School programmes proving a sustainability winner
14/12/09
The new
Discovery Programmes
developed and
piloted in 2008 at the Footprint have seen a
greater uptake in 2009 with many repeat bookings
and lots of new interest as word has spread of
the learning and interest they create and the
great day out they provide.
The partnership between the National Trust and TransPennine Express which enables groups to travel for free by train north of Lancaster to Windermere if they are taking part in a Discovery session has also been a big hit with schools. Over 50% of the participants in 2009 arrived on foot..either walking from Windermere station after getting off the train, or from the handful of nearby schools who visit frequently. The generosity of TransPennine Express has been really appreciated by the participating schools, as it cuts the cost of the visit significantly, broadens the visit experience and enhances the sustainability message.
Here’s what teachers and lecturers have been saying:
“The visit, from beginning to end, was a joy. From my initial contact with Kelley by phone, to my pre-visit reconnaissance and our eventual trip, the service was professional and enthusiastic. Health and safety matters were always at the forefront but were handled in such a way as to inspire the flow of learning rather than detract from it.”
“Many thanks to TransPennine Express for providing our transport from Lancaster and securing our seat reservations from Preston. This helped overcome any safety fears we may have had and resulted in a happy travelling experience for all and hopefully more rail travellers of the future.”
“I would like to express my personal thanks to Kelley and convey what a first rate educational experience that she has created at The Footprint. I will certainly spread the word for this great place and look forward to bringing further students here in the near future.”
“Kelly is so enthusiastic, warm friendly and genuine that both adults and children instantly got along with her. She did really well adapting to our needs on the very wet day.”
“It was really useful having a risk assessment provided and for someone to lead the learning so that I could enjoy working with my children, rather than organising as well, as I do day to day.”
“We loved the train journey- what a brilliant set up for the sustainability, the experience, the cost. Thank you very much, I will recommend it to others and we’ll definitely come again.”
“The whole day was an excellent experience for all involved, from catching the train, which was very easy and the letter for authority to travel accepted without question (and there were plenty of seats for the children), to being met at Windermere station it all felt very well organised and resourced. I thought the footprint building and the surrounding environment was fantastic and the planned sessions were lively and inspiring, thank you very much to Kelley and Cathy.”
“Both the morning and afternoon groups really enjoyed their trip to the project. It was so well planned and delivered. Kelley tailored the session to fit in with our History topic and has built on and refined the delivery of the session since last year, which was already very good. The children had such a variety of activities to do; drama, team work, speaking and listening, writing and being physically active. There were great opportunities for cross-curricular learning too; science and nature in the woodland, ecology issues, geography and history of the landscape. It was very well paced and pitched correctly for their interests and abilities.”
“Thank you so much for all your hard work in making it a very educational and enjoyable morning/afternoon in such a safe and calm environment. From the woodburning stove to the cup of tea at lunch – the adults all enjoyed their time there too!”
“This is the second year we have chosen to use the footprint building as part of our Geography and DT work. We once again had a fantastic day and the children really enjoyed themselves. We were also able to adapt and improve our programme of work from what we had done last year and this fit in perfectly. Kelley was once again fantastic and so well organised. She pitched the activities at exactly the right level and kept the children enthusiastic and involved (even despite the rain!).
The children all commented on what a great day they had had. We will be booking again for next year. Thank you.”
“Free train travel was fantastic, especially as some children had never been on one before or very rarely. For some of them this was the highlight of the trip! Seating was good, very clean train and staff extremely friendly. It made the whole trip much easier to run.”
To book a session at the Footprint and apply for free train travel for schools along the line from Lancaster to Windermere, please contact Kelley Sproston-Heath, Community Learning Officer on 015394 88409 or email footprint@nationaltrust.org.uk
The partnership between the National Trust and TransPennine Express which enables groups to travel for free by train north of Lancaster to Windermere if they are taking part in a Discovery session has also been a big hit with schools. Over 50% of the participants in 2009 arrived on foot..either walking from Windermere station after getting off the train, or from the handful of nearby schools who visit frequently. The generosity of TransPennine Express has been really appreciated by the participating schools, as it cuts the cost of the visit significantly, broadens the visit experience and enhances the sustainability message.
Here’s what teachers and lecturers have been saying:
“The visit, from beginning to end, was a joy. From my initial contact with Kelley by phone, to my pre-visit reconnaissance and our eventual trip, the service was professional and enthusiastic. Health and safety matters were always at the forefront but were handled in such a way as to inspire the flow of learning rather than detract from it.”
“Many thanks to TransPennine Express for providing our transport from Lancaster and securing our seat reservations from Preston. This helped overcome any safety fears we may have had and resulted in a happy travelling experience for all and hopefully more rail travellers of the future.”
“I would like to express my personal thanks to Kelley and convey what a first rate educational experience that she has created at The Footprint. I will certainly spread the word for this great place and look forward to bringing further students here in the near future.”
“Kelly is so enthusiastic, warm friendly and genuine that both adults and children instantly got along with her. She did really well adapting to our needs on the very wet day.”
“It was really useful having a risk assessment provided and for someone to lead the learning so that I could enjoy working with my children, rather than organising as well, as I do day to day.”
“We loved the train journey- what a brilliant set up for the sustainability, the experience, the cost. Thank you very much, I will recommend it to others and we’ll definitely come again.”
“The whole day was an excellent experience for all involved, from catching the train, which was very easy and the letter for authority to travel accepted without question (and there were plenty of seats for the children), to being met at Windermere station it all felt very well organised and resourced. I thought the footprint building and the surrounding environment was fantastic and the planned sessions were lively and inspiring, thank you very much to Kelley and Cathy.”
“Both the morning and afternoon groups really enjoyed their trip to the project. It was so well planned and delivered. Kelley tailored the session to fit in with our History topic and has built on and refined the delivery of the session since last year, which was already very good. The children had such a variety of activities to do; drama, team work, speaking and listening, writing and being physically active. There were great opportunities for cross-curricular learning too; science and nature in the woodland, ecology issues, geography and history of the landscape. It was very well paced and pitched correctly for their interests and abilities.”
“Thank you so much for all your hard work in making it a very educational and enjoyable morning/afternoon in such a safe and calm environment. From the woodburning stove to the cup of tea at lunch – the adults all enjoyed their time there too!”
“This is the second year we have chosen to use the footprint building as part of our Geography and DT work. We once again had a fantastic day and the children really enjoyed themselves. We were also able to adapt and improve our programme of work from what we had done last year and this fit in perfectly. Kelley was once again fantastic and so well organised. She pitched the activities at exactly the right level and kept the children enthusiastic and involved (even despite the rain!).
The children all commented on what a great day they had had. We will be booking again for next year. Thank you.”
“Free train travel was fantastic, especially as some children had never been on one before or very rarely. For some of them this was the highlight of the trip! Seating was good, very clean train and staff extremely friendly. It made the whole trip much easier to run.”
To book a session at the Footprint and apply for free train travel for schools along the line from Lancaster to Windermere, please contact Kelley Sproston-Heath, Community Learning Officer on 015394 88409 or email footprint@nationaltrust.org.uk