When should I contact my childs school?

Before sending us your application form, you should have contacted your child's school who must be aware of your intentions. Print these pages and give a spare copy to the head teacher to read. Do likewise with any other documents that you receive whilst preparing your child's exchange. On the whole, head teachers and class teachers are open minded and will listen to what you propose and will assist in helping you make the exchange.

I have been told that my child will lose their school place if they do an exchange.

Some head teachers are concerned about your child losing their place in an oversubscribed school. When your child goes to France the school may keep him/her on their register as he/she will be on an 'educational visit'. ALLEF has a letter from DfES confirming this which can be copied to schools if needed.

What if the head teacher refuses to take the exchange child?

DfES have confirmed that head teachers make their own decisions as to whether or not a child can be admitted. In foundation and voluntary controlled schools there is no LEA involvement, but in community and voluntary aided schools, the school will need to notify the LEA.

Teachers are usually very pleased to have a child from another country in their class. It stimulates the pupils and offers an excellent opportunity to find out a little about another country. Some teachers are wary about a number of issues but ALLEF can put them in touch with other head teachers who have had exchanges to help allay concerns. Please ask us for information if needed.

What class should the exchange child be in?

We ask that the child should be placed in a class with the children of his or her own age (or possibly a year younger, but never more than this). The two children (yours and the exchange child) should not be placed next to each other in class so that the new child can get to know other children.

It is not for us to tell teachers what they can and cannot do. However, we would say that it is a big mistake to speak or write in the native language so as to 'help' the child. Division and multiplication are not set out in the same way in France and Germany and handwriting looks different as well.

Sometimes teachers are 'wary' of having a foreigner in their class. However once the child has arrived these fears quickly disappear and they end up being extremely pleased with the experiment. We now have enough experience to reassure parents and teachers that children catch up very quickly on returning home, more quickly than you would think. They are motivated children and the exchange will help them recognise the work that needs to be done to catch up.

How will an exchange work with an IndependentSchool?

In the experience of other parents, if a child misses 6 months of school, they continue to pay the fees as if their child were at school. Thus when the French child arrives there is nothing extra to pay. The important thing is to talk with the head teacher early so that you can work out the most amicable arrangements.

The DfES website covers statutory issues relating to education