Our 2012 brochure is out now.

If you haven't received your copy please let us know and we'll send it to you. 

Call us on 0121 504 2030 or email us at info@encounters-europe.com.

You can also download the pdf version from here.

Are you planning a school trip during February half-term 2012 using a low-cost airline?

Whether or not you use Encounters Europe to help you with your educational trips, we thought you would be interested to know that both easyJet and Ryanair have released flights for the week of February half-term 2012. This is much earlier than last year.

So if you normally take a school trip, or are thinking about taking one, using one of the budget airlines we recommend that you try, if possible, to bring your plans forward.

As you may know, seat availability can be limited, and the later you leave booking your flight the greater the risk that the price will be prohibitive.

If you do work with Encounters Europe please contact your Account Manager at your convenience. If you haven't worked with us before we'd obviously be very happy to assist you, so please ask us for a no-obligation quotation.

Encounters Europe is pleased to announce that it is now a full member of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC). Chief Executive Beth Gardner commented that Encounters Europe “demonstrates commitment to the provision of high quality and varied educational experiences”. We have 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.

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.

In March 2010, a spokesman for the then Department for Children, Schools and Families attempted to clarify 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)

Various members of the Encounters team have been pretty busy this year. Katie tied the knot in the summer. A few weeks later so did Sylwia. Obviously we wish Katie, Sylwia and their new husbands all the very best for their future lives together.

And then there’s Fabien, who has recently become a daddy. He’s now the (very) proud father of the beautiful Chloe. Congratulations to Fabien and his partner Debbie.