Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly will I be paying for?
“Fundamentally you are paying for Guardians International to act as your child’s UK guardian and be available for your child in all circumstances whilst they are in the UK. With this goes the other services such as pastoral care and academic support, arranging travel, managing expenses etc…”
Will my child be able to stay with the same family throughout the time they are educated in the UK?
“Many children do stay with the same host family during their education but sometimes they prefer to swap or even stay in a different part of the country to get as much experience of living in the UK as possible.”
Can my child move to a different host family if things don’t work out?
“Absolutely Yes – It is vitally important both your child and the host family enjoy the time they are together and get the most out of the experience.”
Do you offer 24-hour cover in case of an emergency?
“Yes – we have direct line for emergencies that is provided to all students and host families in case of emergencies.”
Are you fully insured?
“Yes Guardians International has both professional indemnity and public liability insurance from a leading UK provider.”
Who will be the guardian – the host family or the director of the guardianship firm?
“A Director of Guardians International will be your child’s nominated guardian in the UK and act on your behalf and in the best interest of your child at all times. The host family is where your child goes to stay when not at school or travelling home”
Who should my child contact if he or she is having a problem?
“Contact Guardians International at all times if there are any problems and we will resolve these quickly and with as little fuss as possible. In most circumstances we have dealt with these types of problems before and our experience helps support your child deal with any issues that may arise as a result of the problem.”
How do you choose and inspect your guardians? Are they DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked?
“We have a rigorous selection and inspection regime (please see host family section) and all of our hosts are DBS (police) checked.”
Will my child’s host family have other overseas pupils staying with them?
“This is possible and we have found this is a source of company for your child while they are not at school with their friends. On occasion we are able to accommodate friends together who are both Guardians International students, but this is not always possible.”
Will the others speak my child’s language?
“All of our host families will speak fluent English and will converse with your child in English. Where we are able to we will accommodate other Chinese speaking children together but this is not always possible. Sometimes it is better for your child to live within a family and only speak English and on many occasions we get positive feedback on how this has improved a students level of fluency.”
Questions for the host family:
Do your host families always have children?
“No – not always. Sometimes having children in the host family is a good thing but some students prefer to be with older hosts who provide more of a grand-parent style of home from home environment.”
Have you been a host before?
“All of our host families are experienced and qualified to provide your child with an excellent home from home experience. Even new host families have been parents and understand what your child will need to enjoy their stay with them.”
What are your rules on television viewing, homework, going out with friends, use of telephone and computer, drinking (for older teenagers) etc?
“All of the rules that we expect your children to observe are laid out in our Student Handbook and Student Charter that is signed by the student and their parents.”
What will the arrangements be for pocket money and my child’s other financial needs?
“Guardians International manages your child’s expenses account and will provide for their financial needs. From time to time you may be required to top this account up to ensure they have enough funds for their needs.”
And as one pupil said, ‘guardians are the people who make a different country feel like home.’
Which is why at Guardians International – We Care