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Host families

Prior to hosting for Academic Guardians, all families are carefully assessed for their suitability and are checked against the records of the Disclosure and Barring Scheme and the Children’s Safeguarding Authority. We ask for professional and personal references and visit families in their home environment, ensuring the best possible care for your child. Homes can range from town houses to large rural dwellings according to a student’s preference. Their location is largely dependent upon parents or student preference although we do try to find host families that are situated as close to the students school as possible therefore minimising travel time and costs. Our Host families treat their students as members of their family and provide a safe home during half terms and out-weekends.

We encourage our students to participate in their host family outings and activities. Typical activities include cinema, days out to the beach, shopping and various sporting activities. All our families enjoy the company of young people from different countries. They spend time helping them to develop their English language skills and knowledge of British culture. All our host families are asked to provide internet access to help communication between parents and children and encourage learning.

To maintain our exceptionally high standards host families are provided with a ‘Student Information Form’ detailing all the necessary and relevant information about the student prior to their arrival. A Host Family handbook is given to the host families to provide additional help and support from Academic and a 24 hour emergency contact number. This handbook is used to cover all frequently asked questions and more regarding hosting one of our students. We hope that hosting an international student is a rewarding and fun experience for both student and host family. It enables different cultures to be brought together giving each the opportunity to learn and understand a little more about the world we live in and develop from their interaction with each other.

This is one of many comments received from one of our host families:

We thoroughly enjoy having our student, as a family we have learnt so much from him. The children enjoy repeating the few words that they now know in Cantonese and I have been taught how to cook ‘Real’ Chinese food. We have learnt so much about the Chinese culture we look forward to visiting China one day.

Testimonials

Dear Kelsey,
Brilliant! You're company efficiency is totally amazing and helpful.

Mr Joe Wong, Parent Lancing College

Academic Guardians
2018-01-18T16:06:16+00:00

Mr Joe Wong, Parent Lancing College

Dear Kelsey, Brilliant! You're company efficiency is totally amazing and helpful.
Good morning Dawn & Andrew
I will need to personally email and thank you and the host family that my daughters stayed with over the weekend for their kind gesture. Their thoughtfulness towards understanding the need for a girl of my daughters age to feel secured and cared for, I am not taking for granted.
It was such a relief when she told me that you had already arranged for a packed lunch and the family provided all their favourite foods.
This ones, (host family) you, certainly hand-picked ! And I thank you for that.! With many like them, there is still hope in the loss of empathy in humanity.
Have a lovely day

Patience Evans, Parent St Mary’s

Academic Guardians
2018-04-27T13:03:08+00:00

Patience Evans, Parent St Mary’s

Good morning Dawn & Andrew I will need to personally email and thank you and the host family that my daughters stayed with over the weekend for their kind gesture. Their thoughtfulness towards understanding the need for a girl of my daughters age to feel secured and cared for, I am not taking for granted. It was such a relief when she told me that you had already arranged for a packed lunch and the family provided all their favourite foods. This ones, (host family) you, certainly hand-picked ! And I thank you for that.! With many like them, there is still hope in the loss of empathy in humanity. Have a lovely day
Dear Dawn,
Thank you for your mail with Peeranut’s travel arrangements attached. Very efficient, as always.
Can I take this opportunity to thank you for all your brilliant support throughout the year and to wish you a lovely summer.

Peter O’Donoghue, Head of Boys Boarding, Bournemouth Collegiate School

Academic Guardians
2018-04-27T13:03:53+00:00

Peter O’Donoghue, Head of Boys Boarding, Bournemouth Collegiate School

Dear Dawn, Thank you for your mail with Peeranut’s travel arrangements attached. Very efficient, as always. Can I take this opportunity to thank you for all your brilliant support throughout the year and to wish you a lovely summer.
Dear Dawn & team at Academic Guardians
Hope things are fine with you. Now the school is over and Sarah is now on her way home...
Therefore, I would like to say thank you for all your kindness and hospitality that has been extended to Sarah all this time. Unfortunately, I didn't attend the Speech Day this year so I didn't have the opportunity to express my gratitude personally to you. Hopefully someday somewhere an opportunity would arise for me to do so.
I wish you and the whole family a joyful summer break...and all the best for the future.
With warmest regards

Rita Tjahjadi, Parent Prior Park College, Bath

Academic Guardians
2018-04-27T13:04:39+00:00

Rita Tjahjadi, Parent Prior Park College, Bath

Dear Dawn & team at Academic Guardians Hope things are fine with you. Now the school is over and Sarah is now on her way home... Therefore, I would like to say thank you for all your kindness and hospitality that has been extended to Sarah all this time. Unfortunately, I didn't attend the Speech Day this year so I didn't have the opportunity to express my gratitude personally to you. Hopefully someday somewhere an opportunity would arise for me to do so. I wish you and the whole family a joyful summer break...and all the best for the future. With warmest regards
Dear AGUK,
Thank you kindly for the travel details that you have sent through for both Natalie and Edith for the end of this term and start of next term - you are very well organised to be this far ahead! Many thanks for clarifying and sending on details for the other girls. It certainly makes life easier when return arrangements are sent in and you are one of the few agencies that does this; much appreciated!

Helen Tomlinson, Head of Boarding, Rye St Antony School

Academic Guardians
2018-04-27T13:05:31+00:00

Helen Tomlinson, Head of Boarding, Rye St Antony School

Dear AGUK, Thank you kindly for the travel details that you have sent through for both Natalie and Edith for the end of this term and start of next term - you are very well organised to be this far ahead! Many thanks for clarifying and sending on details for the other girls. It certainly makes life easier when return arrangements are sent in and you are one of the few agencies that does this; much appreciated!
Dear Georgie
Thank you for your letter.
I have read the letter word by word, and I also told to Shaobo's mother about your letter. We are unable to express our gratitude to you with words and really appreciate your so considerate care and help to Shaobo. And now we could put our minds at ease. It is so good luck for Shaobo to meet you in UK!

Lou Jirong, Parent, Sidcot School

Academic Guardians
2018-04-27T13:06:14+00:00

Lou Jirong, Parent, Sidcot School

Dear Georgie Thank you for your letter. I have read the letter word by word, and I also told to Shaobo's mother about your letter. We are unable to express our gratitude to you with words and really appreciate your so considerate care and help to Shaobo. And now we could put our minds at ease. It is so good luck for Shaobo to meet you in UK!
Dear Academic Guardians
Thank you.
I am very impressed with your smooth and effective organisation. All the very best.

Mark Venn Dunn, Head of Boarding ACS Cobham International School

Academic Guardians
2018-01-18T16:05:55+00:00

Mark Venn Dunn, Head of Boarding ACS Cobham International School

Dear Academic Guardians Thank you. I am very impressed with your smooth and effective organisation. All the very best.
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Academic Guardians

Families working with Academic Guardians are:

  • carefully assessed for their suitability
  • friendly welcoming & caring
  • criminally checked (DBS)
  • trained in child safeguarding
  • close to your chosen school
  • living in a clean well maintained home
  • visited regularly for assessments
  • carefully matched to your requirements

If you are interested in becoming a host family with Academic Guardians please click on the link below