St. Nathy's School Policies - Effective: September 2010

SCHOOL TRIPS & TOURS

GUIDELINES FOR SPECIFIC TOURS / ACTIVITIES

EXCHANGE TRIPS

1. The success of an exchange trip depends largely on good relationships and communications with the partner school.

2. School exchanges differ from other trips abroad in that students will spend most of their time with host families and are, therefore, not always under the direct supervision of school staff.

3. The group leader should remember that host families will not be subject to Irish law.

4. Students must be made aware of behavioural expectations agreed with the host family. The following should be ensured by the group leader:

4.1 A good personal knowledge of the host school and its environs.
4.2 Satisfactory ‘pairing’ arrangements. The partner school should inform the host family of any special, medical or dietary needs of their guests, age and gender.
4.3 Matches should be appropriate.
4.4 Parents, students and the host school should be clear about the arrangements for collecting and distributing students to families, and for transporting students throughout the exchange.
4.5 The principal should retain a list of all the students involved and their family names, addresses and telephone numbers
4.6 Students living with host families should have easy access to their teachers, usually by telephone.
4.7 Parents should be made aware that their children will be living with host families and will not always be under direct teacher supervision.

5. The group leader should ensure that host families are thoroughly vetted including criminal background checks insofar as these are available. The group leader should, as a minimum requirement, seek assurances from the partner school as to host family suitability.

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