Host Family Frequently Asked
Questions
If you cannot find the answer to your question then please contact us via our web form ! A host family can be:
(There must always be a woman in the house for any female students) Complete the application registration and the self declaration forms. Post them to Donnybrook Homestays. These forms MUST be completed before we can accept you as a host family.
Note: It is expected that in the near future a Police Check will also be required for all host families hosting juniors. Yes, we will phone to make a convenient appointment. We need to meet you and ensure your accommodation is suitable, discuss with you the aspects of hosting, and answer any more questions you may have. Q4 In what areas of the UK do you have host families?
A mini-stay is a group of school students visiting with their teachers, usually arriving on their own coach (sometimes by air/train). They are usually senior school children aged 11-18. They usually stay 2-6 nights and are out every day from 8.30am – 7pm. They have a central meeting point where they meet every morning and return to every evening. You must collect them on arrival and return them on departure. During the stay they can walk to and from their meeting point if they are 14 years or older and it is within 15 minutes walk, otherwise you must escort them daily. They must not use public transport on their own. This type of stay is usually Full Board. Q6 What is a junior language stay? This is a group of students aged 10-18 attending a language course with their leaders. They usually stay 1-4 weeks. You must collect them on arrival and return them on departure. During their stay they will make their own way to and from school. They usually have travel cards/bus passes. They sometimes have evening activities. This type of stay is usually Full Board. This is for tourists (individuals, couples, families) staying usually about 3-7 nights on holiday. Occasionally they may require evening dinner. You will need to live near a train station. Q8 What is an individual adult on a language course/work placement? This is a person 18 years or older (usually under 30) who is either:
This type of stay is usually half Board Q9 What is a Police Check? This is a document that shows any Police information about your having a criminal record. The Subject Access form can be obtained from your local police station. On completion it should be sent with £10 to the address on the form. After about 1 month you will receive a paper stating any information the police hold about you. This should then be sent to us (the original, not a copy). We will return this to you. (Metropolitan police check form. Non-London host families should contact their own police force for the equivalent form) Q10 Why do I need a police check? As we may be placing juniors students or young adult females with you it is important that we know you have no criminal record which may affect their safety in your home Q11 How old are your students? All ages depending on which type of booking is placed with you. Many school mini-stays are 12-16 years. Junior language students are 10-18 years. Individual adults (usually 18-30) book language courses and work placements. Bed & Breakfast bookings are adults with/without children. (Our Registration form allows you the choice of selecting who you will accept.) Q12 Can I be a Host Family if I work full time? Yes, most students are out between 8am and 6pm week days. We will discuss with you during our visit the most suitable students for you. Q13 What does a host family have to do? We expect host families to welcome students into their homes and treat them as one of the family throughout their stay. It may be necessary for you to collect and return your students to a central meeting point on arrival/departure days and sometimes daily. It is very important to talk to them and eat with them as much as possible as they are usually here to improve their English Q14 What does a host family have to provide? A clean bed for each guest in single/twin/double/triple/quad room as booked. Meals as requested – usually Continental breakfast, a packed lunch to take with them and a meal in the evening. (see guidelines for more details). Clean towel if requested. A friendly safe environment with plenty of conversation and hospitality. Q15 How long do students stay for? Mini-stays come for 2-13 days. Language stays are from 1 week to 1 month but we do have some students who stay 3,6 and 9 months and even 1 academic year. Work placement students book from 2 weeks to 6 months. Bed & Breakfast clients stay from 3 days to 1 month. Q16 Where do they go during the day? Mini-stay students go out on a coach or by train every day to visit London or other cities. Language students attend a Language school Monday-Friday and sometimes have excursions at weekends, occasionally they may have free week ends. Work placement students are placed in a company for work training. Bed & Breakfast guests are here sightseeing. Q17 Can they go out in the evening? Mini-stay students under 18 are not allowed out without supervision of an adult unless advised otherwise. Language students often have evening activities but you will be advised of any curfew time for each student. Adults have no restrictions and we advise you give them a key. Q18 Do they go out at weekends? Mini-stays are out every day. Language students usually have Saturday on excursion. Sunday varies from group to group. Adults amuse themselves at week ends. Q19 Am I responsible for them? Group leaders are generally responsible for students under 18. Your responsibility is to ensure a safe environment in your home. You must not let students out in the evenings alone unless told otherwise. If you do, and should anything then happen to them, you could be responsible. Q20 How do they get to me? Mini-stay and Junior Language Course students must be collected from, and returned to, a central meeting point on arrival and departure. Some young mini-stay students must be collected and delivered daily. Individual adults for language courses, work placements and B&B guests make their own way to and from you. Q21 Do I have a choice on Male/Female, Adults/Children? Yes, You can choose male/female adult/child. Families who are the most flexible receive the most bookings as we do not always have the sex/age you prefer but we will always bear in mind your preferences. It depends on which centre, age, length of stay, meals required, number in a room and type of booking. The rates for 2008 vary between £12-£15. per night. You will be advised of the rate for each booking made with you. As a guideline, for adult students at a language school in a single room we pay on average £14 per night and for Mini -stay junior students with 2/3/4 sharing a room we pay on average £12.00 per night Q23 What nationality are your students? French, German, Dutch, Austrian, Polish, Italian, Belgian, Hungarian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Danish, Czech, Slovenian, Japanese mainly. Q24 What happens if they complain? Usually this is due to a misunderstanding in communication. However if the problem cannot be resolved by talking to you and your students we can move the student(s) to another family. You would be paid for the accommodation you have provided. Q25 How do you pay? When? We pay by BACS or cheque. For stays up to 1 week we pay at the end of the stay, for stays up to 4 weeks we pay during the last week of the stay. For longer stays we pay at monthly intervals. If you choose to be paid by cheque, then the cheque is available for you to collect on departure at the meeting point for groups. (For individuals the cheque is posted). Q26 What if I don’t get on with my student(s)? We try to solve the problems by talking to you and your student but if this fails we will move your student to another family. Q27 How many can I have at a time? Mini-stay students are placed 2/3/4 per family. Junior language stays usually 2/3 per family. Adult language/Work placement students usually 1or 2 per family. For Bed & Breakfast stays this depends on the client. Students from different groups should be of different mother tongues so they have to speak English to each other. Bathroom facilities, number of bedrooms and number of your family members determine how many students are actually acceptable in your house. Q28 Can I take students from other organisations? Yes, providing they are of a different mother tongue and in a different room. We do like to know if you have other students in. Q29 Do I have to give them a key? Not necessary for mini-stay students or language students younger than 18 years of age. Students over 18 and all adults do need a key. Q30 Who do I contact if there is a problem? For students from a group you should contact their leader, their language school or us. For individuals either their language school or us. When bookings are confirmed to you by letter you will be given a contact number. Q31 What if they become sick and need a doctor? For juniors contact their leaders, school or us. If it is a minor ailment sometimes just a day in bed is sufficient….contact us if this is difficult for you. If necessary take them to your doctor. If this is not possible or it is more serious their leader will take them to the local hospital. Do NOT give any medicines to any junior student……they may have an allergic reaction to it. For any adult help them by taking them to a chemist, doctor, hospital or any appropriate action. Please always let us know!!! A message on the answer machine (if you cannot talk to us), will be received soon after and we can get back to you. Treat them as you would your own family. Q32 How often will I have students? Our Catford and Bromley centres are very busy and most host families can have students nearly every week if they wish - especially if they are very flexible on the type of stay they accept. Q33 How do you book me? Once you have registered we either telephone you to check your availability for a booking and then send a confirmation letter, or for our regular families we assume are free, you will just receive the confirmation letter. If you are unable to accept any booking please let us know as soon as possible so we can make alternative arrangement for the student(s). Q34 Can I have time off between hosting? Yes, some families only accept students Monday-Friday (weekends off). Some like time off between bookings to spend time with their families or for holidays or other commitments. Some families want to be as busy as possible. The choice is yours. Copyright © 2007
Donnybrook. All rights reserved.
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