Latest News

Coming soon - our brand new website!

Check back in September to check out our new website (well we're pretty excited about it!)

Issues with 'rarely cover' and school trips

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families has recently clarified the situation by stating:

“There’s absolutely no reason why schools should stop providing planned school trips or visits because of rarely cover provision as advance arrangements should already have been put in place.

“Rarely cover would only ever apply if the teacher taking the children to the event is then unforeseeably absent and alternative cover had to be provided. The guidelines on this are crystal clear.

“Rarely cover is there to ensure that teachers do just that – rarely cover – allowing them to be freed from tasks which do not require their professional skills and expertise, and to focus on teaching.

“Learning outside the classroom should be an integral part of every child's education and personal development, and provision for it should be included in school calendars and timetables.” (Reference)

We are now full members of The Council for
Learning Outside the Classroom

Encounters Europe, as part of Acorn Venture Ltd., is pleased to announce that we are now full members of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC). Chief Executive Beth Gardner commented that Acorn Venture “demonstrates commitment to the provision of high quality and varied educational experiences”. Acorn Venture has always striven to provide the very highest quality learning experiences for UK school groups and our place on this influential council shows that we will continue to do so.

As well as helping to pilot the scheme, Acorn Venture, was the first organisation in the country to successfully renew their Quality Badge awarded by the LOtC Council. 

The Quality Badge provides a government-approved accreditation for 'learning outside the classroom' provider organisations.

Please click here to read our press release or on the Quality Badge logo for more information.

Day-trip and Short Breaks!
We still have some availability left on the Opal Coast, Paris and the UK for day-trips and short break, click here for details.

Brand New!
We are always looking for different ways to match our schools' requirements and have now added the following destinations to our list: Iceland and Poland.  Please contact us on 0121 504 2030 or email us to find out more!

As always, destinations listed on this site are only a selection of what we offer. If you would like to go anywhere else not mentioned, please contact us to receive a tailor-made quotation

Furthermore, we have added two brand new study courses which will hopefully help you enrich your pupils' learning.

From now on, pupils will have the opportunity to discover the trails of world famous composers through our Music in Vienna course as well as discover the traditional cuisine and flavours of Italy through our Italian gourmet course