Dunfield House Year 2
Sunday 24th April
We had a really good, straight forward journey to Dunfield House and arrived about 5.15pm. The children helped each other to unload the luggage from the coach and then it was straight into the dining hall for a meal of fish fingers, mashed potato and baked beans followed by jam sponge and custard for dessert.
The children were then shown where their rooms were and they had a fire drill practise. Then came the exciting part of making the beds and unpacking their suitcases! They worked so well together to put the fitted sheets on and the duvet covers. It was evident they had been practising at home so thank you parents!!
As dusk was approaching we all went exploring in the grounds, spotting bunny rabbits, the stream, the adventure playground, the tree hit by lightning, sheep and a wood. As we neared the end of the walk the house came back into view all lit up, a lovely welcoming sight.
Hot chocolate and a delicious shortbread biscuit ended an exciting afternoon and evening and Mrs Grace read the children a bed time story. Lots of whispering and excited giggling were then heard for the next few hours but all was quiet by 11.30pm.
Monday 25th April
The children all had a good nights sleep with no-one waking up till the birds were singing and the sheep bleating, about 6.15, although one room did say they had woken up at 5.30 to tidy their room!!! A room inspection was carried out at 8am whilst the children played on the terrace in the morning sunshine. A huge breakfast of cereal, toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, waffles, fruit and yoghurt gave the children a much needed boost after their late night and their first music session followed soon after.
During the first music session the children were altogether, including Ulverley School and they had lots of fun learning playground games - songs with actions and partner work, keeping in time with a rhythm whilst singing as well.
After this, the children were allowed some free time outside - some chose to play football on the football pitch, some chose to explore in the wood, the adventure playground proved popular as well as playing chase alongside the stream and over the little bridges. It was lovely to watch them!
Mr Salt and Miss Carter, the music teachers from the Music Service then took a group each, one group learning African songs accompanied by African drumming and notes played on the Xylophones and the other group doing some drama work based on a walk through the jungle.
Over a lunch of Cottage pie, beans and carrots the children shared with each other what they had been doing in their music session. A popular dessert of Arctic roll went down nicely.
After lunch the children swapped groups and learnt some different African songs and created a different piece of drama work. Then the time came that they had all been waiting for - swimming! Again the children were put into 2 groups and then swapped activities, so all the children went swimming for over half an hour and also sat and did some sketching of the wonderful countryside that they could see from the terrace. Some children also helped to collect firewood for the evening campfire.
All that energy used up by swimming gave all the children a big appetite and the cheese and tomato pizza and chips that was served was very quickly demolished as well as seconds and third helpings!!! Their faces lit up when they heard it was chocolate sponge and chocolate custard for pudding! This was also demolished in minutes with many children then choosing to finish their meal with a piece of fruit.
To burn some of the food consumed and to tire them out a little bit more, the children put on their coats and wellies and went for a walk across the fields and to have a paddle in the stream. A campfire awaits their return where songs will be sung and toasted marshmallows will be consumed - if they have room for them that is!!
It will then be up to their rooms to get ready for bed and then cosy up in the lounge for hot chocolate, a biscuit and a bedtime story. A perfect way to end a fun filled busy day.
The weather has been so kind to us so far, with only a few showers this morning and some warm sunshine on and off, hoping that it stays dry for the campfire and the rest of our stay in this beautiful setting.
Some things we heard the children say after they had only been a short while :
"This is just the best place ever!"
"I want to stay here forever"
" Mrs Evans, do you know what I'm going to call Dunfield? Home"
" Wow! It's awesome"
The children have been an absolute credit to our school so far! Beautiful manners at mealtimes, trying new food and enjoying it, being kind friends to each other and having fun!
