For relocating parents, finding the right school for their children is absolutely critical to the success of their move.

Relocation, whether to another part of one’s own country or overseas, is an exciting opportunity, but it’s stressful, too, for all concerned – even very young children. Like adults, children can experience culture shock, and they may be anxious about leaving familiar surroundings, school and friends. Dealing with the day-to-day demands of school can be hard enough without having to adjust to new people and new ways of doing things.

By acclimatising children to the new school environment and giving them the chance to make those all-important friends, summer schools can be a great way of improving their social skills and helping them to feel settled in their new school before the start of the academic year. Many summer schools offer opportunities for study and revision, which can be ideal if your child needs a bit of extra help or is soon to face resits or mocks.

As an added advantage, summer schools give you, the parents, a feel for the school and its facilities, and free you to concentrate on the multitude of things that have to be done when you make a relocation move.

What’s on offer

Most summer schools provide opportunities to sample a range of different activities, which should put paid to those inevitable cries of “I’m bored!” An example is Camp Beaumont, which is being held this summer in a number of locations in South East England, including Kent College Pembury, King's College School, Wimbledon, and Mill Hill School, in North London. Children can take part in up to six activities per day, ranging from swimming and football to motorsports and the intriguingly-named Prince and Princess Academy.

A big plus, especially for working parents, is that many summer schools are open for extended hours – 8am to 6pm is not unusual.

As well as summer schools, a whole host of shorter summer-holiday courses are available up and down the country, offering the chance for children to improve their skills in particular areas, from acting to photography to tennis, and to meet likeminded companions. These courses are usually for half-day sessions spread over a week to a fortnight.

Coming to the UK from overseas

If you’re moving to the UK from overseas, your child will settle more quickly into a new school if he or she has some command of English. This applies particularly to older children who are going to be studying for public examinations. Many UK independent and international schools offer summer courses in English, as do private language schools around the country.

Most international schools’ summer camps and courses, though not primarily aimed at teaching English, give opportunities for children to improve their English skills in a relaxed atmosphere. The TASIS England Summer Camp  and TASIS England Summer Enrichment Courses, held in Thorpe, Surrey, and the International Summer School of Scotland (ISSOS), which takes place at St Andrews, are just some examples.

Places at the most popular summer schools sell out fast, so it’s wise to sign up as early as possible.