Aspire Guardians’ Host Family
An Aspire host family is warm and welcoming and generously open their doors to international boarding school students in the UK .
Our host families, whether retired or with children at home, are genuinely interested in providing a nurturing and supportive environment for students studying in the UK. Aspire host families embrace students as part of their own family, offering a true home away from home experience.
Full boarding school students can enjoy short holidays (exeats and half terms) with our host families. Regardless of the duration, our goal is to ensure that every student feels cared for and cherished during their stay.
Host families are essential in providing a sense of home for international students who are far from their families. During holiday breaks when UK boarding schools close, many students lack a local support system and prefer not to travel overseas. The hospitality and care provided by host families are fundamental to our mission, as they create a nurturing and supportive environment for students to thrive in.
What is a Host Family?
Why do students need Host Families?
Our role at Aspire Guardians is to find safe and welcoming host families to care for our students during holiday breaks as most UK boarding schools close over this time.
The process of locating suitable host families is one of the most important aspects of our work as a guardianship organisation. We recognise the significance of host families in providing a sense of home to students who are far away from their families. This task is challenging yet rewarding, as we ensure the well-being of our students by connecting them with reliable and compatible hosts.
Additionally, there are instances when international students may unexpectedly require accommodation with a host family such as cancelled flights or early flight arrivals resulting in a requirement for immediate hosting arrangements. In such situations, the extensive network of Aspire host families across the UK, particularly those situated near airports, proves invaluable. Their availability and proximity ensure that we can always provide swift and suitable solutions for our students during these unforeseen circumstances.
When will a Student stay with a Host Family?
Exeat Weekends
If your chosen school has compulsory exeat weekends, Aspire Guardians will arrange a host family for you. We understand the importance of providing accommodation during these periods, ensuring that you have a safe and welcoming environment to stay in. We will handle all the arrangements, ensuring a seamless experience for you during these exeat weekends.
During half term breaks, all schools close, requiring most students to leave and stay with a host family. Half term durations range between 9 to 16 nights. Aspire are aware of your school's specific term dates and will carefully select a trusted host family to ensure the well-being of your child during these breaks. You have peace of mind knowing that your child will be in a safe and nurturing environment during these extended breaks from school.
Half Term Holidays
Unexpected Events
Aspire is always prepared for the unexpected. We are committed to providing safe host family accommodation in various situations, including cancelled flights, early arrivals, late departures, and unplanned short absences from school. Our priority is to ensure the well-being of our students, and we are always ready to assist in such circumstances. You can rely on us to provide the necessary support and assistance whenever the need arises.
The safety and well-being of our students are of utmost importance. All Aspire host families undergo a thorough screening process that adheres to the AEGIS framework and our own high standards. AEGIS (The Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) sets stringent standards and conducts inspections to ensure the quality of our work.
Aspire staff are trained in Safer Recruitment, which provides guidance on recruiting staff and volunteers who work with children. When enrolling host families, we meticulously follow the Safer Recruitment Guidelines. This involves host families completing a comprehensive application form, participating in interviews and undergoing house inspections. Additionally, we conduct reference checks and perform Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) or enhanced criminal record checks.
Our house inspections are rigorous, encompassing checks on fire and smoke alarms and gas safety checks. We hold our host families to high standards to provide exceptional accommodation for our students.
Aspire ensure that each student is placed with the most suitable host family based on preferences to strive to create a comfortable and nurturing environment for all our students.
Recruiting a Host Family
What can Students expect from a Host Family?
At Aspire Guardians, our host families prioritise maintaining high standards within their homes, as evidenced by the successful completion of our house inspection process. These homes are clean and warm with central heating when required. Students may sometimes share a bathroom with other family members, and some host families may even offer an ensuite bathroom depending on location. Most host houses have a garden and ample shared space for students to relax.
Staying with a host family offers international students a genuine cultural experience. Sharing meals as a family encourages conversation and provides an opportunity for both the family and the student to learn about each other's cultures. Host families include students to ensure they feel like a part of their own family. Students will be invited to family events and outings such as barbecues, country walks, cinema trips and sports matches.
As part of their arrangement with Aspire Guardians, host families provide full board to students throughout the breaks and holidays. This includes three meals a day and snacks as needed. Breakfast typically consists of toast with jam and cereals on weekdays, with the possibility of a hot meal during weekends. Lunch in the UK is typically a cold meal, such as a sandwich, salad, fruit and a sweet treat. Evening meals are the main meal of the day and are generally always served hot.
The majority of host families in the UK have pets, typically dogs or cats. Having a pet around can help students feel more comfortable and at home. However, if students have allergies to pets, please inform us and we will make accommodations by selecting a host family without pets.
How do Aspire assign a Host Family for your Child?
At Aspire Guardians, assigning a host family for your child is a meticulous process based on over ten years of experience working with students and host families. We take pride in our ability to successfully match students with host families by actively listening to parents and students throughout their guardianship journey.
When parents enrol their child with us, we gather valuable information about their preferences, including likes and dislikes, allergies or food preferences, as well as considering their age and the profile of the host family. By taking all these factors into account, we consistently make suitable and successful matches.
In the rare instances where a student is not satisfied with our initial choice of host family, we have a no questions asked policy of moving the student for their next stay. Our ultimate priority is to ensure the safety and happiness of our students and host families. If they are not happy, we do not attempt to make it work but instead take immediate action to find a more compatible match.