Welcome to Hosting!
Hosting international students can be such a rewarding experience and we hope you enjoy it. We ask that you welcome the student to your home and treat them as you would a family member. Our students really prosper in a welcoming, secure, and interactive home environment and this is why students choose this option – immersion is so positive!
What we do
- When booking a student with you, we do our best to provide all the details you need, such as the student’s age, sex, nationality, arrival/departure dates and any allergies, medication and dietary requirements.
- Once you have agreed to a booking, we liaise with the parent/guardian, agent and student, and provide them with your details.
- We gather feedback at various points during the stay, including feedback on the school and their homestay.
As a reminder we ask that you...
- welcome the student to your home and encourage them to interact as they would in their own home.
- swap phone numbers with your student as soon as possible.
- make students aware of any expectations you have of them, e.g. bathroom use and keeping in touch.
- change their bed linen and towels once a week and if the student is able to assist with this, then that’s fine as this is a home, not a hotel.
- provide breakfast and a cooked evening meal daily, plus a packed lunch for full-board students.
- take the student to school by bus the first morning to familiarise them with the journey.
- do not give junior students a key as they don’t have free access. Adults, however, require a key.
- let us know if you have any holidays booked or are unavailable at any time
More essentials
Depending on the age of the student and the duration of their visit, you may choose to become a foster host. For more information, please follow this link.
In line with our safeguarding policy, a DBS check is required to host all students under the age of 18, and this can be organised through the Lewis School. There is a cost involved for this DBS check. We also ask that you complete an online safeguarding course.
You are required by law to ensure you have a Gas Safety certificate which is renewed annually. Click here for an example. For more information, visit https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk.
Anyone having paying guests is required by law to provide an annual fire risk assessment. Click here to go to our fire risk assessment form.
Payment is made in arrears. The payment dates are shown on the payment calendar. Please note that payments take three working days to show in your account so payday is usually a Tuesday (unless there is a bank holiday on the Monday, in which case payday is Wednesday). We will adjust payment for times the student is away on holiday or a school trip. Details of this can be found on the the payment calendar.
Southampton Hub