Host Family Student Guide
ABBEY COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE 2021-22
Host Family Accommodation Guide for Students 2021-22
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Host Family Accommodation Guide for Students 2021-22
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Contents Welcome………………………………………………………………………..5 Statement of Boarding Principles & Practices……………………………...6 Term Dates……………………………………………………………………..7 The Host Family Team………………………………………………………..8 Your Host Family….…………………………………………………………..9 Host family accommodation……………………….……………………….10 Health and Safety in your host family……………………….………..11 - 12 Host Family Rules……………………………………………………………13 Rewards and Sanctions……………………………………………………...14 Complaints……………………………………………………………………15 Move requests………...………………………………………………………15 Morning routine and curfew………………………………………………..16 Weekday and weekend Routines……………………………………....17 -18 Overnight Absence…………………………………………………………..19 Accommodation Charges…………………………………………...………20 Medical Care, Illness & Absence from College & Medicines……….21 - 22 Useful Information………………………………………………………23 -24 Emergencies & Health Care Pharmacies Advice and Counselling Places of Worship……………………………………………………….........25 School shop and local amenities………………………………….……26 - 27 Abbey College Buildings……………………………………………………28
Host Family Accommodation Guide for Students 2021-22
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Host Family Accommodation Guide for Students 2021-22
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Welcome Welcome to your Abbey College Cambridge host family! I hope you will be very happy with your host family while you are studying at Abbey College Cambridge. All Abbey College Cambridge host families offer a friendly and well-located home for our students. All host families offer a balance between socialising with other Abbey students and allowing students to have a place to study and relax outside of the classroom. We hope that you find this booklet helpful for settling in as well as understanding what is required from you. Enjoy the year! Dr Julian Davies Principal, Abbey College Cambridge
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Statement of Boarding Principles & Practices Boarding Aim "To build a safe & happy community where our students can develop the skills needed for future independent living, within a professional, supportive & nurturing environment." Abbey College Cambridge aims to provide boarding facilities of the highest standard to allow students to thrive in their educational studies; this aim extends fully to our host families. We give our students an appropriate degree of independence while monitoring and being supportive of a healthy and safe lifestyle. We also take great care to help our students adjust to being away from home for what may be the first time. The ethos is of mutual respect which is maintained throughout the school, boarding host families and at all levels from the staff and students. Our students are cared for by experienced, caring and professional host families who are available to help our students at all times outside of the school day. Our host families take their meals with the students and are on hand for support and advice. Members of the accommodation team support our host families and are on hand to offer advice when required.
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The Host Family Team
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Your host family will: •
Ensure all students are happy and that all the rules are followed
• •
• •
Look after the welfare of students while in the host family Make sure everyone is attending all meals (students are expected to share meals with their family Sunday – Wednesday as a minimum, unless agreed beforehand with their host, due to evening clubs etc.) Make sure students are in their host family by curfew every night of each week (curfew time varies depending on age) Make sure all students are in their rooms at bedtime Always be available and support for students in their home if there is an issue
•
Report any issues concerning behaviour to the accommodation team
• •
Provide a weekly linen change and a personal laundry service Liaise with the accommodation team over any issues with damage or breakages
•
Your host family phone number is provided on your booking letter. Please store this number in your mobile.
In an emergency you can also contact the emergency phone on: 07584 705720
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Host family accommodation Abbey College Cambridge host families provide a well-located home for our students, with most families within a 20 minute walk of school. Living in a host family offers you a balance between socialising with other Abbey students, and allowing you to have an ideal place to study and relax outside of the classroom. Your single bedroom in your host family provides high quality accommodation, with access to a shared bathroom. The boarding team at school will offer and run a program of activities to make sure you get the most out of studying and living in the UK. This will include home based study and weekend leisure, sports and cultural activity programs. All students in host families are invited and expected to join in with activities at school. Room In your room you will find all items needed to make your stay comfortable, you have a single/double bed, with clean sheets and warm bedding. There is a desk for you to study at, as well as wardrobes and drawers in which to keep your clothes. Your room will be cleaned once per week, and at this time your bed linen will also be changed. Internet The wireless facility is available for you to use throughout your host family. Ask your host for the details you need to connect. The internet will be turned off in the evening at 11pm and back on in the morning at 7am. You are not permitted to arrange your own internet/broadband supply. Meals All host students are accommodated full board. Your host family will provide you with breakfast and dinner Monday-Friday in term time, and all meals at the weekend. Students will have lunch at school Monday-Friday during term time Laundry and bedding Your bed linen will be changed once per week by your host family. Your host family will wash your clothes for you; they will advise you which day of the week your laundry will be taken. If you have allergies to washing powder or wish to use a specific type of washing powder, please speak to your host family or the accommodation team at school. It is usual to have one wash per week, however if you need more or have special requirements, this can be arranged.
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Health and Safety in your host family Personal Possessions Please store all valuable personal possessions in your safe/storage box provided by your host family and keep this locked. If you unsure then please speak to your host family or the accommodation team. You should not keep more than £50 cash in your safe/storage box at any one time. Security and keys You will be provided with a key to your host family, do not lose this key. If you do lose your key, please inform your host family immediately. You may be charged for a replacement key or your host may wish to replace the complete lock. You will be charged for this (see page 20) Make sure that when you leave your host family that you lock the door behind you and close any gates. Always make sure your bedroom door is closed when you leave for school. Kitchen You may be allocated a cupboard in the kitchen in which to store dry food items. Cooking is not permitted in host families, although with supervision, some hosts may allow this. You must be aware of potential burn risks to yourself and other students when using the kitchen, for example steam and hot dishes from the microwave. You will be expected to help keep the kitchen clean by ensuring crockery and glassware are washed after use and loaded into the dishwasher. Fire Safety Your host family will test the smoke alarm with you, and will explain what to do if the fire alarm sounds. If a fire alarm sounds, you must leave your host family immediately – do not stop to collect your belongings. Please make sure you understand what you are expected to do, and you are aware of where the exits are in the house. Portable heaters are not allowed in bedrooms. If you are feeling cold in your bedroom your host can provide you with an additional blanket or duvet. Electric bed blankets are not permitted. First Aid If you have an accident please inform your host family; they will help you.
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Electrical Safety If you have bought electrical equipment from your home country, you must use an appropriate adaptor. You must ask permission to use additional extension sockets as doing so may overload the system and present a fire risk. Please only use adaptors bought in the UK. Your host family will look at your equipment and may have to remove items which are dangerous. Rice cookers and kettles are not allowed in student bedrooms. Students should ensure they turn off electrical items such as hair straighteners and laptops when they leave for school in the morning. If these items are found switched on when you are not there, these items may be removed by your host family. Electrical items switched on and left unattended are a fire risk. Bike safety
All students riding a bike should wear a cycle helmet. Please speak to your host family if you need advice on buying one. Please also make sure you buy a good strong lock, as like any university city, Cambridge suffers from a real problem with bike theft. Graham and Stephanie often stand outside the front of school in the morning and will speak to you if you aren’t wearing the correct equipment for your safety.
Mail Students should not have parcels sent to their host family – parcels can easily be delivered to school. Reception will notify you via email and text message when the parcel you have sent to school has been delivered.
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Host Family Rules •
All students must return to their host family at their designated curfew time
•
All students must be in their room at their required bed time
•
All students should advise their host family when they leave advising where they are going, who with and what time they expect to return home
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No smoking is permitted in the host family
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No alcohol is to be brought into the host family or consumed anywhere within the host family. Students must not return intoxicated
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No tea lights, candles or incense anywhere in the host family or grounds
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No loud music
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No unauthorised guests are allowed in the host family – inform your host family if you wish to bring a friend home, and never to your bedroom
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Students may not go into another students’ room, studying should be completed in communal areas of the host family only
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Always close your door if you are not in the room
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Do not give your house key to any other person
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You must keep your room clean and tidy (the host family will clean your room but only if they can access your room, it is not their job to tidy your room)
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If the fire alarm/smoke alarm sounds, then you must leave the host family home immediately: walk, do not run
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Hallways must be kept clear to allow exit in the case of fire
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You must not tamper or move any of the fire equipment or signs
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Students are expected to eat meals at their allocated times, and should advise their host in good time, if they will be late home/out for dinner
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Hot food is to be eaten in the kitchen/dining room only, not in bedrooms or other areas
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Overuse of laptops and computer games after curfew will result in items being taken by your host family at curfew. School will fully support your host family with this.
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All Prescribed medication must be stored safely in your suitcase/locked safe and Matron must be informed
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Important documents and high value items must be stored in your locked safe/storage box
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Activities, Rewards & Sanctions We want to support an active, inclusive and happy community in our host families, and we want to celebrate your success! We encourage working together as a group/community and such instances deserve praise. For example, if you help to keep your host family and your rooms clean and tidy, if you help the host family plan and organise an activity or meal, or you get involved in community events together, we will celebrate this success. The Accommodation Rules are in place to keep you and the rest of the students in your host family safe, support your learning and to comply with UK law. If you break the rules, the Head of Accommodation and Student Enrolment and/or your housemaster will meet with you to discuss your behaviour and agree a plan of support. If you continue to break the rules, you may be referred to the Director of Boarding and your parents will be informed.
Student Voice There are lots of ways of getting involved at Abbey College Cambridge, it is important that students can make their voice heard and their contribution count. There are various ways Abbey College Cambridge facilitates this: • • • • •
Student Council Student Surveys Suggestion Box House Meetings One-to-One meetings with teachers/tutors/mentors/housemasters
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Complaints & Compliments If your host family is doing something well and you would like to see it continued or developed, please do tell your host and tell the team at school, everyone likes a compliment. If there is something you feel your host could do a little better, then please tell us either informally or through the complaints procedure.
Informal Complaint If you have a complaint about your host family and your home, you should speak to the Head of Accommodation and Student Enrolment Stephanie Stafford. Stephanie will consider how to resolve the complaint most effectively. She will discuss this with you and, during term time, will try and resolve the issue within five school days of the complaint being made.
Formal complaint If Stephanie is unable to resolve your complaint and you wish to make a formal complaint, it will then be passed onto the Principal, Dr Julian Davies.
Move requests Students may request to move to another host family or into boarding, and must speak to Stephanie about this as a first step. Host families should have four weeks’ notice in writing of a student’s intention to move, from the Accommodation Team. Students should also pay their four weeks’ notice period. In turn a host can request a student to move, and again four weeks’ notice and payment should be provided. Such moves are only possible after consulting with the Head of Accommodation and Student Enrolment. Students requesting to move accommodation, usually do so for the following reasons: •
Distance from school
•
Food not to their taste
•
Desire to move into college accommodation
•
Parental requests for the student to move
•
Poor attendance warranting a move close to school or into boarding
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Morning routine and curfew Students living in a host family, will be given the opportunity to display independence with getting up on time and out to school for morning registration. It may be requested from the Head of Accommodation and Student Enrolment that those students who need a little help with their punctuality, start to receive a wakeup call from their host. Curfew and bedtime rules are displayed in all student rooms across the whole of Abbey College Cambridge, including all host families and boarding accommodation. These rules should be followed at all times. Your host family will check you are in your room at curfew, if you are not there, then the missing student procedure will be followed. If you require an extended curfew for a particular event, then this can be requested. You need to speak to your host family and they in turn may speak to the Head of Accommodation and Student Enrolment at school. Equally if you wish for an earlier curfew, please ask your host. If you are going to be late for curfew, you must let your host know by calling them. If you ignore your host when they try to contact you, then you will have to speak to the Head of Accommodation and Student Enrolment and may be set a sanction.
Curfew and bedtime vary depending on age, please look at the charts on the following pages for the correct time. This should also be displayed in your room.
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Weekday and weekend routines Daily routines vary depending on student age. Routines also vary on weekdays and weekends. Please see the information in the box below for your age. Students aged 16
Weekdays
Breakfast and leave for school (time as advised by your host)
07:15-08:45am
Clubs/free time
From end of school until dinner
Dinner (as advised by your host) Students are expected to eat dinner with
5-7:30pm
their host family Sunday-Wednesday as a minimum
Prep/independent study
7:30-8pm
Curfew (must be in host family)
9pm
Bedtime (no noise)
10pm (Sunday – Thursday)
On the weekend, a different routine is in place. Students aged 16
Weekends
Breakfast (as advised by your host)
08:30-10:00am
Clubs/ activities/ events/free time
Agreed with host
(maximum 5 hours at a time—must inform host where going) Prep/independent study (as required)
1-3 hours per day as needed
Dinner (as advised by your host)
5-7:30pm
Curfew (must be in host family)
9:30pm
Bedtime (no noise)
11pm (Friday and Saturday)
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Students aged 17+
Weekdays
Breakfast and leave for school (time as advised by your host)
07:15-08:15am
Clubs/prep/free time
From end of school until dinner
Dinner (as advised by your host) Students are expected to eat dinner with
5-7:30pm
their host family Sunday-Wednesday as a minimum
Prep/independent study (as required)
Until 8pm
Curfew (must be in host family)
9:30pm
Bedtime (no noise)
10:30pm
On the weekend, a different routine is in place. Students aged 17+
Weekends
Breakfast (as advised by your host)
08-10am
Free time
Agreed with host
Prep/independent study (as required)
1-3 hours per day as needed
Dinner (as advised by your host)
5-7:30pm
Curfew (must be in host family)
10:30pm
Bedtime (no noise)
11pm (Friday and Saturday)
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Overnight Absence Staying away overnight at the weekend is possible, however your parents or approved guardian, must give permission a week in advance. If your studies are up to date and you have a positive attitude to school life, then permission will be given by school from the Head of Accommodation and Student Enrolment. Your host will be emailed by school confirming approval once communication is received from your parents. Please note that overnight absences mid-week are not permitted apart from in exceptional circumstances. Permission for an overnight stay should be requested by your parents by emailing the Head of Accommodation and Student Enrolment, detailing the information in the table below. The Head of Accommodation and Student Enrolment will then inform your host family directly if the stay is approved. stephanie.stafford@abbeycambridge.co.uk Date of absence Address where you are staying Name of adult you are staying with Contact number of adult Email of adult Relationship of adult to the student How are you travelling to address Expected time of return Overnight absence is a privilege and will only be granted if the absence does not impact on your studies and you have demonstrated sufficient levels of personal responsibility. Students requiring absence during the school day for example to attend an interview, must have permission from their housemaster.
Weekend activities The boarding team run a wide range of activities for all students of Abbey College Cambridge to participate in at the weekends. Events such as film nights, FIFA football challenges, cultural evenings and quiz’s will be arranged. All host family students are encouraged to join in with these events.
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Accommodation Charges 2021-22 Please take care of your room and report any damages to your host family. If you damage your room or items in your room on purpose, one or more of the following charges may apply: • Full room deep clean - £150 (excluding carpets) • Carpet clean - £75 • Wax removal from carpet - £75 • Bathroom floor polish due to staining - £75 • Damage to walls (dents, scratches, holes and staining) - £150 plus cost of repainting • Redecoration/repaint due to non-standard wear and tear - £300-£1500 dependent on room size • Removal and disposal of items left behind at end of school year - £150 per bag • Damage to furnishings, appliances, window restrictors kitchen items or doors/locks - cost of replacement at the time of damage • Tampering with smoke alarm or switching off fuse box - £300 and possible legal consequences • Smoking in room - £50 fine + £150 deep clean • Replacement carpet - cost of replacement at the time of the damage • Replacement key - cost of a lock change and new key (confirmed by host family) • Replacement of broken/lost kitchen/bathroom items - cost of replacement at the time of damage Please note: Misuse or removal of fire safety features and equipment, or non-compliance with essential fire safety instructions will not be tolerated in any circumstances and may be treated as criminal offences. Smoking is prohibited by law in virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed work and public places throughout the UK (Health Act 2006) If you incur any charges, the accommodation team will contact your parents, and the money will be taken from your school deposit.
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Medical Care & Illness Please contact your host family during the night if you are feeling unwell, in the daytime at school please see Matron •
During induction and re-registration, the school Matron and the Boarding Team will help you register with a General Practitioner (GP/Doctor)
•
If you are unwell outside of College hours (in the evening, at night and before 9am), you must tell your host family. All our host families have been trained by Matron and will care for you and arrange medical advice and treatment.
•
If you are unwell, you must telephone reception before 08:15am on school days and report your absence. You should also make sure your host family is aware that you are unwell. Your absence will not be authorised until you have been assessed by the Matron.
•
If you are unwell during college hours, you must tell your teacher or Reception, they will refer you to the Matron
•
College staff are trained in First Aid, and are the first people to turn to in the case of illness or accident during the school day.
The Medical Centre is open to see Matron Monday – Friday 0800-1600 in term time. Students need to report the need to see matron to the reception staff and they will book an appointment.
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Medicines •
All medicines and homely remedies brought with you from home, should be shown to the Matron during induction, and may be kept by matron at school. Students will sign a disclaimer to advise they have declared all medicines.
•
Only students who have medicines prescribed and authorised by a doctor with prior parental permission received, will be allowed to keep their medicines. All other medicines will be stored by the Matron and given back to students either at the end of term or at the end of their time studying with Abbey College Cambridge.
•
Medicines not authorised for use in the UK, will be safely stored by the Matron
•
Students in need of medicine will have an appointment arranged with the GP as a priority
•
Students must not share or lend their medicines to other students.
•
Prescribed medicines should be stored safely, locked away and secure.
•
Matron may visit your host family to review the medicines that you have
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Useful Information Emergencies & Health Care Fire / Ambulance / Police
Dial 999
The operator will ask you calmly to say which service you require. You will then be transferred and you will be asked to state your name, address you are calling from and telephone number BEFORE they ask you about your emergency. Please do not worry about this. The services will have already been sent to your location. Abbey College Cambridge Emergency 07584 705720 Phone (24 hour response in the case of emergencies) Parkside Police Station (Cambridgeshire Dial 101 Constabulary) General Practise Woodlands Surgery)
(Local
Emergency Dentist)
(Out
Dentist
NHS Direct information
Doctor, 01223 697600
of
(telephone
Hours 01223 723093
health 111
Regent Street Dental Practice
01223 355923
Emergency services
999
Pharmacies For advice on common problems, minor illness and over the counter medicines:
Boots Cherry Hinton Road
237 Cherry Hinton Road
GFT Davies Pharmacy
50 Hills Road
Boots New Market Road
320 Cambridge Retail Park (open until late)
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Advice and Counselling Choices (Sexual Abuse)
01223 358149
ChildLine
0800 1111
Private Counselling is also available via the pastoral team – this is strictly confidential, please speak to a member of staff.
Independent Listener, Student Support Workers Monday-Friday 5pm-8pm
Lee Parker Performance Coach Betty Ko, Performance Coach
Students can also contact the following for advice and guidance;
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner 020 7783 8330 www.childrenscommissioner.co.uk
The National Children’s Bureau www.ncb.org.uk
ChildLine www.childline.org.uk MIND www.mind.org.uk
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Places of Worship •
Quakers, Friends Meeting House, 12 Jesus Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8BA
•
Baha'I Faith, 27 Worts Causeway, Cambridge, CB1 8RJ
•
Arbury Community Church, 263 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JL
•
Unitarian Church, Emmanuel Road, Cambridge, CB1 1JW
•
Eden Baptist Chapel, Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, CB1 1ER
•
Wesley Methodist Church, Christ’s Pieces, Cambridge, CB1 1LG
•
Our Lady & The English Martyrs Roman Catholic Church, Catholic Rectory, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 1JR
•
Abu Bakr Jamia Mosque, 1a Mawson Road, CB1 2DZ
•
Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue, Cockcroft Place CB3 OHF
•
Buddhist Centre 38 Newmarket Rd Cambridge CB5 8DT
•
Korean Church meet at St Andrews Street Baptist Church on Sundays
•
Cambridge Chinese Christian Church, see website for details, www.cccc.org.uk
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School shop and local amenities Living and learning in Cambridge is a privilege as there are so many things to see and do. The boarding team will update the notice boards outside the dining room regularly with information on what’s going on in the local area and at school. Your host family will also receive updates from school of events that are going on. For your ease there is a small selection of products available from the school shop based in reception, see price list on following page. The Co-operative, Sainsbury’s and Tesco are all good supermarkets and are located on the leisure park at the top of Purbeck Road where there is also a cinema, bowling, gym and restaurants. Your host family will advise you of the whereabouts of the nearest shop to your home. Cambridge has two main shopping centres, The Grand Arcade and The Grafton Centre. If you need any help or advice on the local amenities, please ask your host family.
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Abbey Cambridge Student Shop - Price List 2021-22 Please ask a member of the team at reception for any of the items below
Black Biro
30p
Pritt Stick 11g
£1.00
Edding Handwriting Pen
£1.00
HB Pencil
25p
Casio fx-991EX Calculator for AS – L6 A-Level maths only
£24.00
Highlighter Pen
35p
Note Pad (small)
£1.50
Pukka Pad Note Pads (A5 medium)
£4.00
Pukka A4 punched notepads
£5.00
5 Star Rubber
65p
Q-Connect Shatterproof Ruler
50p
Compass
50p
Protractor
50p
Aloe Vera/Kleenex Tissue {pack of 1}
30p
Always/Lil-Lets Sanitary Towel
£1.50
Tresemme Shampoo
£1.50
Head and Shoulders Shampoo
£1.50
Original Source/Sanex Shower Gel
£1.50
Milton Travel Anti-bacterial Gel Hand-Wash
£1.50
Nivea Small Deodorant (Male)
£1.50
Dove Small Deodorant (Female)
£1.50
Toothbrush
£1.00
Colgate Toothpaste
£1.50
Travel Blue UK Travel Adaptor
£4.00
Duracell Batteries AA {pack of 4}
£2.50
Duracell Batteries AAA {pack of 4}
£2.50
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