The motto was to bond and have fun, and we certainly achieved that. Spending days and night together allowed the children to get to know each other a bit better: their likes, dislikes, abilities and fears too! The pool party and movie night made boarding a real treat, whilst the outing to Rye Watersports was plain sailing (excuse the pun!) for some, but no bed of roses for others; seriously putting them outside their comfort zone. I was very proud to see many pupils helping their peers and guiding them through the sailing experience. Paddle boarding was another popular activity with the added benefit of the children getting to see their teachers lose balance and fall into the water time and time again!

The interactive workshop at the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve was brilliantly led by Natasha and Anne, who enlightened us and made us reflect about the wildlife on our doorstep, and the litter that tourists and fishermen leave on our shores. Working in several groups and reporting on our findings put various skills to the test.

Next up was a trip to nearby Leeds Castle and their Go Ape. I was absolutely amazed to see how fast the children literally ran on the high rope courses; hats off to them. Baboonzled (a giant, clever board game) was another great way to work in teams. The competitive element of the game was really fun and it was wonderful to see the children coming up with ideas and solutions, and ultimately enjoying one another. In the afternoon, the Knights' Stronghold was the perfect place to play a game called 'Among Us', before getting lost in Leeds Castle's Maze. Again, I was impressed at the supportive attitude of those children who volunteered to go and rescue the trapped ones. What a great bonding experience it all was!

We savoured a well-deserved ice cream before making our way back through the beautiful grounds of Leeds Castle, where swans and ducks cared for their little ones, a bit like us teachers who felt very protective of our cohort full of very special little ones whom we dearly care for.

Mme de Haan, Year 6 Form Tutor

---

Parents can view photos of the Staycation trips on the Parent Portal.