First Travel Solutions

Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter. We hope you find it informative and useful.

We’ll start by telling you who we are and what we do!

First Education & School Travel is part of FirstGroup Plc, the UK’s largest surface transport company carrying 2.7 million passengers every day on its trains, service buses and through its yellow school bus initiative.

Our Education & School Travel team specialise in providing and managing a one stop shop of fully inclusive, value for money outdoor education residential and day visits for schools. We offer courses in The Lake District, Peak District, Wales and the South of England to name but a few, each covering a range of subjects including History, Geography, Drama & Performing Arts, P.E (PLTS) and Outdoor Activities.

Our approach to managing school trips and residential visits is unique, all of our package costs include:

Transport: Department for Transport compliant travel to and from school

Accommodation and meals: working with partners who provide suitable and secure accommodation and high quality and nutritional meals

Activities: experienced and qualified staff to deliver fun, and exciting activities

Free leader places:1 free leader place for every 12 paying pupils

Child Protection peace of mind: our partners work to strict Child Protection and safeguarding policies and all staff are screened for suitability to work with young people

Health & Safety peace of mind: all buildings, sites and activities are fully risk assessed with copies available for inspection

Flexible course length: programmes ‘off the shelf’ or tailored to suit your exact requirements

Administration services: A dedicated bookings coordinator to work with you to reduce the amount of time spent dealing with paperwork

Pre-trip planning visit: group leaders are encouraged to visit their chosen venue in advance of their trip. This visit offers an opportunity to meet the team on-site and to discuss course content and plan the finer detail.

Phew, I bet you’re thinking “Do they do all of that”? Well, we think that we offer a no fuss, less hassle service for busy teachers, but, don’t just take our word for it, please read the feedback below from teaching staff that have first hand experience of what we do:

Our Eco-adventure residential was superb in all respects and was one of the most enjoyable that I have led. We have already put a repeat visit into our programme for 2012.Thanks for your support with all the arrangements.

This level of support must be a huge help for beginners at organising residentials, and saved me, even as an old hand at such things, a lot of work".

Burnage Media Arts College.

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Organising a trip through First Travel Solutions was a very straightforward and  simple procedure. Throughout the booking process we were supported to a high standard by a dedicated contact that was both helpful in every way and knowledgeable and reassuring regarding the Centre and our chosen programme. This support was consistent from the conception through to  delivery.

That First Education & School Travel offered a package which included everything – food, accommodation, activities and travel – added to the ease with which we were able to organise this visit and helped to keep the price low giving the school and students extremely good value for money.

The LA approval process was very quick and smooth given the ‘joined-up’ approach adopted through First (Education & School Travel) partnership..

Beacon Hill School

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Dear First (Education & School Travel)

This is to thank you for all your support in organising our P.E. Outdoor Adventure trip earlier this month.

Your advertising said we would be allocated a personal organiser from the start – and we certainly struck gold with you both! It is so refreshing to work with an organisation that will go the extra mile to provide excellent service and personal care for its clients - and you certainly did that for us!

I was thrilled with the level of professionalism you provided. Your responses were prompt and considerate and you went over and above expectations to help us. I cannot thank you enough for making the whole organising experience a pleasurable one for me, and consequently for the whole group.

 We will certainly be using your services again in the future – please book us in provisionally for next year for a start!

I shall be recommending your organisation to all my contacts and anyone else who may be in the market for trips!

You did exactly what it said on the tin – and more!

Many thanks once again

Assistant SENCo

Bishop Douglass School

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During our visit in April, staff were fantastic, I could not fault the service provided by Whitby Abbey House Youth Hostel and First Travel Solutions and have already booked again for next year!

Teaching staff, Welbeck Primary School

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If you are looking for a residential visit for 2012 – 2013 why not contact us for a friendly chat?

For more information and to see our range of residential trips, checkout our website: www.firsttravelsolutions.com/education

Or call our friendly bookings team on

0844 854 2561