The other pages tell you what the children and students can learn and how much fun they can have. This page tells you about the practical arrangements you can make and about how we run the visits. You can also view a pdf of our Primary School Visits CD here. If you would like to receive a CD for use with your class, please contact us on 01483 326264. The presentation also has notes pages with follow-up ideas for teachers.
The First Step
Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we will make a provisional booking over the phone. Booking is required for both led and self-guided visits. We will then send you a booking form which includes information about respective responsibilities and some health and safety advice. You will need to complete and return the form to confirm your booking. If you are a Primary teacher booking a led visit and haven't been to Alice Holt before we will send you a CD to use with the children in preparing them for the visit. It also has lots of suggestions for follow up work which we hope you will find helpful. School groups booking led visits will be provided with parking permits free of charge. Self-guided groups will be required to pay to park but reduced rates apply to all advance educational bookings.
Pre-Visits
You are welcome to visit Alice Holt Forest at any time to check the site and do your risk assessment and we are very happy to meet you to discuss the details of your visit, if you think this would be helpful to you. This way we can find out more about your class to help us plan a programme to suit your children. We can also answer any questions you might have. You'll find us 4 miles south of Farnham just off the A325. Click on the link in the right hand column for a location map.
The School Visit
Timing and Charges
Visits normally start at 10 am and finish at 12 noon or 2.30 pm. For full day visits we allow between 30 and 45 minutes for lunch. The price for a visit is £4 per child for a half day and £7.50 per child for a full day with minimum charges of £80 and £150 respectively per class (i.e. per group led by one Forestry Commission leader).The only exception is our Saxon Day which requires considerably more resources than other programmes. This costs £8 per child.
Arrival
Pupils are asked to put all their belongings into one of the classrooms where they will be safe for the day. Primary classes are then given 5 -10 minutes to look at and touch the displays around the room before receiving a short introduction to the day.. Older groups will start their session with an introductory briefing. There are toilets available at the classroom and at the nearby Forest Centre. After the introduction everyone goes out into the woods to get active and learn something.
Organisation
It is very helpful if Primary School children are organised into groups and know which adult is responsible for them before they arrive. Depending on the chosen programme, it is often helpful for older students to know their groups in advance of the visit. This will be indicated at the booking stage.The number of adults needed is, of course, largely dependent on the age of the pupils. However, for Team Tactics it is helpful to have at least one adult for every 8 or 9 pupils/students whatever their age, right up to adult.
Lunchtime
Lunch is eaten at or near the classroom with shelter available when necessary in our small marquee and, if numbers necessitate, in our smaller classroom. Everyone needs to bring a packed lunch and we ask that you encourage your pupils to bring lunches in reusable containers with a minimum of packaging - NOT DISPOSABLE LUNCHES IN PLASTIC BAGS. We have a paper recycling bin and a composting system and are trying to encourage sustainable living and responsibility for the environment. ALL OTHER WASTE SHOULD BE TAKEN HOME as we do not have a regular refuse collection.
Usually, after lunch everyone goes back out into the woods for more activities before returning to the classroom to collect belongings and be ready for the coach at the agreed time.
Smoking is actively discouraged but, for those old enough to do so, it is permitted only in the classroom car park and away from young children.
