Who are they?
Guardian families come in all varieties. Some have children at school; others may have grown-up children. Often they have lived abroad themselves and understand what it is like to be a visitor in another country where customs and day-to-day life may be unfamiliar. In all cases, however, we look for loving, responsible families who are committed to the welfare of our students and who appreciate the opportunity to welcome an overseas student into their homes.
What do they do?
Gabbitas guardians treat your child as one of their own. In summary, a guardian is responsible for:
- Providing a home at weekends away from school (exeats) and half term holidays. The guardian must be able to provide a separate bedroom for your child
- Involving your child in family activities. Many guardian families have children of their own and we ask that wherever possible that they include your child in these activities
- Liaison with your child’s school over matters of welfare and general progress
- Routine contact with parents
- Communication with the school and with Gabbitas over arrangements at weekends and half-terms
- Attending school functions whenever possible, e.g. concerts, parents’ evenings and speech days
- Liaison with the school over special arrangements for shopping, medical treatment etc
- Escorting your child to and from the airport at the beginning and end of each term (selected service levels only)
Where do they live?
We look for guardian families living near the school your child attends, not only to minimise travel time at weekends and half terms, but also so that they can attend parents' evenings and other events at school such as concerts or plays in which your child is taking part. Some have houses in towns or cities; others live in more rural locations. We ensure that they can provide a comfortable environment in which to relax or study during half term and exeat weekends. Houses vary a great deal in size and design from the very new to historic buildings like the one shown here.
How do we choose a family for your child?
We choose our families very carefully. First we ask you to tell us as much as possible about your child, his or her interests, personality and preferences, so that we can look for a family with whom your child will settle in well. Families are sometimes recommended by other guardians, by parents or schools. In other cases we invite applications from families who live near your child's school.
All prospective guardians are visited in their homes by a senior member of our department. This helps us to decide if the family is suitable to be a Gabbitas guardian family. We take up references and carry out full checks on the family's background before deciding whether or not to accept them for guardianship.
When we have found a family, which we think will suit your child, we contact you with the details. If you are happy with our recommendation, we arrange for your child to spend a "taster" weekend with the family. If this works well and your child is happy in their company, we confirm the arrangement.
Contact our Guardianship consultants for more information.
