Entertaining, fun and educational school trips

WHETHER it’s a visit to a local farm or an adventure further afield, school tours are an highlight of the educational year for children of all ages. Everyone remembers the best school tours of their childhood, the fun and excitement of being with classmates outside of school, the noisy journey on the bus and visiting a new attraction or taking part in an activity together.

School tours may only happen once a year but they are a talking point and source of anticipation among children for the entire year, with excitement building as the date draws near.

Often it’s one of the first questions asked by students starting into a new class - where are we going on the school tour this year? And teachers can gain a lot of kudos by arranging a particularly good one.

There are many different types of school tour with a large number of venues catering specifically to educational groups and offering packages that make organising a school trip as stress-free as possible.

You have activities that combine sheer fun with athletic exercise such as water parks, outdoor pursuits centres, climbing walls or bowling alleys.

Children love sporting-related tours and parents and teachers are happy in the knowledge that they’re engaging in healthy activity and learning new skills. Some activities may even inspire a love of a new sport.

Then there are excursions involving interaction with animals such as a zoo or open farm and also activity gardens which allow children to spend hours connecting with the natural world, contributing to their wellbeing.

Visits to heritage parks and cultural sites provide young visitors with a chance to experience history up close and personal, allowing them to absorb fascinating facts without even realising they are learning.

For children, the school tour is a welcome escape from the routine of the classroom but it’s more important than that.

The beauty of a good school tour is that while it’s fun and memorable, it’s also educational, imparting knowledge and improving social and physical skills in the best possible way.