We welcomed children and their teachers from Le Prés Vert, a school in Normandy, France for a cultural exchange visit to establish links with a school in another country.

The thirty eight French children and their teachers arrived at lunch time and were greeted by the Head Girl, Head Boy and their deputies. They were welcomed in to the school for a picnic lunch out on the playground. Despite some language barriers, English and French children interacted well and were able to communicate very effectively. One small group of French children even joined Miss Smith’s gardening club during lunch time and helped to plant pansies and weed the flower beds in the courtyard area.

After lunch, the children and their teachers had a tour of the school. They were most amazed by the size of the newly expanded hall and the fact it hosts the whole school for daily assemblies - something which they do not have in France.

Children then joined year 3 and year 5 classes in a normal lesson. Children in Year 3 were learning about fossils and skeletons while year 5 were undertaking a science investigation. Both were hands-on practical lessons which the French children enjoyed being part of. After a short time, the children returned to their classes, with their French companions, and played bingo, practising both French and English numbers.

After their classroom experiences, year 3 and year 5 came to the hall so that there could be an opportunity for each school to ask questions to each other. One of the questions asked was how lunch time in France is different to lunch time in England. We were amazed to learn that they have a two hour lunch break, during which the children could go home if they wished. For children who remain and eat at school, they enjoy a four course lunch consisting of a starter, main, cheese course and dessert!

The final part of the day involved a group story where all the children could be involved. Read by Mrs Kay in French, the children joined in with the story ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, or in French ‘La chasse à l’ours’. It was a lovely end to a perfect afternoon.

We hope this visit is the first of many and will enable us to form strong connections between Hook Junior School and the global community, expanding our children’s first hand experiences of other cultures.