comfortable dorms of between 2 and 12. Sheets, duvets and pillows are provided. Many rooms have ensuite bathrooms, whilst at other centres toilet and shower facilities are closeby to dormitories, in the accommodation blocks.

Q: Can parents telephone their children?

A: In special circumstances, of course. However, it has been our experience that parents phoning their children just to talk often makes the children’s time away from home harder, rather than easier.

Q: What care is available during the night?

A: Teachers are located just down the corridor from their pupils and there is also a Duty Manager and First Aider on call throughout the night.

Q: What is included in the booking fee?

A: The booking fee covers fully supervised centre-based programmes such as Discovery, 3+, Field Studies & evening entertainment, comfortable accommodation, good, healthy meals and free places for a teacher pupil ratio of 1:10.

Q: When is bedtime?

A: Children are supervised until about 9pm, when they enjoy an evening cocoa before returning to their dorms. We generally suggest a lights-out policy of 10pm, but this may vary depending on the age of the group and their teachers’ preferences.

Q: Can you arrange insurance?

A: Whilst on site Kingswood provides, at no extra cost, our standard £20 million Public Liability Insurance. Some schools prefer our additional travel insurance at £5 per individual, which covers children and party leaders from the time of booking your Kingswood visit to your return to school.

Q: Will my child cope?

A: All Kingswood staff are trained to take responsibility for the well-being of the children who are in their care. We strive to create a warm­ & supportive environment at all times. For obvious reasons some activities, such as high ropes, are age restricted and/or subject to correct fitting of equipment.

Q: What about children with special needs?

A: Kingswood has a commitment to improving its ability to work with special needs groups. We can cope with many needs as long as teachers make us aware of them at the time of booking. Pupils with special needs who are used to taking part in activities with the rest of the class are given extra care and attention as soon as they are identified to us. We will advise if we think we are not equipped to cope with a specific situation. For more information please click here.

Q: What’s the food like?

A: Breakfast, lunch & dinner are all created around food that children love to eat – but with health & nutrition foremost in mind. The menus have recently been updated to exceed Government regulations and vary from day to day according to season and the individual centre. Meals are served in a communal dining room where there is always a choice of hot & cold dishes, vegetarian selections and fresh salad bars. We can also cater for children with special religious or dietary needs if we are informed well in advance. For a sample menu please click here.

Q: Do children from different schools mix?

A: In principle, no. At our larger centres there are usually several schools staying at a time, each remaining together with their own classmates throughout the day. The evening entertainment is the only time of the day when it is possible to meet and make new friends from other schools. Most importantly, children from different schools never share the same dorms.

Q: What does my child need to bring?

A: Clothing and shoes worn outside during activities will inevitably get dirty – so old clothes are best! We try to help children look after their things, but items regularly get lost or left behind. We therefore strongly recommend that you name all items of clothing – and provide your child with a packing list, so that he/she can check items back into their bag.

Please use the following checklist to help pack bags:

• 1 Swimming towel & costume (where required)
• 1 Bath towel
• Toiletries bag containing: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hairbrush etc.
• Night clothes
• Socks and underwear
• 4 T-shirts, shirts / blouses (at least 1 with long-sleeves), sweatshirt (2 in winter)
• 1 Thick sweater (2 in winter) + 1 light sweater
• 3 Pairs of trousers and/or jeans and/or tracksuit bottoms
• Clothes for the Twilight Zone (evenings)
• Waterproof jacket (and trousers if you have them)
• Sturdy shoes or wellingtons (even in summer)
• 2 Pairs of trainers (one old pair)
• Large plastic bag for dirty clothes
• Gloves, hat, scarf (in winter)
• Water Bottle

* Please note that most activities require long sleeves

Q: What should my child not bring to Kingswood?

A: Mobile phones, expensive cameras, electronic games, ipods or mp3 players, expensive or much-cherished jewellery, expensive or favourite clothing or shoes.

Q: How secure are the centres?

A: Each Kingswood centre has a secure and clearly defined border, with perimeter fencing, and some with CCTV, to maintain the highest standards of safety at all times.

Q: What are the special safety provisions for watersports?

A: We hold Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) licences for our water sports activities at Peak Venture and Isle of Wight. Water sports at Colomendy is outside the scope of the licensing regulations and does not require a licence.

Q: What should parents do regarding illness?

A: We ask parents to be vigilant before your child’s trip to Kingswood. If your child shows symptoms of illness please inform their teacher or trip leader who can contact us directly for information.