Class 3 - Plaw Hatch Farm Camp

The Purpose

Chickens, cows, fresh produce, cheese & milk, campfires, singing, hot chocolate, sleeping in tents. Can it get any better than that??
A highlight of Class 3 is a joyful 2-3 night residential trip to a biodynamic farm in East Sussex.
Children get hands-on experience of life on a working farm, including collecting eggs at sunrise, cow milking and gaining an understanding of the workings of farm shop - practicing using money and building on their academics in mathematics and furthering their environmental knowledge and understanding of botany and biology.
This trip also supports children in developing a sense of self, independence, team-work and responsibility.
Our Farm Life
Children get to enjoy the experience of life of a working biodynamic farm in the beautiful countryside of East Sussex.
Just like farmers, we’re up with the sunrise and early to bed! In the day the children get actively involved in:
- Egg collection
- Milking cows
- Organic Cheese & Milk Production
- Animal husbandry
- Vegetable & Fruit farming
- Maths & Economics in the Farm Shop
In addition to ‘farm-specific’ activities, the children work as a ‘campsite family’, helping with vegetable preparation, washing up, firewood gathering and keeping their campsite today.
There’s also games, fun and campfire singing.
The Logistics.

This is the first overnight residential trip that the class enjoys together and is for between two or three nights, depending on the class and farm availability.
Children camp in tents and meals are organised on site by the school team, who may request on-site support from the Class Rep and/or 1-2 additional parents (DBS required).
Facilities are eco-friendly - with compost toilets set up on site by the class/school team.
Tents and camping equipment is organised by the school in collaboration with parents.
Children require their own sleeping bag and sleeping mat (see full kit list below).
The trip usually runs Tues or Weds through to Friday, returning around end of school day.

Class 3 - Plaw Hatch 2023.

Farm Residential FAQs

A full kit list will be sent from the school ahead of the trip however you can anticipate your child needing:
Day Pack: Containing morning and afternoon snacks, water and substantial lunch for Weds to last until the evening meal.
Clothing - please ensure your child will have enough clean clothing for 4 days.
Please label all items with your child’s name.
- Full set of waterproofs
- Warm hat / Sun hat
- Warm jacket
- White sock, t-shirt & shorts to wear under the toga for the Olympic Games on Saturday
- Hiking boots
- Warm socks
- Trainers
- Slip on shoes - eg crocs
- Sunglasses
- Waterproof boots/wellies
- Full length trousers
- Long Sleeved top
- Jumper
- Shorts
- PJ
Camping equipment
- Sleeping mat
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Head torch
- Camping cutlery/Bowl/plate/water bottle
- Wash bag with toothbrush/toothpaste etc
- 2 Towels - quick drying camping towels recommended
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- A book for relaxation time
- Card games
- Small Soft toy if wanted
NB/ Phones and electronic devices are not permitted on camp.
The trip usually takes up 3 school days (Weds-Fri) PLUS Saturday for the event itself.
The class usually travels together with the teacher by train and bus to East Sussex and then enjoy an afternoon hiking in the beautiful South Downs for approximately 4 hours before arriving at the campsite.
Parents need to provide a full packed lunch plus substantial snacks and water in a day-pack for Weds.
Children will receive an evening meal prepared by the parent volunteer team on arrival on Weds evening.
Yes! In fact parent support is essential to enable the smooth running of the camp.
Parent involvement is by liaison with the school trip organiser via the Class Rep.
Transportation Support:
Support is requested from parents to transport camping equipment, luggage and food supplies and to return with any school supplies/camping equipment at the end of the event on Saturday.
Camp Set-Up Support:
Support is requested for additional parents to help the on-site team with camp set-up on the day in advance of the arrival of the Class. This includes setting up tents, kitchen area and digging compost toilets!
On-Site Support: 1-2 parents may be needed on site for the duration of the trip. All parents will need to have a valid/in date DBS certificate registered with the school
For safeguarding and H&S reasons only parents with DBS who are part of the pre-agreed on-site support group are allowed on site during the residential trip.
Preparation Support:
Class parents also support the trip by providing:
- tents and camping equipment
- a collective budget for food.
  This is overseen and organised by the school with support from the Class 3 Rep.
The Olympics Event is an immersive experience and, to ensure well-being, education and enjoyment, of both the both the individual child and the collective class, pupils are expected to remain on site and be part of the event from Weds through to Saturday.
Parents are not able to take pupils off site at will nor to bring them to site individually for any reason without prior formal agreement with the school.
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