Planning your first school residential can feel like a big responsibility – but it doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right partner by your side, it can become one of the most rewarding experiences of your teaching career.

At Manor Adventure, we’ve helped thousands of first-time trip leaders organise successful, stress-free residentials. Our goal is simple: we handle the details so you can focus on your pupils.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to making the process easy from start to finish, but as always, we are just a phone call away!

1. Choose the Right Provider

The foundation of a smooth, worry-free residential is a reliable, experienced provider.

At Manor Adventure, every school is supported by a dedicated contact who guides you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from:

• One personal administrator for your booking
• All-in-one planning covering accommodation, meals, activities, and risk assessments
• Clear timelines and planning documents to keep everyone on track

We take care of the organisation so you can focus on your pupils.

2. Get Senior Leadership and Governors on Board Early

Before launching to parents or pupils, it’s important to have your SLT and governors fully behind your choice.

We make this easy by providing:

• Detailed safety and safeguarding documentation
• Transparent pricing and rebooking data
• Curriculum links to demonstrate educational value

If needed, our team can help you prepare, join a virtual call with your staff team or even deliver a presentation to governors, giving your proposal extra confidence and clarity.

3. Launch With Confidence

A well-planned launch reassures parents and inspires pupils. To help you communicate clearly, we offer:

• A presentation to your parents and pupils
• Customisable letters and parent presentation slides
• Engaging videos and launch materials
• Support with Q&A sessions or information evenings

We’re here to help from day one  and parents will immediately see their children are in safe hands.

4. Keep Communication Clear and Timely

Good communication keeps everything running smoothly. Together, we’ll:

• Set payment schedules and reminders
• Manage dietary and medical information
• Finalise rooming and transport plans

Because you have one consistent contact at Manor Adventure, there’s never confusion about who to ask for help.

5. Delegate and Involve Your Team

You don’t have to do everything yourself. Successful trips are built on shared responsibility.

We help you plan roles such as:

• A teacher in charge of medical information
• Another managing behaviour and wellbeing
• A finance contact overseeing payments

This spreads the workload and ensures everything runs smoothly.

6. What We Do During Your Stay to Keep Things Stress-Free

Once you arrive, our on-site team ensures the trip runs smoothly from morning until night – so teachers can focus on supporting their pupils and enjoying the experience too.

Here’s what makes it genuinely stress-free:

• All activities are led by mature, experienced instructors
• All staff live on site, ensuring help is available 24/7
• A duty manager and first-aid-trained instructor are always on call
• Three freshly cooked meals per day, with all dietary needs catered for
• Evening outdoor pursuits and entertainment fully organised
• Teachers’ wellbeing considered – hot drinks, en-suite rooms, and time to unwind

You’re free to focus on pastoral care, encouragement, and making memories – knowing your pupils are safe and supported at every moment.

With 24/7 support, on-site management, and fully trained teams, you’ll always have help at hand – and plenty of time to enjoy seeing your pupils thrive.

7. Reflect, Celebrate, and Share

After the trip, take a moment to celebrate what you’ve achieved. A successful residential builds:

• Pupil confidence and teamwork
• Stronger relationships across your class
• Teacher confidence for future trips

We’ll send you feedback materials and support your next booking to make planning even easier next time.

In Summary

Your first school residential doesn’t have to be daunting. With Manor Adventure, you’ll have a trusted partner from start to finish – a team who knows the challenges teachers face and works tirelessly to make the process simple, structured, and rewarding.

From paperwork to paddleboarding, we’re here to help every step of the way. You’ll return to school with happy pupils, new confidence, and the knowledge that everything was taken care of.

With over 30 years of experience and a 93% rebooking rate, Manor Adventure is here to make your residential safe, smooth, and truly stress-free.