Frequently Asked Questions

We recognise that schools won’t know exact numbers at the time of booking, so we will ask for an approximate expected number, and allow a 10% flexibility, so you can adjust your numbers by 10% down at any time prior to 8 weeks before the trip. If your numbers increase please let us know as soon as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you, but this will be subject to availability, and subject to meeting the minimum numbers agreed at the time of booking.

Once you have agreed your dates, you will have up to 14 days to complete and return your booking form, and on receipt of your completed form we will issue a deposit for 25% of the trip costs, to be paid within 14 days of receipt of your booking form. An interim payment of 25% is due 6 months before arrival and the remaining balance of your trip is payable 8 weeks before.

We can hold dates provisionally for up to 14 days, subject to demand and availability, to give you time to launch the trip to parents.  We will send you a parents information guide to help launch the trip and can arrange to attend a parents presentation if this is helpful.

All our activity programmes are tailored for each school to take into account your objectives, budget, group size, age of pupils etc. so do get in touch to discuss your requirements, check availability and for a detailed quote. We recommend booking early to secure your preferred dates, as we take bookings 12-18 months in advance and the peak Summer term in particular fills quickly.

Yes! We welcome any school wishing to have a tour of the site prior to booking.

We can accommodate group sizes of between 30 – 144.

Your activity programme will be shared with you 6-8 weeks prior to your trip, once the payment balance has been received.

Yes, you can reserve a trip over one year in advance by paying a £750 holding fee. This will then be deducted from your first deposit, which is due 9 months before your trip.

No, there’s no additional charge if a child has a one to one.

If you cancel less than 8 weeks before your trip, you’ll lose 25% of the deposit.

For cancellations between 29 and 56 days before arrival, 60% of your trip costs will be payable. For cancellations between 15 and 29 days before arrival, 70% of your trip costs will be payable.

If you cancel 15 days or less before arrival, we will be unable to make any refund.

Yes, all dietary requirements are catered for as long as we are aware of them in advance. A group information and medical form will be provided, to be completed and returned by 8 weeks prior to the trip.

All meals are freshly prepared on site, and include a balance of meat, vegetables, fruit and carbohydrates. Typical meals may include lasagne, curry and pasta Bolognese, all served with salad or vegetables and finished with a tasty dessert!

You can inform us of any dietary requirements by completing the group medical and dietary requirement form, which will be emailed to you 12 weeks prior to the trip. Please ensure this is completed and returned to us at least 6 weeks before your arrival date so we can make all the necessary arrangements.

To support children with diabetes, we provide parents with meal plans before the trip, allowing them to plan ahead and anticipate their child’s needs.

Scales are available at mealtimes to weigh the food and packaging, and an allergen matrix is provided for children and teachers.

We take food safety very seriously. To make sure allergies are catered for safely during mealtimes, we implement a 5-step process:

1. We communicate with schools before the trip to ensure we’re fully prepared and that camp leaders are notified of any allergies.
2. During mealtimes, both the camp leader and lead teacher will be present when food is served to provide an added level of oversight.
3. We use an allergen matrix to double check all food items prior to serving.
4. Meals are served on coloured crockery to ensure that children with allergies or dietary requirements are easily identifiable by all staff members.
5. Appropriate alternative meals and snacks will be offered, which take all dietary needs into consideration.

Yes, we cater for all dietary requirements, as long as we’re made aware of them in advance of the trip. We ask schools and groups to request this information from parents at least 8 weeks prior to the trip and share this with us, so we can ensure we’re fully prepared for your visit.

All accommodation comes with night toilets on camp. There is also night-time motion-sensor lighting which alerts teachers that someone is using the night time toilet.

All Rootd instructors are outdoor first-aid trained. The school will be responsible for appointing a first-aider who will be the first point of contact for any basic first aid.

All Rootd outdoor instructors are DBS checked, first aid trained and have specialised experience in outdoor education as well as all the necessary qualifications for the activities undertaken (archery, bushcraft, etc.).

Most importantly, our team are knowledgeable, remarkable and welcoming.

To meet the needs of SEN children, we offer teachers the opportunity to visit us before the trip, so they can plan ahead and talk to the children about what to expect before they arrive on camp. We also offer children the chance to visit us beforehand, so they can familiarise themselves with the grounds and facilities.

During the trip, our friendly and patient staff will do all they can to support their needs and make sure they get the most out of their trip.

Yes, we have a dedicated Rootd shower block on site with children’s showers and adult-only showers.

Yes, it’s essential that you bring a first aid kit with appropriate contents for the outdoor setting. Please ensure any member of your party requiring medication, including asthma inhalers, brings it with them. Teachers will be responsible for arranging and administering any medication required.

We also ask that you appoint a first aid trained teacher or staff member to respond to minor first aid requirements on the trip.

No, teachers don’t have to share sleeping spaces. In our bell tents, teachers have their own sleeping compartment with a light, bedside table and bed with mattress. In our teacher pods, teachers have their own private room with a shared ensuite and kitchenette.

To meet the needs of SEN children, we offer teachers the opportunity to visit us before the trip, so you can plan ahead and talk to the children about what to expect before they arrive on camp. We also offer children the chance to visit us beforehand, so they can familiarise themselves with the grounds and facilities.

During the trip, our friendly and patient staff will do all they can to support their needs and make sure they get the most out of their trip.

Yes! With the unpredictability of the British weather, we often find that weather in Autumn and even Winter can be perfect for a Rootd Adventure. There are benefits to opting for a residential outside of the summer term, and our instructors tailor activities to suit the weather as much as possible. Our camping village is set up through April-October, and indoor accommodation is available September through to May.

Our locations are situated in the South East of England (Hertfordshire), all easily accessible and within a short distance of both the M1 / M25. All centres have flexible accommodation options including our bell tented villages, offering an authentic under canvas camping experience, or stylish ‘glamping pods’ complete with underfloor heating.

Yes, there will be other schools on site, but not within your school’s bell tent or pod village.

Your school will have exclusive use of the camp facilities and use of the shower block will be allocated to your school at a specific time. The dining area will be booked and used separately by your school during your allotted mealtimes.

All activities will take place within your own school group, and your school will have their own dedicated Rootd team leader who will be with them throughout their stay.

Yes, you should be able to receive calls, messages and emails, although reception can be limited in some areas of the camp. We highly recommend bringing a portable phone charger to keep your battery topped up.

Our standard arrival time is from 10am onwards, and our usual departure time is 13.45 on the day you leave.

Once you’ve booked, you’ll find your exact arrival and departure times on your booking confirmation form. These are set to work with your activities and mealtimes.

Yes, there will be other schools there when you’re on site, but not within your bell tent or pod village.

You will have exclusive use of your camp facilities and use of the shower block at an allotted time. The dining area will be booked and used separately by your school during your allocated mealtimes.

All activities will take place within your own school group, and you’ll have your own dedicated Rootd team leader who will be with you throughout your stay.

We offer a range of accommodation at our Phasels Wood activity camp. We have two bell tent villages, which are ideal for the summer months, and one pod village which is available all year round.

Our bell tents sleep up to 6 children on bunk beds, and the tents are fitted with coir matting flooring, storage and outside lighting. Our pods, which sleep up to 8 children on bunk beds, are heated in the colder months and equipped with lighting, an outdoor coat cupboard and shoe rack.

All accommodation comes with night toilets on camp. There is also night-time motion-sensor lighting which alerts teachers that someone is using the night time toilet.

At Rootd we hold the LOtC Quality badge and are proud to offer Learning Outside the Classroom approved School trips. You can learn more in our blog post about the importance of LOtC for your School trip provider.

All Rootd outdoor instructors are DBS checked, first aid trained and have specialised experience in outdoor education as well as all the necessary qualifications for the activities undertaken (archery, bushcraft, etc.).

Most importantly, our team are knowledgeable, remarkable and welcoming.

All Rootd staff are DBS checked, first aid trained and have the necessary qualifications to teach the activities they lead.

They have also received safeguarding training, food safety training, National Governing Body (NGB) training where appropriate, and they have been signed off in in-house activity training.

In addition, they regularly undergo Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to ensure they’re up to date on the latest guidance and legislation.

You can find out more about their experience here.

A designated Rootd duty contact stays on site overnight and is always on hand to support teachers in case of emergency.

Our tent villages and pod village are fitted with motion sensor lighting for the safety of teachers and children. The teacher tents and pods are positioned next to the children’s accommodation, and night toilets are provided, so no one needs to leave the camp at night.

The centre is not open to members of the public.   There’s a main gate and barrier, which are both closed from 8.30pm in the evening until morning. There’s CCTV at the barrier and at other points throughout the centre, which are monitored by the duty staff manager.

Yes, a thorough risk assessment will be carried out for all activities and accommodation.  Copies of our risk assessments will be emailed to you well in advance of your trip.

Yes, our pods have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, and they have been assessed and approved for fire safety.

During activities, we work to a ratio of 1:15 with Rootd staff members. Our activity groups are a maximum of 15, so this means there is one staff member with each group. We also ask that there is one member of the teaching staff with each activity group.

Outside of the activities, schools are encouraged to follow their own ratio guidelines.

All members of staff are first aid trained, safeguarding trained and food safety trained. Staff are highly vigilant at all times and always put the safety of children first.

The centre is not open to members of the public.   There’s a main gate and barrier, which are both closed from 8.30pm in the evening until morning. There is CCTV at the barrier and at other points throughout the centre. These are monitored by main reception and the duty staff manager when reception is closed.  Rootd staff stay overnight in case of emergency.

Yes, all members of the Rootd staff hold a current and up-to-date enhanced DBS.

Pods have electric sockets. When staying in the bell-tented villages, there will be the option to charge phones in the indoor dining room at meal times. We also recommend that teachers bring a portable charger.

Whilst the activity centre does not have WiFi, it has a good mobile signal (so adults accompanying students can use their mobile data).

We provide 1 free teacher place for every 10 students. (additional teachers are charged at half price). We recognise that some pupils may require additional support and request that schools contact us to discuss individual pupil requirements.

Your group can arrive at 10 am on the first day and leave at 1.45 on the final day.

We provide all accommodation, activities, equipment, instruction, meals (except packed lunch on day 1), so schools benefit from an all-inclusive activity package.

A Rootd Adventure is all about challenging yourself, trying something new, working together, using your imagination and developing a love and appreciation for the great outdoors.

Our instructors work as a team with teachers, and while they take overall responsibility for the planning and delivery of activities, we do expect teachers to get involved as much as possible. There should be a minimum of one teacher per activity at all times.

We find that when teachers get involved in the activities, this helps pupils to get the most out of the experience and it builds bonds that will directly benefit classroom learning.

Yes, you should be able to receive calls, messages and emails, although reception can be limited in some areas of the camp. We highly recommend bringing a portable phone charger to keep your battery topped up.

Yes, you will need to bring bedding for the teacher accommodation. In the teacher tents and pods, you’ll be provided with a camp bed with a fitted sheet. We recommend bringing a warm sleeping bag and pillow, and you may wish to bring an additional blanket for your warmth and comfort.

Yes, please arrange your children into groups for the accommodation before your trip to enable a smooth settling-in process on arrival.