Be warned about working with SSCE
We had an awful experience with this organisation. Both with SSCE and their counter part Travel Active. Think twice before you spend $10K and send your child overseas.
They didn't supply details about a family or school until 1 week prior. They moved the date twice and made the program almost 3 weeks shorter without a price adjustment. We had already arrived in the country when the program was changed! They could not find a family and my child had to move between two families which was disruptive. The coordinator in Australia only sent us emails to update us after I rang her each time. She would jibber for an hour without saying anything, they were impossible to work with. The coordinator in the Netherlands who was supposed to support my child hardly ever made contact. It was the family that provided the necessary support but the organisation did nothing.
So we paid $10K for an experience in a country where the schooling is free, the host family doesn't get paid, so the money is all for admin. And the admin and support was beyond appalling. The exchange was a fabulous experience for my child mind you, but it was abominable in every other regard. I wouldn't recommend anyone works with SSCE or their European counter Part Travel Active
