| 1. |
Is it necessary to have guardians
in the UK? |
| |
Most reputable Schools will insist on every foreign
student having a Guardian.
|
| 2. |
Would my child who is over 17 require
a guardian? |
| |
Yes, most schools insist on Guardians up to the
age of 18, but quite a large number insist on a
Guardian whatever the age of the student.
|
| 3. |
Will my child be getting his own bedroom
when he stays with homestay families? |
| |
Students never share a room with a member of the
family, but in our experience students from Hong
Kong are not happy to be alone in a room, and therefore
generally have another Chinese student sharing with
them.
|
| 4. |
Is it possible for me and my child to
meet with prospective homestay families before staying
there? |
| |
We discourage “Inspection Visits”
as these are insulting to the families, and generally
our Local Coordinator will not appoint a family
until she has met the student and formed a very
good picture of the sort of family with which he/she
would be comfortable. |
| 5. |
Will I know the contacting details and
family profile of the homestay family before my
child stays over?
|
| |
Yes
|
| 6. |
Would my child be allowed to use the family’s
phone, computer, TV, kitchen to cook noodles etc?
|
| |
Telephones & Computers: may be used WITH PERMISSION
and in the case of internet, an agreement on cost
must be made. Naturally the TV is available. Use
of kitchen is at the discretion of the host family,
and certainly will not be permitted to younger students
for obvious safety reasons.
|
| 7. |
Will the family take my child to shopping
or out of the house? |
| |
Yes
|
| 8. |
Can my child stay at home by himself
should he decide not to go out with the family?
|
| |
This depends on the age of the student. It
is illegal in the UK to leave a child aged under
14 alone in the house.
|
| 9. |
Will the family collect my child from
his school and take him back to school after half-terms
and exact weekends? |
| |
No, transport is arranged by the Local Coordinator.
This generally will save parents money, as transport
costs are shared.
|
| 10. |
Will the guardianship company sort out
my child’s school uniforms for him, if so,
how and when? |
| |
Usually unnecessary, it is organized by the school.
|
| 11. |
Will my child be staying with the
same host-family? |
| |
If he/she is happy with the family, then yes,
but the arrangement is flexible if they want to
change.
|
| 12. |
Can I stay with my child’s host
family as well if I come over to visit him over
half-term? |
| |
NO. Local Coordinators will assist in finding
a local B&B or Hotel.
|
| 13. |
What is the difference between registering
with a guardianship company and getting my friends/
relatives to act as guardians for my child? |
| |
A well founded Guardianship Company is not vulnerable
to sudden illness or unavailability as can happen
with individuals acting as Guardians. We are frequently
called upon to rescue students whose “so called”
Guardian has decided not to be available.
|
| |
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