From: Ceredigion CE Freedom Of Information
Sent: 02 April 2013 14:56
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Student Exchange Trips

Dear Sir,
Please note that requests sent via the Ceredigion Reception e-mail do not generate an automatic acknowledgement.
FOI requests should be sent to [email address].

Please find below an acknowledgement from the FOI site:

Diolch am eich neges e-bost a fydd yn cael sylw gan y swyddog cyswllt priodol maes o law.

Thank you for your e-mail communication which will receive attention from the appropriate link officer

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[Subject only] FW: Freedom of Information request - Student Exchange Trips

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Dear Mr Starch

 

Further to your Freedom of Information request dated 24^th March 2013 I
apologise for the delay in responding to your request.  I have been away
from work for almost three weeks and therefore have not received a full
response to your enquiry.  I have answered several of your questions below
and will answer the outstanding questions as soon as I receive the
details.

 

Kind regards

 

Suzanne

 

 

From: Peter Starch [mailto:[FOI #154295 email]]

Sent: 24 March 2013 08:06

To: Ceredigion Reception

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Student Exchange Trips

 

     Dear Ceredigion Council,

    

     My enquiry is in relation to this article

    
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...

trip-Pupils-banned-foreign-homes-theres-NO-evidence-abuse.html

     and your decision to ban exchange children staying with host

     families.

    

     1. For the last 5 years, please detail how many complaints were

     made by UK children regarding incidents which occurred during a

     visit with an exchange family abroad. None

    

     2. Detail the nature of said incidents. N/a

    

     3. For the last 5 years, please detail how many complaints were

     made by foreign children regarding incidents which occurred during

     a visit with a UK based exchange family. None

    

     4. Detail the nature of said incidents. N/a

    

     5. Please provide details of all research you have conducted or

     used regarding the risk children face when deciding on whether or

     not to implement this policy.

    

     6. Please provide all consultation in relation to the imposition of

     this policy.

    

     7. Please provide all internal/external correspondence in relation

     to this policy.

    

     8. Please provide details of all complaints received regarding the

     imposition of this policy. None

    

     9. Please provide details of when and how this policy was imposed,

     minutes of any council meetings regarding this policy and the name

     of the individuals who proposed the policy.

    

     Yours faithfully,

    

     Peter Starch

    

     -------------------------------------------------------------------

    

     Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

     [FOI #154295 email]

    

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Just to keep you informed I am currently gathering information in order to
respond to your Freedom of Information request.  The response will be
provided to you as soon as I receive all the documentation.  It is hoped
that the information will be available by the end of tomorrow.  If the
information is not available I will write to you again in order to keep
you informed.

 

Kind regards

 

Suzanne Fearn

 

 

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Dear Sir

 

I have received several documents relating to the Freedom of Information
request below and have been informed that there are further documents to
be collected.  The response will therefore be disclosed at the beginning
of next week.  I apologise for the delay in providing the information.

 

Kind regards

 

Suzanne Fearn

 

From: Suzanne Fearn
Sent: 09 May 2013 11:19
To: '[FOI #154295 email]'
Subject: FOI request

 

Just to keep you informed I am currently gathering information in order to
respond to your Freedom of Information request.  The response will be
provided to you as soon as I receive all the documentation.  It is hoped
that the information will be available by the end of tomorrow.  If the
information is not available I will write to you again in order to keep
you informed.

 

Kind regards

 

Suzanne Fearn

 

 

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Dear Mr Starch

 

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request relating to Student
Exchange Trips.  Please find below Ceredigion County Council’s response to
your enquiry.

 

1.      There were 0 complaints made during the last 5 years, by
Ceredigion children regarding incidents which occurred during a visit with
an exchange family abroad.

2.      N/a

3.      There were 0 complaints made by foreign children during the last 5
years, regarding incidents which occurred during a visit with a Ceredigion
based exchange family.

4.      N/a

5.      Following a twelve month pilot, the Draft Policy was taken to
Cabinet for discussion on the 19.03.2013.  The policy was based on a
Council amendment to National Guidance and based on safeguarding children
and ensuring their safety.  The Ceredigion County Council Educational
Visits Pack March 2013 Policy was approved in Cabinet on 07.04.2013

6.      Please find attached all internal and external correspondence in
relation to the policy.

7.      There have been 0 complaints received regarding the implementation
of the policy. 

8.      In February 2012 the Education Department made the decision that as part of school / youth exchange visits from Ceredigion, children should not stay overnight with host families.  Likewise children from abroad should not stay overnight with host families in Ceredigion.  This decision was based on safeguarding children and ensuring their safety.  Exchange visits are still undertaken because of the great benefits to the child but, the host accommodation element of the trip no longer takes place.  All exchange visits that have been organised over the past 12 months, have now been organised to make the use of alternative forms of accommodation and, no visits have been cancelled or failed to take place.  This applies to all children with regard to school visits.  An Email was issued to schools on 28.02.2012 as stated in point 9 below.  Original Report to Cabinet, Cabinet Minutes - 19.03.2013, Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting Agenda and Minutes 27.03.2013, Report returned to Cabinet and Minutes 07.04.2013 (Agendas and Minutes are attached).

9.      An email was issued to schools on 28^th February 2012 stating “Children from Ceredigion should not stay with host families.  Also children from other areas should not stay with Ceredigion host families.  All groups should be encouraged to use alternative forms of accommodation where children and young people are supervised by staff.”

 

Yours sincerely

 

Suzanne Fearn

 

 

 

 

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