General
Yes, with the Activities Industry Mutual with an indemnity of £10,000,000
All our tutors go through Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS), Induction then In-House Training for several weeks before working with groups. The majority of our tutors have relevant degrees, many with a teaching background and all show a great passion for the outdoors and working with young people. For First Aid, Swimming Pool, and our range of Adventurous Activities our staff hold relevant National Governing Body qualifications (NGB’s).
All of our Adventure Activities and study locations have in-depth risk assessments, these are open for inspection during preliminary meetings. We can provide you with a Quality Assurance Pack, which outlines all the important and necessary information you may require.
Yes. We are inspected by the British Activity Providers Association. We have our Adventure Activity Licence and a Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) quality badge which guarantees the quality of our outdoor learning provision. We have also been awarded an Adventure Mark for our range of Adventure Activities.
You can expect excellent support from all of our staff from initial enquiry through to the programme delivery and after-support. We are a small company so you will often be working with the same person all through your Allnatt experience, all employees are proud to work here and we are sure this will be your experience with us too.
Your money is safe with us. Joseph Allnatt Centres Ltd has been in existence since 1924. It has a good credit rating at one of the leading credit rating agencies in the UK. We are happy to forward a credit report if required.
Our Catering teams serve three tasty meals per day, with lots of choice and seasonal variations. We provide a carefully balanced nutritional menu created by our own Chefs, designed to meet the latest Government standards on school meals. We will ask before your visit if we need to cater for any individual dietary needs such as religious adherence, gluten, egg, dairy and wheat free meals as well as any other food allergies.
We are children focused, believing that the outdoors has never been more important in helping all children, whatever their physical and mental ability and whatever their previous experience, to develop emotionally and socially.
We aim with all our groups to have the same dedicated tutor working with your smaller groups throughout the visit. This way of operating has meant that the tutor gets to know the individual group members and can build an excellent rapport to allow for more in-depth learning and focusing discussions on the group’s interests as well as the learning topics set down before the visit. We understand that some of our guests will require special attention to get the most from their visit. Carers of those with disabilities or mentors of those with challenging behaviour are welcome to attend the visit free of charge.
Leading Up To The Visit
At both Centres we have a Head of Teaching who will liaise closely with you during the build up to the visit; they will help you design and build your logistical programme to meet your learning objectives. They also oversee the quality and safety aspects too. During your visit you will have a Group Co-Ordinator who is with you from your arrival through to departure and can also be contacted for follow up work.
Yes. We have a range of support materials available to help publicise your trip and will always visit our partner schools to support Parents’ Talks if we can to help answer parents’ questions and concerns face to face. Putting a face to the name is part of our approach.
We encourage all new group leaders to come and visit the centres and the local area before booking, we are able to offer overnight accommodation to make the journey as viable as possible. You are able to book preliminary visits on most Mondays and Fridays.
It’s good to be prepared, however please remember the children will need to carry some things with them when out on activity.
We suggest the following items, to ensure your child has the most safe, comfortable and fun experience with us. Depending on the programme, these are the essentials.
SUN CREAM, we will always encourage this to be worn and being near the sea, most children are unaware that the infrared rays are almost twice as strong.
TOWEL
Swimming costume
Rucksack
Indoor and Outdoor shoes
Comfortable clothing (we do not recommend flip flops, strap tops, skirts and jeans for outdoor activities)
Hat, Scarf and Gloves (in winter)
We have souvenir shops at both centres where students can buy a range of souvenirs, postcards to send home and confectionery. You won’t need more than £10.
Travel
Yes, the nearest train station to Swanage is in Wareham, Dorset, which is roughly a 20 minute taxi or coach ride away. South West Trains provide good links to various other destinations all over England, to and from here.
You can get to the Isle of Wight by train via Portsmouth Harbour and then onwards via Catamaran Ferry to Ryde Pier Head. Cross Island trains are available to Shanklin, which is roughly a 20 minute taxi or coach ride away from East Dene.
Public bus or coach will easily get you to and from Swanage, depending on the time of year, from various destinations all over England.
We are more than happy to recommend a local provider to help assist you plan your journey to and from Swanage.
On a fully taught programme, provided by our tutors and whilst on activities, all transport is provided for you during your visit.
We have limited onsite parking for cars; we ask all groups to inform us of parking needs before the visit to ensure we can provide this. Please talk to your chosen centre for details of nearby coach parking. For example, in Swanage, there is a public car park 5 minute walk from the centre which a permit can be bought if the coach is parking overnight.
During The Visit
We will provide all groups with comfortable bedding. Each bunk bed has a duvet and pillow too. We kindly ask that individuals do not bring their own.
Schools have different policies and approaches to contact during school trips and we would suggest checking what this is before the trip starts. In an emergency, or if you are having trouble calling one of the school teachers responsible for your school party, you can contact the main reception Mon – Fri 8.30 – 5pm.
It is advisable that all expensive electrical equipment is not brought on a residential visit. If they are allowed due to the school’s, college’s or youth group’s policy then it is up to these leaders to manage the students use. We always ask for phones to be turned to silent when out and about to help focus on the natural environment and so that no students can be distracted during safety briefings.
Our Centres have free WiFi access for Teachers and Students. Rest assured, we have strict parental control in place and appropriate access levels set for students and teachers. It is up to the accompanying leaders to manage the students use.
We use digital cameras with the students to take photos when they are out in the great outdoors. Groups may be photographed whilst at the Centre or when taking part in a Teaching Programme. These photos may be used on the Company website or in a future brochure or publication: they will not be made available to any third party. If Group Leaders or any member of their party does not wish to be photographed, please tell the photographer who will always respect their wishes.
Both centres provide safe and secure accommodation in dormitory style rooms that sleep between 4 to 12 group members in bunk beds. Teachers will have single or twin bedded rooms, which are located amongst the dormitory rooms.
The Chatsworth Centre consists of 5 separate buildings, each with keypad entry, which means groups have their own spaces. At East Dene, the set up is similar and also very spacious, however groups will often share the same living areas, due to this being a large Victorian Manor House and converted Coach House.
Unless an important visit has been discussed and agreed directly with the school prior to the visit, then unfortunately we do not allow family visits during the trip. Please remember that you are visiting the school and we will always refer your request to them. We exercise our duty of care responsibly and this policy operates purely to protect young and vulnerable children.
