Guardianship for international students

Yinda · 2022-12-07T22:31:09+00:00

I have two DDs starting school in the UK soon. International students. Both boarders. Most of the schools we are applying to don’t have optional exeat weekends. The midterm breaks are not a problem, but it’s not financially feasible for me to travel to visit for exeat weekends. was wondering what alternatives there are to staying with host families on short breaks from school. I am very wary and apprehensive about them staying with total strangers. Advice and suggestions appreciated.

PingPongMerrilyWithPie · 08/12/2022 09:19

Kindly, I'm struggling to see what alternative there can be to strangers to begin with, if you don't know anyone living nearby already. But they won't stay strangers for long. Much like schools, as you develop a relationship with your chosen agency, and the girls develop a relationship with their hosts and guardians, it will feel a lot safer. I would be looking for an agency that sell itself on providing consistency for the students.

The main alternative I'm familiar with is students travelling home as unaccompanied minors. Schools often run a minibus to the airport. Airlines are good at looking after unaccompanied minors (or were back in my day, anyway) and make this easy from a young age, and IME students will happily travel for many hours for the sake of a night or two at home. I remember the absolute delight of a friend being allowed home to the USA for short leave. Obviously cost is a factor though, and some locations are just too far. Your girls may later get the offer of a weekend with a friend sometimes, but that can only be a variation on something more consistent you put in place.

OhIdoLike2bBesideTheSeaside · 08/12/2022 10:17

My parents (when I was younger!) used to have international students stay with us weekends and holidays sometimes - sort of a part-time home stay option, there are companies that do this.

My parents made it really good fun for the students and took them out with us to places, cooked nice meals etc and I'm still in touch with afew of them.

Taliia · 08/12/2022 12:53

PingPongMerrilyWithPie · 08/12/2022 09:19

Kindly, I'm struggling to see what alternative there can be to strangers to begin with, if you don't know anyone living nearby already. But they won't stay strangers for long. Much like schools, as you develop a relationship with your chosen agency, and the girls develop a relationship with their hosts and guardians, it will feel a lot safer. I would be looking for an agency that sell itself on providing consistency for the students.

The main alternative I'm familiar with is students travelling home as unaccompanied minors. Schools often run a minibus to the airport. Airlines are good at looking after unaccompanied minors (or were back in my day, anyway) and make this easy from a young age, and IME students will happily travel for many hours for the sake of a night or two at home. I remember the absolute delight of a friend being allowed home to the USA for short leave. Obviously cost is a factor though, and some locations are just too far. Your girls may later get the offer of a weekend with a friend sometimes, but that can only be a variation on something more consistent you put in place.

Thank you for your response. Your suggestions do make sense. I guess I'm just being overly protective.

Taliia · 08/12/2022 12:55

OhIdoLike2bBesideTheSeaside · 08/12/2022 10:17

My parents (when I was younger!) used to have international students stay with us weekends and holidays sometimes - sort of a part-time home stay option, there are companies that do this.

My parents made it really good fun for the students and took them out with us to places, cooked nice meals etc and I'm still in touch with afew of them.

Lovely and quite comforting to hear this. Thank you. Maybe my thoughts on what host families are like are a tad bit overblown.

PingPongMerrilyWithPie · 08/12/2022 15:35

"I guess I'm just being overly protective."

I'm really not saying that at all. Your number one job is to keep them safe. Of course you need to take it seriously. But your options are necessarily limited when you're in another country and don't know people here.

Talk to some agencies - it's their job to persuade you they have the checks in place - and see how you feel then. Ultimately you can only send them if you are happy about their security. The school you pick may be able to recommend someone or put you in touch with other parents.

DilettanteMum · 09/12/2022 09:25

They will naturally make friends with other children who are more local and you will find that they get invited home for exeat a with them too.

I just hosted one of my daughters roommates for her last exeat, for example.

CarpetOfGreen · 19/12/2022 17:10

My son's school sometimes run activity weekends over exeats for overseas boarders

Bloomberg · 23/12/2022 20:15

I believe some kids cope well at 11+ but I just think my kids need more parental attachment, guidance and influences before 13+ so I will choose 13+ definitely not 9+ though.

Mydogisweird · 23/12/2022 20:22

If you do decide to use an agency I’d make sure they are aegis approved. aegisuk.net

Destiny123 · 23/12/2022 20:30

I was a day attender at a boarding school I'm Yr 9 (3), boarders didn't have to go home for the weekends, if they didn't the school ran day trips to London and outings and things for them. Most had guardians but after a while often just stayed with mates families

dcadmamagain · 13/02/2023 07:51

There are a lot of guardianship companies to provide this - some just allocate random families. Others such as Bright World Guardians let you choose your family from their profiles. You are checked up on during your stay and you can move if you’d like to try a different one. All guardianship companies security check their families.

dcadmamagain · 13/02/2023 07:52

What schools are you looking at?

Taliia · 13/02/2023 11:29

dcadmamagain · 13/02/2023 07:52

What schools are you looking at?

Was looking at Wellington college and lancing college.
But guardianship is not an issue anymore as the girls are now definitely moving to Canada instead to continue their studies.

dcadmamagain · 13/02/2023 14:10

I hope they have a lovely time

AnotherNewt · 13/02/2023 14:14

Once your DC have been there a while and made friends, then it's likely they'll go with friends (you'll need to provide written consent for this, schools won't release without)

Until then, yes it's going to have to be guardians. But as you are sending 2 DC, it really won't be that bad as they'll be together

Xiaoxiong · 14/02/2023 11:28

Even if your kids might eventually make friends and go home with them for exeats, you will need an official guardian in the UK for them - I don't know any full boarding schools who won't insist on a named in-country guardian. The one I have personal experience of is Pippa's Guardians - they're family run and seem to have lovely guardians, most of whom have kids of their own, and are very organised (and Aegis approved).

(If you're Chinese, they have a Chinese speaking liaison and a website in Chinese too.)

LouisaCanny · 10/12/2025 06:15

I’m looking for a minimum support guardian service just for filling in a guardianship form for my senior form child. I don’t need any home stay parents or travel arrangements. Any reliable and low cost guardian (individual or agency) recommendation in the UK for me please.