Your Residential School Trip Questions Answered
June 18th, 2021
To help you with your planning, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked residential school trip questions. We’ve grouped them into categories to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Cumulus Outdoors is a leading residential provider in Dorset. We offer a range of school trips from our Residential Centre in Swanage and our Tented Villages with views over Poole Harbour. We’re the perfect base for primary schools and secondary schools looking for a fun-filled break on the Jurassic Coast. Our team will help you create a bespoke package, including outdoor adventure activities and field studies programmes.
School residential trip planning
What is a residential school trip?
A residential trip is a school trip that takes place over multiples days and includes at least one night away from home.
Are school trips allowed?
Schools are now permitted to take pupils on school trips in line with Government guidance (correct as of June 2021). For up-to-date information check the Gov.uk website.
Where should I look for Covid guidance on school trips?
The Gov.uk website is the best place to look for the latest Government Covid guidance.
How to plan a school trip?
We understand it can be difficult to know where to start when planning a school trip. That’s why we work with schools to make the process as stress free as possible. We will work with your school trip coordinator to create a bespoke residential trip and activity itinerary. We will tailor the trip around your specific objectives and budget.
What to pack for a school trip?
What to pack will depend on when and where you’re going for your school trip. If you’re camping you will need to bring different things with you then if you’re staying in hard top accommodation. We recommend speaking with your school trip provider. They will have a packing checklist, so you know exactly what to bring. At Cumulus Outdoors we have a parents and leader ‘Portal’. Here you can download useful documents ahead of your school trip.
Where to look for school trip ideas?
If you’re stuck for ideas, we recommend speaking with a school trip provider. They will be able to help you come up with ideas and activities for your residential trip. There are lots of different types of school trips to choose from. For instance, you may wish to try an outdoor activity school trip, field studies trip or tour places of historical interest instead.
What are the best school trip companies?
There are lots of school trip companies to choose from in the UK, including national corporations and smaller independent providers. Cumulus Outdoors have been running school trips in Dorset for more than 15 years. During this time, we have earned an excellent reputation with schools returning to us year on year. We specialise in outdoor adventure activities and fields studies trips on the Jurassic Coast.
How much does a school trip cost?
The cost of a school trip varies and is dependent on a number of factors. Speak with a member of the Cumulus Outdoors team to see what we can deliver within your schools’ budget.
Benefits of school residential trips
Are school trips important?
School trips are incredibly important to a child’s social and educational development. Time away from school can have a number of benefits, including an increase in confidence, improved behaviour and enhanced imagination and creativity. Residential trips in particular encourage children to become more independent and put into practice new skills.
Why should student’s go on field trips?
Field trips are an important aspect of education and can improve social and interpersonal skills. Learning outside the classroom gives children the opportunity to apply teaching to real-world situations. It can also foster new interests and encourage young people to spend more time in the great outdoors.
What is the purpose of school trips?
School trips have many purposes. Some residential trips are educational and designed to build upon learning in the classroom. Other school trips include fun and adventurous activities that serve as an end of term treat..
What is the best residential trip for schools?
Cumulus Outdoors offer two types of residential school trips. You can either stay in the Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre – our purpose-built activity centre with dormitory style accommodation and classroom facilities in Swanage or our Tented Villages.
Residential school trips activities
How to plan a school trip itinerary?
Your school trip itinerary should be unique and designed to meet the needs of your students. When you book a school residential trip with Cumulus Outdoors our experienced team will help you put together a fun-filled activity programme. Depending on your requirements this can include outdoor activities such as coasteering and climbing or field studies sessions. We can also include tours of points of interest and educational talks.
What are the best school trip activities?
Cumulus Outdoors are an award-winning outdoor adventure activity provider. We specialise in fun-filled watersports activities on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. All of our activities are conducted under the watchful eye of our experience instructors and designed for complete novices. We will teach students the basics and help them build confidence and improve their skills. Activities include coasteering, kayaking, climbing, paddle boarding and high ropes courses.
School trips in Dorset
Where’s the best place for a school trip in the UK?
Of course, we might be biased, but we think Dorset is the best place in the UK for a school residential trip. The Jurassic Coast has so much to offer including spectacular coastline and picturesque towns and villages with a rich and interesting history. Our base in Swanage is conveniently located for exploring all that Dorset has to offer.
Where should I go for a residential school trip?
We highly recommend visiting Dorset for your school residential trip. There is so much to see and do, your students won’t want to go home! Cumulus Outdoors can help you design fun-filled itineraries, which can include outdoor adventure activities, field studies programmes and educational talks. We can also arrange visits to nearby points of interest and historical sites.
What is the best residential trip for schools?
Cumulus Outdoors offer some of the best school residential trips in Dorset. From our base in Swanage, we deliver fun-filled outdoor activity programmes for primary and secondary school children. We’re known for having high staffing ratios and 24-hour pastoral care.
What are the best residential trip activities?
There are so many activity sessions that can be incorporated into a residential trip at Cumulus Outdoors in Swanage. We offer a range of outdoor adventure activities and watersports, including coasteering, kayaking, fishing, bushcraft, mountain biking, stand up paddle boarding and more.
Where can I go on a bushcraft residential trip?
Bushcraft sessions can be incorporated into a residential school trip at Cumulus Outdoors. Our bushcraft leader, Ian will help students learn a range of survival skills and encourage them to embrace the great outdoors. They will learn fire starting, foraging and how to build a shelter. This will encourage them to be resourceful and independent.
If you would like to find out more about booking a residential school trip in Dorset, please get in touch with our friendly and helpful team. They will be more than happy to talk you through our accommodation and activities and answer any questions you have.