Environment and Education Centre
VISITS TO AFFINITY WATER’S EDUCATION CENTRE
- Summary of what youneed to do prior to the visit
Below is a checklist of things that need to be organised prior to your visit:
Checklist / Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) – you have read the T&Cs relating to your visit (sent with your booking confirmation)
Travel arrangements – you have made your own travel arrangements
Location – you have checked the location map carefully and planned your route and travel accordingly (please note there are hundreds of other Affinity Water sites)
Lunch – you have told the students and adults to bring their own lunch according to the lunchbox challenge guidelines (there are no catering facilities/shops on site)
Water Aid donations – you have askedthe students and adults to bring a voluntary contribution (1p to £1) for Water Aid (ifappropriate)
Child and adult register – you have put together a child and adult register on the Affinity Water template provided and have two printed copies to bring with you on the day of your visit
Charges – you are aware of our pricing and invoicing system, as well as the minimum charge
Visiting numbers – you have informed us a minimum of 1 week in advance of any changes to the numbers of visiting students/adults
Additional adult helpers – you have informed us at least 1 week in advance of any adult helpers who need to be on the trip as a result of a child’s disability or special educational need. Please note that you will not be charged for these additional helpers.
Students with disabilities, health related issues or special educational needs –you have spoken to a member of the Education Team to ensure we understand the needs of specific individuals (if applicable) and agreed appropriate arrangements as necessary
First Aid – you have a minimum of 1 First Aider amongst the visiting adults
Appropriate clothing – you are aware of the nature of the activities and the type of clothing that you need to advise students/adults to wear
The key goals of your trip – you have spoken to a member of the Education Team to ensure we understand the key goals of your trip. Please note, a member of the Education Team will contact you 2-7 days before your visit.
Additional checklist for Water Treatment Works (WTWs) tours /
Photo ID for adults – you have informed all adult visitors about the type of photo ID that they need to bring on the day of the visit
WTWs safety – you have identified and informed the Education Centre staff of any students who have disabilities, health related issues or special educational needs
- How do we get there?
The Education Centre’s address is Windmill Lane, Bushey Heath, WD23 1NB.
Our location map can be downloaded from our website:
Important note if travelling by coach: it is essential that you approach our wooden gated entrance on Windmill Lane from Bushey High Road. Our entrance is designed to allow easy access for the coach from this direction. If approached from the opposite direction (via Clay Lane) it is not possible to make the turn into our site.
- Health and Safety
Are all activities risk assessed?
A comprehensive risk assessment has been undertaken of the Education Centre and the activities. Copies of the relevant Risk Assessments for your booked activities will be sent to you when the visit is confirmed.
Can I visit the Education Centre and site before our visit?
We welcome all pre-visit tours of the site, in order to assess the journey time and route, and/or the centre’s facilities. A pre-visit tour is highly recommended for groups travelling by public transport and/or on foot. All pre-visit tours must be booked in advance as there is not always a member of staff available to accommodate a site tour.
Are Affinity Water teaching staff DBS checked?
All the Education Centre staff have undergone enhanced DBS checks (formerly CRB) and are issued with DBS clearance numbers. These details are held by the Education Team and our Human Resources Department based at our Head Office in Hatfield. If you require confirmation prior to our staff teaching your students, please contact the Education Team in the first instance on 02084205864 , or the HR department on 01707 268111. All staff carry Company Photo Identification.
Do we need to bring a first aider?
On all visits, decisions on First Aid provision will remain with the school’s dedicated First Aider. Please ensure that at least one of the visiting adults is a First Aider and that our staff are aware who this person is on arrival. The Education Centre Staff will take a supporting role with First Aid. All accidents, however minor, must be reported and recorded.
Do I need to let you know about students with disabilities, health issues or special educational needs?
To ensure that you and your students get the most out of the day and remain safe at all times, it is essential that you inform us of any special educational needs that the students have, as well as any mobility / sensory / cognitive impairments, health related issues and/or other disabilities.
Specialist provisions might need to be made and some activities may need to be adapted, which we will discuss and agree with you prior to your visit.
Do I need to bring a register of students and adults?
In order to comply with our Fire Regulations, please provide 2 copies of the register (provided by the Education Centre with your confirmation email) listing all visiting adults and students.
Any information that we receive from you, will only be used for the purpose of the visit and in line with ‘The Data Protection Act’.
What are the student supervision arrangements during the visit?
During arranged activities,Education Centre Staff will direct students and adults. Any problems concerning student behaviour will be referred to accompanying school staff. The parts of the site open to visitors will be made clear during the introductory talk. At all other times, the students remain the responsibility of the accompanying school staff.Some accompanying adults/staff must stay with the students in thepicnic area and/or classroom during the lunch and/or break periods.
What should visitorswear on their visit?
Most of the activities will be based outside so we strongly recommend that you check the weather forecast and advise the students and adults to dress accordingly. Please inform all visitors to wear sensible, enclosed flat shoes (trainers or wellies are best) and bring a hat (in summer and winter), spare sweatshirt/jumper, a waterproof coat and a change of shoes in wet weather. We have a cloakroom, so having too many layers is less of a problem than not enough!
- Education Centre Facilities
Which age groups do you cater for?
The Affinity Water Education Centre is suitable for students in Key Stages 1 to 5.
What are the Education Centre opening times?
The Education Centre is open between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. School visits take place between 10am and 2:30pm.
How many students can you accommodate?
The Affinity Water Education Centre is a day centre, with a maximum capacity of 60 students per day. However, please be aware that it is not always possible to accommodate 60 students depending on the nature of the activity and staff availability. Please contact us for more detailed information.
Do you cater for students with disabilities and other specialist needs?
The Education Centre is accessible for wheelchair users. We welcomeindividuals with disabilities and other specialist needs. Please contact us for further information and read section 3 above, about the health and safety of our visitors.
What catering facilities do you have on site?
There are no cafeteria/vending facilities at the Centre although tea and coffee are provided for adults accompanying school groups. If you are visiting for a whole day, all visitors will need to bring a packed lunch. There are cloakroom facilities where packed lunches can be left throughout the day. It is advisable that all groups bring a drink no matter how short the visit. Water bottles can be topped up on site if necessary.
What is the Lunchbox Challenge?
We challenge YOU to bring a lunch that leaves NO landfill waste at all! At the end of lunchtime, we will weigh the contents of the general waste bin and divide that by the number of visitors in you group (including adults!). If you leave us with 10g per person or less, we will award your school a bronze certificate. Waste of 5g and 1g or less will result in a silver or gold certificate respectively and, if you leave us with no landfill waste at all, your school will be added to our zero waste wall of fame!
Your visit is an ideal opportunity to introduce how easy it is to minimise the amount of rubbish we create everyday. It might also encourage the students to introduce a similar system at school.
Information, including hints and tips for making a sustainable packed lunch for our lunch box challenge can be downloaded from our website:
What resources do we need to bring with us on our visit?
Unless other arrangements have been made, all equipment is provided.
Is there any where I can store personal possessions?
We have a limited number of lockers in our office for visiting adults to use. However, Affinity Water Limited cannot accept any liability for possessions brought to or left at the centre.
Are there smoking facilities at the Education Centre?
Affinity Water operates a strict no smoking policy across all of its sites and premises.
Affinity Water Education Services supports WaterAid
We invite all of our visitors (adults and students) to each make a voluntary contribution to Water Aid, between 1p and £1.
WaterAid is an international non governmental organisation that transforms lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities. Affinity Water has supported WaterAid’s mission to transform lives by improving access to safe water, taps and toilets in some of the world’s poorest communities since 1981.
Further information can be downloaded from our website:
- Use of audio and visual recording devices
Can we use our mobile phones and devices during the visit?
We kindly request that all adults’ and students’ mobile phones are switched off during activities, and only switched on during break and lunch times.
Can we take photos and videos during the visit?
Although we allow photos to be taken during the visit to the Education Centre, videoing of all activities is strictly prohibited. It is the responsibility of the visiting school staff to adhere to the school’s policy regarding the use of images and data.
Please note that auditory / visual recording equipment and mobile phones cannot be taken on water treatment works (WTWs) tours under any circumstances, in line with Company security policies. You will be asked to store your mobile phones, cameras and any other recording equipment in the Education Centre Office or in a secure locker, before your tour of the WTWs.
- Tours of the Water Treatment Works (WTWs)
Who can tour the Water Treatment Works?
The Water Treatment Works tours are only available for students aged 7+ with a pre-booked school, college or university group. Please note that private / individual tours of the WTWs are not permitted.
Do I need to let you know about students with disabilities, health conditions or any special educational needs when touring the WTWs?
The health and safety of all our visitors is our number one priority.
As the WTWs is an operational industrial site, it is not accessible for wheelchair users; alternative activities and arrangements will be made for these individuals.
It is essential that we are informed of visitors who have physical, sensory or mobility impairments as well as any health related issues or special educational needs, so that appropriate arrangements can be made in advance of your visit, if required.
Are there any security and safety arrangements in place when touring the WTWs?
All adult visitors must present a current photo ID (i.e. passport or photo driving licence) to an Education Centre representative before being allowed to accompany the group around the WTWs.
A register (using the Affinity Water template provided) of all students and adults who will be touring the WTWs must be printed and given to an Education Centre representative before being allowed to tour the WTWs.
As the Water Treatment Works is an operational industrial site, there may be occasions when visits have to be cancelled at the last minute. Unfortunately this is out of our control. An alternative activity will be offered if this is the case. This is an extremely rare occurrence.
Can we take photos and videos during our WTWs tour?
You will be asked to store your mobile phones, cameras and any other recording equipment in the Education Centre Office before your tour of the WTWs. Taking photographs or recordings of any kind at the WTWs is strictly prohibited.
- Costs
How much does the visit cost?
The latest prices for visits to the education centre, as well as our minimum charge can be found on the website:
Do you charge for accompanying adults?
Adult helpers are free of charge up to a ratio of 1:5 for Key Stage 1 and 1:10 for Key Stage 2 and above. Above this ratio, helpers will be charged at the relevant student rate. We are also able to accommodate additional adult carers or 1:1 assistants free of charge, if we are notified in advance.
What if I bring more, or fewer, students and adults than I booked for?
Should there be any additional students or adults who arrive on the day, these individuals will be charged accordingly, unless special arrangements have been made at least 1 week in advance of the visit.
If your visiting group will be smaller than originally booked, please inform us at least 1 week in advance so that you can be invoiced accordingly; otherwise, you will be charged for the number of visitors booked.
How do I pay?
The Education Centre will invoice your organisation at the beginning of the month after your visit. Please do not bring any payment on the day. Please note that the Education Centre is heavily subsidised by Affinity Water Limited and is non-profit making.
Will the school be charged if we cancel the visit?
Unless two weeks clear notice of cancellation is received, the full cost of the visit will be payable.
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Affinity Water Education Centre, Windmill Lane, Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire. WD23 1NB Tel: 020 8420 5864