The aim of this page is to try and help people to set up a small scale charity based language school where by bilingual children can meet other children speaking the same language but, above all, learn about reading and writing in that language and about all the cultural aspects of this language.
By the way, you don't have to be a charity. You could just be an association, whether for profit or not. We have chosen to go for charity status so that people can trust us more and to make sure everyone can afford to come along...
The documents present here are by no means documents you should just take and use straight away. They only are the documents we are using here, at 'Petite Ecole Kentoise', a French saturday school in Kent. We have just started the school and we are not sure whether things will be all fine. So have a read and take what you think is useful for you and feel free to amend the documents. We have, ourselves, benefitted from the documents of other schools, so it's your turn...
All I can say is that the constitution comes from the Charity Commission website (for unassociated associations), most documents have been checked by a local solicitor and by people from local 'Volunteers bureau' (they are charities whose aim is to help local associations).
To set up a school, you really need at least three VERY motivated people because it's a lot of work to start with but hopefully this page will help you skip some painful work.
So it's your turn to take the plunge! Do let us know how you get on please!!
Good luck
Katia
Essential readings from the Charity Commision website:
- Registering as a Charity
- Charitable
Associations:
Model Constitution
- The Essential Trustee: What you need to know
- Charity Reporting and Accounting: The essentials
- Charities and Fundraising
- Internal Financial Controls for Charities
Note that: from 23 April 2007, charities only have to be registered if their annual income is over, or expected to be over, £5,000.
You will need to get public liability cover and employer’s liability cover (around £300-£400 all together). It seems Morton Michel are the cheapest around but you can also check out Royal Sun Alliance. There are probably others but they are the ones I was told about.
All staff and potentially volunteers to be CRB checked with criminal bureau.
The CRB will issue the Disclosure free of charge for volunteers (i.e parents) but the teacher will need an enhanced check at a cost of £36. But as the CRB is done via another charity, it actually costs more (we had to pay another £15 on top of each check).
Of course, you need somewhere to host the school. Primary schools are ideal and often very open to such initiatives. We pay £6/hour which is very reasonable.
Get in touch with your embassy for help. May be they can give you a grant (there is one for French school: it's called Français LAngue Maternelle) or other help, even if it's only advertising for your school.
Regarding getting stationnary, ask your local schools where they get theirs. You probably can set up an account. Don't forget to get your own First Aid kit and an Accident Book.
You will need to check whether you need to register with OFSTED. Fill in and send this form. We did not have to register.
Get in touch with:
- your local County Council
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations: they will put you in touch with local organisations who can help you
- for sponsors, try the local chamber of commerce if they know of companies which have employees speaking your language
- and of course, to get your school known, contact all the local newspapers and radio. Here's a possible press release to use.
- also contact your local NCT groups, Children Information Services and put leaflets up in swimming pools, libraries, supermarkets and email all primary schools, nurseries and preschools if you can get hold of their email addresses (it's hard work but it works- I love google...).
So here are the documents we use at 'Petite Ecole Kentoise':
Constitution describing the way the association works
Children Protection Policy absolutely necessary to get insurance
Membership Application Form
Leaflet detailing our activities for prospective parents
Flyer
I will update this page as and when needed, if documents change for some reason. Feel free to contact me for further information if you need any or if you think I should amend these documents:
multilingualfamilywebsite@dsl.pipex.com
As we are getting a lot of spam, please ensure the title of the email is explicit regarding bilingualism so that we don't delete your email by mistake. Thanks!
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