Page 11 - Group Leader Handbook

Homestay Courses

Churchill House offers the possibility of homestay courses where students live with a local family and come into the school for
lessons, excursions and some activities. If you have homestay students traveling with you, please be aware of the differences
between homestay and residential courses.

Meals Laundry Travel to and from the school
 Homestay students have break- ● The host family will wash the stu-
● For classes and afternoon activities,
fast with their homestay every dent’s clothes and change their Homestay students travel to/from the
day bedding once a week after the
first week’s stay. school unaccompanied, either on foot
 Lunch on teaching days is provid- or by public transport.
ed in the dining room Student Illness
● Churchill House may include travel
 Packed lunches are provided by ● If a homestay student becomes
the homestay on full day excur- ill they cannot stay in their tickets in the price of the course if the
sion/optional days. homestay as 24/7 supervision is homestay is allocated a distance form
not available. Instead, they the school. Please check your booking
 When the students are required should come into the school.
to attend some evening activities Please speak to the Centre for clarification as this cannot be
(e.g. BBQ night) they are provided changed at the centre.
Manager.
dinner in the dining room. All oth-
er evenings they must return Visiting the families ● For evening activities, homestay
home to eat with their host fami- students travel to the school
● Group Leaders can arrange to
ly. independently.
visit the homestay hosts to
Activity Programme inspect the accommodation- ● To ensure the safety of children who
should be arranged in advance
● All homestay students must walk home we operate a ‘walking bus’
with the homestay coordinator.
attend all daytime activities, They will make an appointment system which we would expect Group
at a suitable time. Leaders to take part in.
● Homestay students have fewer
evening activities than Homestay problems ● If students are based further away, and
residential students, spending ● Students often report problems buses are used, we will provide the fare
the evening with their hosts with their homestays in the first and ensure the students get on the
48 hours after arrival

when they are not required to right bus and know which stop to get

come into school. off.
campus where their friends are

● The number of activity evenings staying. Safety and security on the journey to/from
and the night depends on the ● This isn’t always possible and is school
homestay programme for the not the accommodation their ● Students are not allowed any free time
centre. parents have purchased.
on their way to/from the school—they
● If your students report any
● Attendance for the scheduled must go directly between the school
problems, please let the centre
evening activities is not optional; and the homestay without any detours.
manager know and we will
students must attend all investigate for you.
activities and may not leave
early.

Homestay Course: Group Leader Responsibilities

Group Leaders have the same basic responsibilities with homestay groups as they do with residential groups; supervising students
and ensuring that they are safe and controlled. These are the key issues you will have to deal with:
Checking attendance on arrival—The GL has to check that all their students have arrived for lessons and activities.

Ensuring that students leave campus at the right time - Students have to return to their homestays at the end of activities and
they are required to check-out with their GL so that we are sure they have left home.

Student discipline— We need to be sure that homestay students understand the rules relating to staying in homestay as
homestay programmes are already more difficult to run and there are potentially a lot of problems that might occur.

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