how do I choose a uk guardian?
There are many guardianship companies offering to take care of your child while they study in the UK. The choice can be confusing.
Are you finding it hard to choose an educational guardian? Here are some pointers to help guide you in making this all-important decision for you and your child.
do they have accreditation?
Anyone can be a guardian technically but how do you know they are operating legally and doing all the necessary screening checks on families and drivers? If the guardianship company has accreditation it means that they have had independent inspectors checking out they processes. AEGIS - The Association for The Education & Guardianship for International Students) is the only accrediting body in the UK who do this for guardianship companies so look out for this logos.
Bright World Guardianships is accredited to Gold Standard and has been a member of AEGIS since 2006. We have years of experience which counts for a lot.
are they efficient?
You need your guardian to know what they are doing and have efficient systems to make sure everything goes smoothly. The last thing you want is your student stuck at an airport with no driver or no host family to go to at half term or in an emergency.
A good gauge of how efficient they are could be how quickly they respond to your initial enquiry.
At Bright World we have a rigorous and ongoing training programme for our staff and host families and one of the most important lessons they learn is the importance of a fast and efficient response to calls or emails. Try us out and we are confident you will not be disappointed.
who is driving my child around?
It is not possible to get a Taxi Driver Licence in the UK without a DBS check but that does not mean that a driver does not have a criminal record. Does your guardian conduct DBS checks on all drivers and actually check their record? If they will not provide this information then beware.
All Bright World drivers are checked and follow our Safer Recruitment process and sign our Drivers' Charter. We offer a caring and efficient transportation service.
is my child going to be safe at half terms?
Will you receive full details about the host family chosen for your son or daughter? Will they have been visited by a member of the guardianship company and is this inspection properly recorded. How often are families reinspected?
Does your guardian take the time to ask your student how they got on at the family, allowing them plenty of time to tell them if they felt uncomfortable in any way? Is every member of the family who lives there given a DBS check and is that DBS check clear, i.e. they have no criminal record?
We check on a student during each stay and afterwards to make sure they were happy.
With a Gold standard AEGIS accredited guardian like Bright World this is our minimum standard of care when it comes to host families.
are they nice, approachable and professional people?
A good guardian should understand the worry you will feel when sending your student abroad. They will also understand how your student might feel leaving home for the first time. Make sure the guardianship company you choose really do care and treat you, your student's family and your student with the respect you deserve.
am I getting value for money?
Be suspicious of programmes that look very cheap. They may have hidden costs that come out as the year goes along, variant host family costs, extra costs for extra visits etc. Operating a high quality programme with educated, well paid staff, top notch management systems as well as ensuring safeguarding standards are maintained is an expensive business.
Bright World offers value for money whilst maintaining a high standard of care. With the option of choosing an Essential service if you do not need a host family this helps keep the cost down and the service level high.
