Here is a list of questions, together with our answers, that we get asked regularly by parents.
What do we need to pack for the trip?
We provide a very comprehensive kit list. It is worth reminding you of the following items though:
Suitable Footwear
Wet and Dry footwear is essential and your child will need something on their feet for the duration of the trip. Wet footwear must stay attached to their feet whilst in the water - old trainers or plimsols are ideal alternatively wetsuit/beach shoes are widely available. Your child should have one piece of covered, closed toe Dry footwear for use on shore based activities. Wetsuit shoes are available from Rockley's online shop.
Visit the Rockley Shop
Linen
Bedding and towels are NOT provided so please remember to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and towels. All our beds have mattresses with a fitted sheet.
Sun Protection
We can't stress the importance of sun protection and the need for hydration strongly enough. Please ensure your child is provided with ample sun lotion of SPF 30 or above and a hat. Pupils will also be required to carry a water bottle on activity sessions and these can be refilled with fresh drinking water at all our centres.
Valuables
It is not possible to provide secure storage for pupils' valuables, therefore it is recommended that these items are left at home. We are sure they can manage without their MP3 players, DS machines etc for a week!
Mobile Telephones
Please do NOT bring a mobile phone - all our sites have public payphones for a short message home if required. Groups normally operate a telephone tree or other suitable notification system to inform parents of safe arrival of the group and if there are any amendments to the timings for the return journey and hence the drop-off time.
Our insurance is unlikely to cover the loss/theft of a mobile phone and we are unable to provide secure storage for this or any other type of valuable personal item which is why we strongly advise that they are left behind.
We have found that mobile telephones can spoil the residential experience.
Can you deal with special needs?
All special needs should be clearly notified to your child’s Group Leader at the time of booking. We will make every effort to accommodate all special needs. We need to know about any medication, special diets, food allergies or physical disabilities that your child may have, normally we can cater for just about anyone!
Are there any extra charges?
Our school activity trips are supplied to schools inclusive of full board accommodation, return transport (overseas trips only), travel insurance (unless your school has alternative cover in place), our standard day time activity programme and evening entertainments. Schools will normally factor any 'optional extras' they choose into the cost of the trip at the point of launching it to pupils and parents. This means that the price they quote is the price you pay for the trip.
We provide three wholesome meals a day with fresh fruit and drinks available throughout the day. With that in mind, pupils only really need a very small amount of spending money for food enroute to and from our centre and the odd snack ice cream or souvenir.
Please ensure that any spending money is already changed into Euros prior to departure for a French trip as foreign exchange facillities are few and far between in rural France.
What about insurance?
The cost of our overseas residential activity trips include* personal accident and travel insurance cover for each member of your child's group (except anyone normally resident outside the UK). The insurance policy is valid for trip departures between 1st January and 31st December.
Further and full details including the complete policy wording are available to view or download below.
* On occasion schools may choose to opt out of Rockley's inclusive policy, therefore parents should check with the group leader before making any claim to ensure they follow correct claims procedure.
What about safety?
Safety is our number one priority here at Rockley. Full details of our safety management procedures are available via the Teachers resources area of this site, however here are just a few things you may be interested in.
All our locations have been chosen for their suitability for the activities in question which means your child will experience the best possible introduction to the outdoor activities chosen by their school.
We are full members of BAHA (The British Activity Holidays Association) and are inspected annually for compliance with their code of practice, in addition, we are inspected each year as part of our recognition by the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) for the tuition of sailing, windsurfing and power boating. Our Rockley Point and Poole Park centres are AALA (Adventure Activities Licensing Authority) licensed as part of a statutory scheme in the UK. In France, our centres are licensed by the DDJS (Departement de Jeunesse et de Sport) as required by local legislation.
All our centres, in the UK and France, have been awarded the LOtC Quality Badge and Adventuremark accreditation.
If you have any concerns or questions in respect of your childs trip, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
What travel documentation do we need?
Some schools choose to travel to our French centres using group passports, whereas others will ask parents to arrange individual passports for their children.
The group leader will advise you of any documentation requirements and any procedure put in place to collect these prior to departure. However, in the event that your child is asked to arrange their own passport, please be aware that this must have at least 6 months remaining validity from the date of your intended return to the UK.
Where necessary please apply for your passport in plenty of time. Those children applying for their first adult passport will be required to attend an identification interview and the process can take up to six weeks with no fast track alternative available.
Details of the Home Office Identity and Passport Service can be found on our downloads and links pages.
At the time of writing and as a UK resident you do not require a passport to visit our centre in Poole!
As a British citizen, resident in the UK, your child is entitled to any medical treatment which becomes necessary, free or at a reduced cost, when temporarily visiting a European Union (EU) country. Only treatment provided under the state scheme is covered. However, to obtain treatment your child will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which you can get, free of charge by completing an online application or a form available from your nearest post office. For details of how to make an online application, please visit our downloads and links page.
Is our money safe?
In accordance with The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992, all pupils and accompanying adults booking with Rockley Adventure, part of Rockley Watersports Ltd, are fully protected for the initial deposits and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your trip due to the insolvency of Rockley Watersports Ltd.
This protection is provided by way of an insurance policy arranged by International Passenger Protection Limited and underwritten by insurers who are members of the Association of British Insurers.
There is no requirement for financial protection of Day Trips and none is provided.
