Choosing a English summer camp for kids and teens can be difficult. And it's very important for a young person's first experiences of learning English away from home to be positive.
That's why it's important to look at the details of a school, such as accreditation, supervision and safeguarding, as well as logistics - where and when is the course? Values are and education style are important too - does the school look welcoming, inclusive and responsible?
At best, students will return home more confident using English, as well as healthy and refreshed having had lots of new experiences and made new friends.
Whatever type of course you choose, make sure the school is accredited.
Here are some other questions for parents, teachers and agents to consider before choosing an English language summer course:
An important first step when you are looking for an English language course is checking for accreditation. Accreditation is a quality assurance from an independent organisation. It means you can trust the language school and be sure that there will be a good level of teaching and care.
The main accreditation scheme for English language schools in the UK is Accreditation UK. Accreditation UK is run by the British Council in partnership with English UK, the national association of English language schools in the UK.
Accredited schools are inspected every four years and may receive surprise visits and checks at anytime in between. Inspectors check that the school is managed effectively, that teachers' are qualified and work well with pupils, that the premises are safe and well-equipped, and that students are well cared for.
Schools need to meet or exceed the agreed quality standards in order to be accredited. The scheme is voluntary and not all English language schools are accredited.
So if a school has the "Accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK" logo, you know that it meets a high standard of teaching and care.
Only accredited schools, like English Country Schools, are allowed to display this mark.
Membership of the Young Learners special interest group of English UK is voluntary and indicates that an organisation takes its responsibilities to young learners seriously, over and above the requirements of British Council accreditation.
Members agree to continually evaluate and improve standards of safety, welfare and child protection and to enhance procedures and standards for staff selection, recruitment, and performance of all adults working with children.
Only members of Young Learners English UK can use this logo on their website.
Child safeguarding is about making sure a language school or other business is safe for children and young people. A safeguarding policy is a detailed document that explains all the steps the organisation takes to keep people under the age of 18 safe and looked after. It should also cover what they will to do if there are concerns about a child's wellbeing.
It is important that you choose a school that is committed to keeping children safe. Schools that are accredited by the British Council must meet high standards of child protection.
If you can't find a safeguarding policy on their website, ask to see it.
There are two main types of accommodation for young learners studying English in the UK - residential accommodation on a campus and homestay in a local person's house. It's important to choose the one most suited to your child's age, personality and needs.
With homestay accommodation, the student lives in a local person's home near their school. Whereas on a residential English language course everyone lives together at the school. Many parents think that a child that stays in an English home will automatically hear and learn more English. In reality things are not so simple.
Homestay can be a great opportunity to practise everyday English and connect with local life and the diversity of people and cultures in the UK. Staying alone like this works well for confident young people who are at ease navigating the local area and spending their time freely after class.
Reputable schools will work hard to ensure homestay hosts provide a comfortable space, healthy food and interesting activities, as well as providing lots of English practice. But of course everyone is different and hosts will vary in personality, interests and time to hold conversations with pupils. Homes will also vary in comfort, facilities and location.
During a residential English language course, pupils live, eat and and learn at the school.
With purpose built residential schools, it is easier to guarantee standards, and facilities are generally better too. At ECS for example, there is professional catering, cosy and uniform bedrooms, as well onsite facilities such as a swimming pool, sports fields, games and cinema rooms they can enjoy together.
Leaving the school is usually on supervised trips and excursions, so there may be a little less freedom and contact with the local community is usually more limited. Instead students socialise more with other people on the course from different countries and cultures. This means it is especially important that there is good mix of nationalities/ languages so pupils speak lots of English with each other.
English Country Schools is a residential summer camp. Learn more about our countryside campus.
The more students have to use English, the better for their language development and confidence.
That is why a greater variety of primary languages is important: if pupils don't share another language, they will use English to speak socially as well as in class.
For many people, especially younger pupils, spending time and talking with a group of children on residential courses helps them to feel more comfortable and likely to join in. Interacting in international groups is a great way to learn about different countries and cultures too.
Consider asking questions like: does the school accept groups from any one country? How many students who speak the same language will be attending at the same time?
Don’t be satisfied with vague assurances, ask for exact numbers. And remember that some languages are spoken across many different countries, such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
At ECS we limit the number of same-language speakers to five girls and five boys in each age group.
For young learners, the most popular time of year to join an English language course in the UK is during the summer. This coincides both with school holidays for many children and the best weather.
It is also important to find out whether students arrive and depart weekly, or all together at the beginning and end of the course. Weekly arrivals/departures are convenient but can also introduce instability into lessons and friendships. It's easier to structure courses with a proper beginning, middle and end when students arrive and depart on the same date.
At ECS we have two arrival and departure dates over a four week course. This means everyone is together on the same course for at least two weeks, allowing pupils to settle in and get to know eachother at the same time.
Language schools are located right across the UK in different types of area - in towns and cities, in the countryside and by the sea. These different locations will shape the course and the student experience.
Would your child like to be in a bustling city with shops and restaurants near by? Or would they respond better to open green spaces and lots of time outdoors in the countryside?
Cities offer interesting cultural activities, live music, diverse cuisines and good transport connections. They can also be loud, busy and overwhelming. You need to be careful navigating busy roads and traffic, and be more cautious with your belongings.
The countryside is peaceful and quiet, with clean air and greater freedom to roam without concerns about your personal belongings or getting lost. For some people it is too quiet and you have to travel to local towns and cities to visit museums, galleries and shopping centres.
If you prefer a countryside school, be sure to check how to get there. Will pupils be collected and dropped off at a convenient train station or airport? Are there varied and interesting places to visit in the locality? Are excursions included in the price?
ECS summer English language camp takes place on a large countryside campus. We meet pupils at London train stations and airports just two hours away, and arrange a variety of trips to local towns and sites.
Students of different ages have different needs and interests. So it's important that you choose a school that caters to each age group appropriately, from language lessons to social activities to accommodation.
You may feel more comfortable choosing a school that focuses on children and teenagers, and specialises in young learner education.
If the school accepts young children, e.g. from 7 or 8 years old, is there someone to look after them? This might be a house parent who makes sure they wash, change clothes regularly, eat well and get to activities and to bed on time.
Different age groups require different levels of supervision, freedom and challenge. And pupils engage more when topics, learning materials and daily schedules that are tailored to them.
Whereas ECS lessons for younger pupils include more songs and stories, teenagers take on research and discuss topical issues. Separate sports and activities both ensure safety and avoid discouraging younger children with unfair competition.
At ECS we split our pupils into two or three age groups depending on numbers
Our students are on holiday with friends, old and new, in another country – they are not likely to be interested by English language lessons that they could easily receive at home.
To make sure your child or teen has a full and enriching learning experience, look for language courses that use up-to-date teaching materials and appropriate technology, as well as varied and interesting ways of learning.
At ECS we 'bridge the gap' between holiday and learning through the project out of the classroom and educational workshops, such as a course magazine to provide a focus for written work.
Find out more about English lessons and educational workshops at ECS.
During their summer holidays, young people want to do more than only learn English in the classroom. They are full of energy, curiosity and creativity. So it's important for pupils to have time to do other things during their English summer camp.
If you are looking at holiday camps, be sure to look for what activities are included in the course.
At ECS we know a variety of activities are good for learning. And that language learning does not only happen in the classroom. Including a diverse range of activities, sports and trips helps keep young people's energy levels up, develops confidence and provides lots of opportunities to use English language naturally.
We strive for a holistic type of education we call Real Learning. We include a range of sports, workshops, social activities and excursions in our course.
Good communication is essential while you child is away at a summer camp in another country.
Consider asking the school how they will keep you informed about your child's progress. Maybe there is an online system or regular email reports? Is there a number you can call if you have any questions or concerns about your child? For example, they may show signs of homesickness on the phone to you and you would like to hear how they are doing from the ECS team.
And good communication means listening too. Is the school interested in input, ideas and feedback from staff, pupils and their parents or carers?
At ECS we produce weekly reports for parents, check on our pupils through a settling in survey and gather feedback from both pupils and parents at the end of the course.
Finally, it is important to not only see what the school says about their courses and student experience, but also what parents and pupils think.
To help with this, look for a feedback or testimonials page on their website. Do they show comprehensive feedback and can you see a full breakdown of responses or only the results and quotes the school has chosen to promote?
Another great way to get real insight into the school's culture and practices is speaking to other people who have chosen the school. Ask the school if they can put you in touch with other parents who can share their views and answer your questions
View feedback from ECS parents and pupils or talk to a fellow parent before you book.
