What is a host family?

A host family lives near your child’s school and provides care for your child during holiday periods. They essentially become the ‘English Mum and Dad’ to your child. Many host families have worked in the education system and will always meet the very highest standard. Each host family is met personally by Pippa’s Guardians and has full security clearance whilst meeting excellence in providing accommodation and meals of the highest standard. Your child will have a room of their own with a desk and will be provided with three meals a day. More importantly your child will be encouraged to integrate into the family and experience living day-to-day with a British family.

How is a host family selected?

The relationship between the host family and your child is crucial so every effort is made to meet your child’s interests and hobbies with those of the host family. The host family will endeavour to assimilate your child into the English culture and will offer opportunities to visit cinemas, theatres and other places of interest. Ultimately a host family provides a safe, relaxed and comfortable environment for your child to prosper and grow whilst studying in the UK.

Many long lasting friendships have developed over the years between the host families and students they have cared for.

Examples of host families

The Lennards

Tim, Deborah, Hugo, Nancy and Maddie from Malvern.
Tim works in London and and the children go to school locally.

The Lennard’s have hosted international students for nine years and have cared for twenty students in this time. They have regular students whom they have enjoyed caring for and have hosted students from Russia, China, Japan, Germany and Austria.

The most memorable experiences are those done as a family such as baking, playing football and going to the cinema.

Deborah says ‘she trusts Pippa’s Guardians completely – they work so hard with their students to get to know then and care for them and place them with host families right for them. We really enjoy hosting students and we miss them when its time for them to move on.’

The Reis’s

Sarah, Steve, Sian and Sam Reis from Cheltenham.
Steve is an IT consultant, Sarah is a school administrator, and Sian and Sam are local students. Sian is currently studying Economics, Geography and Maths at A level and Sam is about to start GCSE.

The Reis’s started hosting international students in 2005 and have cared for twenty one students in this time. Memorable moments included going to the local Centre park (family holiday centre) and many sporting events. They also particularly enjoy chocolate fountains!

Sarah says that ‘we treat all our guests as part of the family and help and advice are always available.’