Countryside Live
at
Lee Valley Regional Park
‘Learning outside the classroom’
Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 September 2013
Teachers’ Handbook
Countryside Learning supported by
Countryside Live at Lee Valley Regional Park
Teachers’ Handbook
Contents
1. Introduction 3
2. Schools attending 4
3. Location map and directions 5 - 6
4. Arrangements for the day 7 - 9
5. Overview of activities at Countryside Live 10-11
6. Minibeast hunting guided activity and timetables 12-13
7. Sheep Show timetables 14
8. Arena programme 15
9. Site index 16
10. Site plan 17
11. Activity details 18-28
Countryside Live - Learning Outside the Classroom
Introduction
Due to the fantastic support and attendance, Countryside Live is again coming to Lee Valley Regional Park for the eleventh year. The event will take place over two days and will held on Leyton Marsh, behind the Lee Valley Ice Centre, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, E10 7QL.
This venue provides the opportunity of bringing the countryside into town whilst at the same time celebrating the best elements of the local environment. Lee Valley Regional Park provides the perfect location for “Countryside Live”. For more information about Lee Valley Regional Park, please visit the website www.visitleevalley.org.uk.
This handbook provides you with a site plan, arena programme, exhibitor activity information, timetabled activities and details of arrangements for the day. Visit the Countryside Learning website www.countrysidelearning.org and select “Events” then “Countryside Live” then “Lee Valley” then “Teachers Pack” to download additional copies of this handbook and further documentation.
Please read this booklet carefully. It will give you the opportunity to prepare the children for the visit. With the concentration of children attending the event, it is important that they are made aware of the need to obey safety signs and barriers, and listen carefully to the safety information and instructions given, in relation to activities being demonstrated, or those that they are involved with.
The day is extremely full and varied and any preparation will help the children assimilate their experiences rather than being overwhelmed by them.
Countryside Learning, the educational charity that runs these Countryside Live Events, is delighted to support the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, launched by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 28 November 2006.
The Manifesto is a ‘movement’ or joint undertaking that many different stakeholders have helped to create and to which anyone can sign up. We have endorsed the Manifesto because we believe it will help to ensure that all children and young people have a variety of high quality experiences outside the classroom environment, as an essential part of their learning and development.
To find out more about ‘Learning Outside the Classroom’ go to their website www.lotc.org.uk
Countryside Live will complement the ‘Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto’ and provides a first class outdoor learning experience.
Countryside Live – Lee Valley Regional Park
Schools Attending
WEDNESDAY / THURSDAYChingford CE Federated Infant and Junior / Chase Side Primary School
Culloden Primary / Cubitt Town Infant School
De Bohun Primary School / Dawlish Primary School
Earlham Primary / Grazebrook Primary
Elmhurst Primary / Millfields Autism Resourced Provision,
Millfields Community School
Galliard Primary (Autistic) / The Mulberry Primary School
Grazebrook Primary / Nightingale Primary
Holy Trinity CE Primary School / Parkwood Primary
Lansbury Lawrence Primary / Shacklewell Primary
Millfields Community School / St John and St James Primary School
Riverley Primary School / St Michael at Bowes CE Junior School
Rushmore Primary School / St Scolasticas School
Sandringham Primary School / Thomas Gamuel Primary
Shacklewell Primary / Uphall Primary School
St Dominic's Primary School / Walker Primary School
St James CE Primary / Wilbury Primary School
St Jospeh's Catholic Infants School / Willow Brook Primary
St Joseph's RC Junior School / Woodford Green Primary School
St Michael's Primary School
Thomas Gamuel Primary
Tiverton Primary
Vicarage Primary
Home school Group
Countryside Live at Lee Valley Regional Park - location
Leyton Marsh, (Behind the Lee Valley Ice Centre and adjacent to the Riding Centre), Lea Bridge Road (A104), Leyton, London, E10 7QL. Turn off the Lea Bridge Road (A104) at the Ice Centre. Coach/car parking is in the Ice Centre car parks.
Aerial View – Location
Countryside Live - Lee Valley Regional Park
Arrangements for the Day
Arrival
Coach and minibus
The coaches staying on site should park up on the north edge of the car park (marshals will direct you). Coaches dropping off, should do so in front of the Ice Centre building. (See aerial view on page 6). Those coaches which are dropping off children should be instructed to return to the coach park when they come back to pick you up.
Once the children have disembarked from the coach, please take care and depart from the parking area to the show field as soon as possible.
Public transport / walking
Bus stops (no’s 48, 55 and 56) are all located within a few minutes walk on Lea Bridge Road.. Pedestrian access is via the Ice Centre (See aerial view on page 6).
Clapton (overground) and Leyton (underground) stations are the nearest to the event site, but both are a 30 minute walk.
Arrival the event site / registration – A1
On arrival at the entry marquee, the lead member of staff should ‘register’ their attendance by submitting the appropriate paperwork with the Countryside Learning staff, whilst remaining staff and children should be led through to the site. This will ensure that there are no long queues at the entry gate.
Registration
Please submit your Registration Form on arrival. This should be downloaded prior to the event from the Countryside Learning website www.countrysidelearning.org (Events/Countryside Live/LeeValley / TeachersPack).
To save time, please have this form completed BEFORE you arrive. The class name, number of children present, name of teacher in charge of the class and their mobile number is required. The total number of children from your school and a total number of accompanying adults will also be required. If you have more than one class attending, please fill in ONE FORM ONLY with the relevant information for each class. If your school is attending on both days, please fill out a separate form for each day.
Please also tell us of any medical requirements or special needs that your party includes.
‘Teacher in Charge’ badges
When you register, you will receive “Teacher in Charge” lanyards, (neck ties with a plastic wallet attached for inserts) so that the teacher in charge of each class can be easily identified. This is a health and safety precaution so that we can differentiate between teachers and adult helpers. Please return these lanyards when you are leaving the event.
Teachers should ensure that children are adequately supervised appropriate to the age, ability and needs of the children in their group. KS2 1:8. Please ensure that you are familiar with your own school guidelines and those issued by your LE.
Behaviour
Teachers are reminded that they are responsible for their children at all times and it is up to school staff to ensure the safety and discipline of their pupils. We would ask that you respect the animals, exhibitors and other pupils and teachers visiting the event.
No Smoking
Please be aware that there is no smoking permitted on site.
Lost property/lost children/meeting point
The registration tent (A1) will be used as a meeting point for lost and found point for both children and lost property.
Lunches
There will be no food available to buy at the event so please remember to bring packed lunches and drinks with you for children, teachers and helpers. There will be nowhere for lunches to be stored on site, so children will need to carry their lunch around with them and a small, light backpack would be most suitable. If your coach is staying you many like to leave your lunches in the coach.
There is no set time for lunch; it’s up to you when you feel is appropriate to take a lunch break. If the weather is fine, many schools choose to picnic by the arena and watch the shows, or prior to their sheep show session. If it is raining, exhibitors often have space in their tents, just ask them if its convenient for you to have your lunch in there. There will be one spare covered area for use. Another wet weather alternative may be to have lunch on your coach if it is staying on site.
Teacher refreshments tent
Self service, tea and coffee will be available from the refreshment tent (A2). Please leave a donation payment in the buckets provided.
Litter and recycling
Please ensure that you pick up any of your schools rubbish and litter – bins will be provided throughout the site for your convenience. Please ask one of the organisers for a bin bag if you need one. We want to keep and leave the site as litter free as possible!
Dress
Please dress for the weather! All of the day will be spent outside, so depending on the weather, waterproofs or hats and sunscreen may be necessary. It would be advisable for children (and adults too) not to wear open-toed footwear.
First Aid
There will be trained NHS paramedics situated on site all day. They will be located at A3, behind St Clement’s Vets, near the entry and refreshment marquees. Please ensure that you carry inhalers / epi-pens or any other medication known to be required by any of your children. All cuts and grazes should be covered by waterproof dressings prior to arrival on site to avoid the possibility of infection. You may also wish to bring along your own first aid kit.
Food tasting
There may be opportunities for food tasting on several of the stalls – it is the responsibility of your teachers to be aware of any food allergies that the children may have and to act on these accordingly and to carry out necessary medications.
Toilets
There will be adequate portable toilet facilities on site located in three locations. The largest bank are situated near the entrance to the site. Each toilet has its own sink. Two disabled units are also available.
Hand wash facilities
Two hand wash units with running water, each with three sinks can be found around the arena in the middle of the site. Each toilet also has its own sink.
Money
The children will not need any money, as there will be nothing for sale, other than tea and coffee for the adults.
Evacuation Procedure
All Countryside Learning and Lee Valley staff are aware of the evacuation procedure. Should the need arise, please follow their instructions and leave via the safest evacuation point as directed and gather at the appropriate assembly point.
Disclosure and Barring Service
All Countryside Learning and Lee Valley staff are DBS checked.
Photographs
You have been asked to sign a photo consent form. Those who have given consent, may be photographed at the event and the photographs used by Countryside Learning and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority for their promotional materials, media or on their websites.
An event photographer will be on site. If a member of the press should attend, they will be given a list of schools that have given photo consent and will be asked to speak to the teacher in charge, before taking any photographs. Teachers are very welcome to bring their own cameras or digital blue cameras from school, to record the event for their own uses.
Evaluation Sheets
Please download and return an evaluation sheet for every class that attends the event. Your views are important to us so please take time to let us have your comments by filling in an evaluation. Sheets are downloadable from the Teachers Pack area of the Countryside Learning website www.countrysidelearning.org (Events/Countryside Live/Lee Valley/Teachers Pack).
Overview of Activities at Countryside Live
The Sheep Show – timetabled sessions
The Sheep Show runs four times during the day at 10.15am, 11.30am, 12.45pm and 2pm – each school has been booked onto one of these sessions. Please see timetable on page 14. Their large trailer stage is located at F2, near the entry marquee at the south of the site.
Arena programme and activities
Arena activities will be running throughout the day (see the arena programme on page 15). So make sure that you catch your favourites.
Lee Valley Park Youth and Schools Service – Minibeast hunt guided tours
Some of you opted to book onto the minibeast hunt run by Lee Valley Park Youth and Schools Service. Further details can be found on page 11 and a timetable for the activity on pages 12 and 13.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARRIVE AT THE YOUTH AND SCHOOLS MARQUEE (E3) ON TIME OTHERWISE THE TIMETABLE WILL BECOME DISRUPTED.
Bookable and drop in Activities
We have 40 exhibitors attending Countryside Live this year with a mixture of bookable and drop in sessions. All activity details are listed in alphabetical order from page 18.
Please be assured that there is no difference between bookable and non-bookable activities – it is just the exhibitor’s preference.
The opportunity to pre-book activities will be provided at the teacher briefing session on Wednesday 18th September. Please take into account your allocated times for Minibeast Hunting and The Sheep Show, so you don’t book activities at the same time as these.
If your school can stay until 3pm, then please book the later 2.30pm – 3pm sessions, so that those leaving earlier than 3pm have an opportunity to book sessions prior to 2.30pm.
We are also asking schools that are bringing more than one class, not to book more than two sessions per activity, so that one school doesn’t block book a whole activity. If classes carry out different activities then there will be more experiences to share back at school.
We urge schools that pre-book activities at the teacher briefing, to keep a careful note of what they have planned to visit and at what time. Please ensure that all teachers have a copy of your timetables to ensure that groups attend the right sessions on time and so that exhibitors do not have empty spaces in their schedules.