Essential XUK English Information

Rules & Rewards

Rules

It is vital that our campers are aware of our rules at XUK. These are in place to ensure that every camper is happy, healthy and most importantly safe during their stay with us. Please go through the 'XUK Way' with your children before their stay.

Championship Points

Coloured Teams and individual campers will be awarded Championship Points throughout their stay for a number of reasons: politeness and manners, teamwork, being helpful, winning an Evening Activity etc. At the end of each week, the winning Coloured Team for the week will be presented with certificates and prizes during the Talent Show!

Star Student Award

Each week we present the ‘XUK Star Student' award. This will be given to the best ‘student’ at camp, who our leaders decide best sums up what’s good about XUK – a sense of humour, friendship, puts in 100% to their English lessons and a desire to make the most of camp. There will be a presentation each week and each winner will be offered one free week at one of our camps next year!

Arriving, Departing & Transfers

Arrival Dates: 5th July, 12th July, 19th July, 26th July & 2nd August 2020

Departure Dates: 12th July, 19th July, 26th July, 2nd August & 9th August 2020

We will expect / assume you are coming directly to XUK unless you have specifically booked (with us) otherwise. Seats on transport runs are only guaranteed with full payment.

Airport & St Pancras (Eurostar) Service:

It is vital that we know the following information as early as possible for both inbound and outbound flights or the Eurostar:

• Airport (origin & destination)

• Flight number

• Airline

• Arrival & Departure times

If the airline asks you to provide information about who will be collecting your child, please give them the following information:

Richard Bernstein, Monmouth School for Boys, Almshouse Street, Monmouth, NP25 3XP

+44 (0)1600 710 394

You must look at ‘Getting to XUK’ for information about flight and train times and the airports and station we pick up/drop off your children.

We strongly advise that your child carries with them the following documents whilst in the airport to prevent any avoidable delays:

Your XUK confirmation which describes what your child is booked on and the appropriate details
A signed and dated letter giving your permission for your child to travel unaccompanied to the UK
Please check with your airline/train if they have any specific requirements or forms for you to fill in to enable your child to travel to and from the UK - especially if they are travelling on their own

There will be a wait at the airport or station. It is essential that you pack a snack for your child to have on their transfer.

Travelling directly to and from XUK:

• Arrival day: check-in is between 15:30 and 16:30. Please do not arrive before 15:30. To ensure that the camp is at its best, we will not check in your child before that time.

• Departure day: children must be collected at 10:00. Please arrive on time to collect your child. Our address is Monmouth School for Boys, Almshouse Street, Monmouth, NP25 2XP

Have read through our 'Arriving at Camp' blog.

Preparing Your Child

Hygiene

As your children will be away from home, it is important that they can take responsibility for their own personal hygiene. They need to be able to:

• Brush their teeth independently

• Shower and wash themselves independently

• Dry themselves after a shower

• Change their underwear everyday

• Use deodorant or antiperspirant if age appropriate

Packing

It is vital that your child packs for their stay or assists you. Upon their return, they will need to pack their belongings back into their bags independently.

Settling In

We understand that that this may be a new, and difficult, experience and it is crucial our staff are the first point of contact for your child to make their stay as fun and easy as possible. It is important to tell them prior to camp starting that being homesickness is normal and we are there to support them if they are feeling homesick.

Please help us help your child by telling them before and during camp to always talk to staff if they have any problems or concerns. If you (the parent) have any concerns, we also urge you to contact us and we can discuss anything relating to your child.

We recommend having a chat with your child about your expectations for their stay:

• The importance of trying new things whether that is a new food or activity

• Making new friends even if they are going with a friend

• Branching out from their own nationalities – making friends from around the world is very beneficial and it will encourage them to communicate in English

Contact with your children

We do allow campers to bring mobile phones and electronic devices to our camps at their own risk and responsibility. All campers must adhere to our Mobile Phone & Electronic Devices Use Policy and talk to our team first if they have a problem.

There will be limited Wifi available for campers to use during their free time. There are other ways to contact your child which we encourage...

Phone:

• Head office (09:00 – 16:30): +44 (0)20 8922 9739

• XUK camp office: +44 (0)1600 710 394 (during XUK ONLY)

Both of the above numbers are not emergency lines and are not manned 24/7.

If we cannot answer, please leave a detailed message. We will call you as soon as we can. Please be aware that our camp phone is not manned all the time (and will not be manned at all on Thursday as we are on a whole camp trip day). Do not be alarmed if you do not get a call from your child. The probability is that you were engaged, out or your child is having too much fun! Children can only use the office phone to call home once a week during their stay. This is because:

• There is limited time during the day when children are not in activities, eating or sleeping

• We need to keep our lines free for emergencies (and we only have two phone lines)

• Children will not call home on Thursday, Saturdays or Sundays

• It is vital if children have a problem they talk to us first so we can help them

Writing emails and letters:

Delivery of the post is very exciting for those who receive letters. The address is ‘XUK, c/o Monmouth School for Boys, Almshouse Street, Monmouth, Wales, NP25 3XP. Any food sent (or brought to camp) may be checked. This is for the health and safety of all children and staff, some of whom have very specific allergies.You can also send emails to your children to xukenglish@hotmail.com. These are handed out at the next available meal time.

Photographs:

Daily updates and a selection of photographs from the day will be uploaded to our XUK English Facebook page and Instagram. You can view all of the photographs from each day on your CampInTouch account.

Health

Health & Medication Form

It is essential that you complete the Health & Medication Form on your CampInTouch account.

Medication

If your child is bringing medication to camp, you must complete page 5 of the Health & Medication Form. It is essential that we have this information to be able to administer medication.All medication must be brought to camp in a named sealed bag or container. We will store medication in a safe and secure place.

Packing

Baggage

Please fit all luggage into one suitcase. Here is our kit list. All campers must bring all of the essential items. When your child arrives, please ensure that they have the following items ready to hand in:

• Medication in a named and sealed bag/container

• Money in a clearly marked envelope for our staff to put in our Camp Bank for safekeeping (this is optional). Campers will have access to this money at set times.

• Passports & tickets. We keep these for safekeeping.

• EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) for EU citizens only

We recommend reading through our 'Packing FAQs' blog post.

Medication

As described above under 'Health'.

Laundry

Children staying for longer than one week who require laundry may pay for this service on site. There is a charge for this (£6 per bag - this can be shared among friends in a dorm) and will be taken off their pocket money. This service is not suitable for delicate or expensive clothes, which should be washed by hand or not brought at all. All clothing will go through a washing machine AND tumble dryer. We advise all children to bring a net laundry bag! Clothes that are not clearly labelled with your child’s name will be at risk of being lost if they are washed. This is your and your child’s responsibility. Please clearly label everything. We have the right to label with marker pens to help minimise lost property.

Pocket Money

We advise approximately £35 - £40 per week, which should be sufficient. Pocket money can be spent on camp to buy merchandise or to buy snacks & souvenirs on trips.

English Lessons

At the beginning of each week we will give all children a test to assess their standard of English. We will assign them a group accordingly. On five mornings every week children will have English lessons. Other times will be taken up by activities, meals, trips and free time. Please ensure your child is ready to learn English and that they understand what they are coming to us for.

They should all come with a dictionary, notebook, pen, pencil, rubber and ruler

It is also a good idea for you and your child to decide in advance if there is anything particular they wish to work on.

Trips & Optional Extras

Monmouth Trip

Every week, campers will have the opportunity to visit Monmouth. The town centre is just a two minute walk from XUK English and offers a high street of shops & cafes, a small museum and historic castle.

There will also be the chance to go on a hike into the local countryside.

Thursday Trip

We will be going on a whole camp trip every Thursday to either Oxford and Bath. It is an opportunity to do a bit of shopping and sight seeing whilst soaking up British culture.

Optional Extras

If you’d like to book an optional extra, you must let us know before camp starts. There are limited places on all extras and they are booked on a first come first served basis. Please note that days & details of optional extras are subject to change.

16 and 17 Year Olds

For our trips (Oxford, Bath & Monmouth) we give parents of 16 and 17 year olds the option to let them go around town in small groups without being accompanied by our staff. In order to opt in to this, parents must complete the electronic permission letter which you will be able find on your CampInTouch account.

Please do not hesitate in getting in touch if you have any questions prior to camp beginning and have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page.