USEFUL DOCS:

"About our house" template - download this template and adapt it for your household. Talking through this on the student's arrival and leaving a copy in their room is a great way to introduce the student to your home - it lets them know what to expect and what is expected of them.

Arrival arrangements

Over 18s are expected to make their own way to their homestay providers. If you are able to offer them a lift from the point of arrival to Bath to your home, please offer to help. 

Under 18s arrivals can be by

• airport transfer booked and provided by the school. We will communicate arrival time to you. 

• parents, friends of the student directly driven to homestay provider

• by coach, when students arrive in groups. When collecting students from a coach park please bring a photo ID with you.  Coach collections can be hectic and busy; we will do our utmost to introduce you to your student as quickly as possible, after which you can take them home. We must ensure safety in coach parks, this will often involve getting the students to a safe place. On group arrivals ID cards and bus passes are distributed on arrival. Your help and patient with all this is much appreciated. 

You or another member of you family aged over 18 must meet the student on arrival. 

If you are unable to collect or meet a student on arrival, please let us know. For safeguarding reasons we cannot allow a stranger (neighbours or friends) to collect / meet students. We will ask other hosts collecting the same group to take your students home until you arrive. 

Arriving at your house

Having traveled for hours and full of expectation, first impressions of a home stay are very important. A warm welcome and friendly approach can make all the difference  in helping students feel at home.

Some students may experience homesickness and / or culture shock in the first few days.  A friendly and caring attitude can make all the difference when arriving in a different country. 

On arrival welcome your students by:

• showing them around your home

• showing them how appliances such as kettle, shower, etc work

• introducing them to family members, neighbours

• orientation walk in the neighbourhood

• explaining transport - bus number, bus stops, timetable

• offering to help unpack

• offering a cooked meal and refreshments. Check dietary requirements, allergies. 

• asking them about their journey, likes and dislikes, meal preferences, etc

Telling students about your house

Explain rules for laundry, curfew, telephone and internet  access, meal times and anything that may be relevant for the student's safety and welfare (locking doors, windows, slippery paths, pets in the home, etc.) any other rules that apply in your home and family.

We suggest having some written advice that you can talk through with the student and that can be left with them. We have created an "About our house" template as a guide that you can edit.

Contact details

Exchange mobile numbers. Check students have your correct address and contact details.

First Day Procedure

Your student is expected to arrive at school on their first day  as outlined in their programme.

Please check which premises your student is expected to arrive. 

All students (regardless of age) will need clear instructions for their journey to and from school  - it is essential that you provide them with details about the route, bus number and bus stops. 

If you host under 18s, we request that you either drive  or take the bus with your student to school on their first day and also collect them in the afternoon as detailed in the programme link.  

Students are expected to travel independently to and from school from day two. 

Please make sure they know their way home and are aware of the bus routes as well.