Preparing for Autumn Activities.

This week I have been preparing for our visitors from South Africa. We have two teachers from Pelican Park Primary School in Cape Town visiting Moorside. This is a long-standing link for which there have been previous staff travels. In fact, one of the teachers visiting in September has been with us before.

One thing to consider when setting up partnerships where travel will be included is hosting. On this occasion both teachers will be staying with me. This is partly because my husband, who also works at Moorside, will be travelling to Pelican Park in October. As a staff we have discussed the fact that hosting will be expected if you are selected to travel to a partner school.

As part of the preparation for hosting, I have this week sent a letter of invitation to support the visa applications. This needs to be done with plenty of notice. Details required are the hosts name and address as well as the purpose of the visit, presented on our school headed paper.

As our African link is a trilateral partnership, also involving a school in Namibia, there will be a number of people to host during the October visit to Cape Town. We have decided as a school to offer to stay in Bed and Breakfast accommodation to ease hosting pressures on our partners.

Some grants obtained through the British Council to some countries allow for hotel fees. Some, however, leave little spare to do this. It does give a more real experience if you can stay with a host family. Be sure to take British gifts with you for your hosts.