FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Relevant for British and International Families…
Click on the links for more detailed information (pages will open in new windows)
What makes L&E special? (Why should I send my child to your camp?)
Just read what parents and children have had to say about L&E on our Testimonial page to give an idea why L&E is s special.
At L&E, we have a clear motto: ‘Happy Children Thrive’. Combine this with “Harry Potter” esque schools in beautiful countryside locations, friendly staff, a safe and well-supervised environment, stunning activity courses and evening programmes. A personal service is also offered from Sam & Randa Ridgway; from the moment you enquire all the way through to the camps they are there to talk though everything and anything.
Where are the camps?
We have 2 schools that we use, both situated in beautiful countryside locations in the North of England. Malsis School is situated near the beautiful towns of Skipton and Ilkley with easy access to Manchester and Leeds. Aysgarth School is situated in the North Yorkshire countryside near York and Durham. Click here to see our Venues
How long should we come for?
This is a tricky one. It really depends on your child. The questions you should ask yourself when thinking about this are:
i. How old are they?
ii. Have they been away from home before?
iii. What do they want out of camp?
iv. Do they have friends or siblings coming with them?
Most of international children come for 2-3 weeks.
Alternatively please call us. We are very experienced and can usually help you work through the decision so that we make the best decision for your child.
What happens in the evenings?
The evenings are when some of the most exciting activities happen! We have a special evening activity each night. On the opening evening we always kick off with a family BBQ and Ice Breaker Games. This lets children relax and get to know each other. Other evenings we have Theme Nights, Water Slides and Swimming Parties, Movie Nights, Murder Mysteries, Camp Fire Nights and more. Find Out More…
What is the food like?
The food is varied and healthy. Every mealtime each child has a choice of meal. Our main hot meal tends to be at lunchtime to give them the energy needed for the rest of the day. If, for any reason, they do not like the choices we have a pasta and salad bar which is always stocked high!! Fruit, bread and drinks are available all day. Quite often our International students can suggest something from their own country to our chef and he often obliges during their stay with us – get the cook books out! Find Out More…
Where will I sleep?
All our centres have dormitory accommodation. They vary in size from centre to centre but will have between 2 and 8 beds in. Most
have bunk beds, some are lots of single beds (a bit like Harry Potter). There will be somewhere for you to put away your things – a cupboard or some drawers. Most children also bring a duvet cover to make it feel just like home! Find Out More…
What if I’m not feeling 100%?
Every camp has a Matron – this person is usually a nurse and it’s her job to look after everybody’s medicine, do First Aid and generally make sure everyone is feeling ok (she’s a bit like the L&E mum!). You’ll always know where to find her if you need her and she’ll always be happy to see you – even if you just need a hug!
Dr Randa Ridgway (L&E Director) will also be at all camps. She’s a doctor so will always be able to offer advice…
Will I be able to contact home?
Yes. The children will have email, skype and phone access. The Camp Office will also have a telephone number to access 24 hours a day. We know that being away from home can be a bit scary, but we absolutely promise that we’ll do everything we can to make sure the only reason you have to miss home is because you’ll want to tell them all about your time with L&E.
Can I come with a friend? Will we be in same dorm?
If you come with a friend you can ask to be in the same dorm. Dorms are sorted by age so if you’re 11 you will be in a dorm with about six or seven other 11 year olds. If a large group of friends come together you probably wouldn’t all be in the same dorm. Dorms are always either all boys or all girls.
Don’t worry if you’re coming by yourself, most people do come to L&E by themselves. We’re very good at making sure everyone gets to know each other quickly. No one ever gets left out at L&E.
Who are the children?
We have children from many different countries, from all races, religions and cultures. It is very important to L&E’s philosophy that children are interacting with others from a broad spectrum of backgrounds.
Is it just for International Students then?
No, not at all. We want as many local children to attend as possible. Apart, from the English Language course nothing else is aimed specifically at the International children. We find that our English Children really benefit from interacting with so many different nationalities. Very often long term friendships are made.
Can my child attend as a day student?
Yes. However, we believe your child will gain the full L&E experience when choosing the Residential option. We often recommend the Day Camp to use as a trial to eventually attend our Residential Camp. This can be discussed with the L&E Team.
What if my child gets homesick?
We will provide full support, helping your child to overcome any homesickness and becoming stronger and more self-assured in the process. It’s not always easy to be sure which children will suffer from homesickness.
How much does it cost?
See Prices for details
What does the cost include?
Just about everything except pocket money, optional L&E Extra Courses, Airport Transfers and the cost of air fares.
Is it worth it?
We think so – and we have approximately 80% of families who return to us each summer to prove it! Compare the cost of taking your child on holiday to a hotel: in addition we provide the Adventure, Sport & Activity courses, excursions, excellent social company, an amazing Evening Activity Programme , 3 meals a day and 24-hour supervision!
Do you offer discounts?
Yes. We offer discounts for siblings. We are sure that you will find our courses offer excellent value for money compared to other similar organisations. We also offer L&E Scholarships for local children.
How do I book?
Complete our Booking Form. If we can accept your child we will send you full pre-course information (kit list, excursion details, school rules, etc) and request your deposit payment (40%) to secure the place. The balance of fees is payable six weeks before your child attends.
Relevant for International Families Only…
How many English speaking kids are there?
Each week varies but a large proportion will be British. L&E is an English speaking camp. Our staff team speak English and all our activities are run in English.
If you are coming from abroad we are sure your child will receive the whole English Immersion Experience at L&E!
How do my children benefit?
In addition to learning and improving their English, children and young people have a great time, become more independent and develop socially. They meet and make friends with children from different countries and cultures. This helps them to broaden their horizons, develop an understanding of others and further practise their English. We expect children to return home healthy and refreshed and return home with renewed enthusiasm and determination.
My child already has good English. Will he/she benefit from attending?
Yes. Often students who speak good English still need to improve their writing: spelling, grammar, etc. Also, all students benefit by participating in a variety of sports and activities with their peers from the UK as well as from other countries and cultures. They have a lot of fun and become more internationally minded, self-confident and independent.
How do you decide which English class my child will join?
At each camp we organise classes for a variety of levels ranging from Beginner to Advanced. We ask parents to estimate their child’s ability in the Booking Form. This gives us an initial idea of placement. We also assess each child’s level of English on the first teaching day of the course (after they have had time to rest from travelling). There is generally a correlation between age and ability: the younger students tend to be in the lower ability classes, older students tend to be in the higher ability classes. Where this is not the case – for example a young student with very good English, or an older student with limited English – we ask parents to decide whether they wish their child to be placed by age or by ability.
Will my child need a visa?
In brief, if your child is a non-EU citizen he or she may need a Child Visitor Visa to attend Learn & Experience. This is for children attending a short course in the UK. Do not apply for a Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa: this is much more complicated and is for children who will be staying in the UK for over 6 months. For further information please ask.
Can I stay near my child?
Yes. We will be happy to provide details of local accommodation for parents dropping off or collecting children from the schools. We do not recommend that you live locally for the whole of your child’s stay: experience suggests that this can be counterproductive.
Can parents learn English too?
Our expertise is in working with children. We do not teach adults. We can however help with finding places for adults at English Teaching schools in the local area.
How will my child get there?
You can bring your child personally to the school or we can provide Airport Transfers from Leeds and Manchester. We also offer a limited service to London Heathrow. Where possible we put parents from the same country in contact with each other so that students can arrange to travel together.
When do I need to book?
On each course we accept a maximum of 8 children who share the same mother tongue and we give priority to returning students. Because of this, places for some nationalities are fully booked before March and sometimes earlier. You can check to see if a place is available by completing the first part of our booking form. We occasionally get cancellations so we operate a reserve list. If you need a visa this can take longer than expected so please allow plenty of time.
