STUDENTS at Dolphin School made friends across the channel when 48 children from Twyford's twin town of Cuincy, France, visited for an afternoon of activities.

Year 6 pupils had a great first day back after the Easter break on Tuesday, April 23 when they welcomed the children and staff.

The French children, from the Ecole Joliot Curie, had had an early start, leaving home at 5am, but they arrived looking forward to the day.

They were divided up into four groups with their new English friends and set off for a carousel of activities, including learning how to play netball, overcoming communication difficulties to participate in team building exercises, drawing their partner's portrait and learning a new song.

The children then gathered in the school hall, where the choir of some 80 children performed Proud by Heather Small to an invited audience of parents and Twinning Committee members and friends.

The French children also sang happy birthday to Hazel Evans, the chair of the Twinning Committee.

School headmaster Adam Hurst presented the French headteacher Caroline Poupart with a copy of a book written by Dolphin founder, Ophelia Follett, called Freedom to Learn.

In return, Dolphin received a calendar from the town of Cuincy.

This was followed by an afternoon tea with sausage rolls and iced fairy cakes for the children, and scones with cream and jam for the adults.

It is hoped that the two schools will maintain an exchange link via letters and documents.