SABLE
GUARDIANS Parent handbook
WELCOME TO
SABLE
GUARDIANS
This handbook contains lots of useful information that should help you when your child comes to the UK to study. Once you have had a chance to read through it please do let us know if you have any questions. We are here to help you!
We have a team of regional staff based across the UK, one of whom will visit your child’s school and will be your Sable Guardians contact. We are looking forward to meeting your children soon and will let you have the name and contact details of your local regional team member shortly.
Our role as your Educational Guardian is to support your child through their journey of study during their time in the UK. The most important message that we would like to share with you is: “If there Is anything at all that you are worried or concerned about with regards to your child PLEASE ASK – it doesn’t matter how small this may seem, we are here to help you every step of the way. We can’t help you if we don’t know what the problem is!”
If you have chosen our premium service this means that your child will be staying with a host family during some of the school breaks. Your child will have been given a copy of our “guide to staying with a host family”. We will ensure that you as parents or carers have a copy of this so that you have a clear understanding of the role of the host and how this fits with our service.
If you have chosen the standard service, this means that you do not require a host family.
We understand that living and studying in another country, away from home, should be an exciting time for your children but they may also find it challenging at times. Both Sable Guardians and your child’s school or college want to ensure that they make the most of their time in the UK. If you believe that your child needs help and support and they are not asking for this, please do let us know.
When your child first arrives at the school or college it may feel very daunting for them and also for you as parents. This is quite normal, and speaking from personal experience, parents often find it more difficult than the children! Within the boarding house will be the House Master or Mistress and House Assistants or Matrons. If your children are living in college Halls of Residence, there will be staff on hand to help with any questions that they may have, so please encourage your children to ask.
SETTLING INTO SCHOOL OR COLLEGE IN THE UK
Settling into a new way of life in the UK at school or college may not always be easy for your children and it may be the case that at first they feel homesick.
This is quite normal and do rest assured that lots of children feel like this when they first come to the UK. Some of course won’t have any problems at all. When your children are first away from their friends and family it can be hard for them to cope and they may be contacting you frequently. If you feel that they are upset or sad please let us know so that we can talk to them and also let the staff at the school or college know. It’s quite usual for your child to feel like this and from experience these feelings will pass as they adapt to their new environment.
Make sure that you keep in touch with your child, it is sometimes a good idea to suggest that they contact you in their own time. This may well be part of their coping strategy, but of course we do understand that it can be difficult for parents at home waiting for a call. The school or college will be keeping your child busy and they may not have much time to call so please try not to worry if you don’t hear from them. Please also remember that some schools will have strict rules around when children are allowed to use their phones (particularly for younger children) so it may not always be easy for your children to get in touch.
ARRIVING IN THE UK:
Depending on whether you are accompanying your child to the UK or they are travelling alone, here are some practicable tips to follow that may help you or your child when they first arrive in the UK.
Depending on where your child is studying their transportation will be different:
• You may be travelling with your child to the UK and accompanying them to school or college.
• If your child is travelling alone their school or college may have arranged transport to meet them at the airport.
You may have asked Sable Guardians to arrange transport for you.
Whatever your plans are your child should have been given details of where and how to find their driver or transport. If you have any problems please let either the school or college or Sable Guardians know. Please stress to your child the importance of not going off with anyone they are unsure about.
BRITISH
CULTURE
On the surface British people may appear to be very reserved, however on the whole they are a nation of friendly people who welcome foreign visitors. Your children will notice that British people say “Please” and “Thank you” very often. This is considered polite and is an important part of everyday life. Queuing - or waiting in line as it is often referred to - is important in the UK and happens almost everywhere – you may experience this on arrival at the airport! Anyone pushing in or jumping the queue will be considered rude.
BULLYING
We very much hope that the time your child spends studying in the UK is happy and successful. As with all friendships worldwide, sometimes things go wrong and this could result in someone being the victim of bullying. Bullying of any form should not be tolerated.
Sable Guardians has an “anti-bullying policy” which is available if you need to see it. If you think your child is being bullied or cyber-bullied, you need to let staff at the school or college know, and please do talk to us if you have any concerns.
WEATHER:
The weather in UK winters can feel very cold if you have come from a hot sunny climate. During the year the climate can vary from as low as -10c with snow in January to hot and sunny 35c in June. Please ensure that your child has suitable clothing for the changeable British weather.
PREVENT:
In 2011 the UK Government published a strategy known as “Prevent”. The strategy has 3 aims;
• To respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threats the UK faces from those who promote it.
• To prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support.
To work with sectors and institutions where there may be particular risks of radicalisation.
All Sable Guardians staff have undergone training on how to recognise signs of radicalisation. If you have any concerns for your children, please let us know as soon as possible.
USEFUL INFORMATION
WATER:
Tap water in the UK is safe to drink. It may be a good idea to buy a reusable water bottle for your child. This is more environmentally friendly, most people have a reusable container which they fill up before they go out each day and then use water fountains at school/college to top up. Many cafes also now provide water free of charge.
ELECTRICITY:
Electricity in the UK works on 240 volts and most sockets take 13amp square plugs. If your children are bringing electrical equipment to the UK this will need to be checked by the school to make sure that it is compatible before use in the boarding house. It may be the case that you need to buy an adaptor, these can be purchased in most supermarkets, department stores or chemists. Some electrical equipment purchased outside the UK can pose a significant fire risk and it is in the interest of your child that any such equipment or chargers are checked before use. If your child is coming to study at college and will be living in Halls of Residence some cooking equipment brought from outside the UK may not be allowed and will need checking before use.
MOBILE PHONES:
Pay as you go SIM cards are readily available in the UK from providers such as 02, Vodafone and EE. It may be worth doing a bit of research with your child to find out which provider offers the cheapest rates on international calls and the best data packages. Companies such as giffgaff, Lebara or Lycamobile are worth exploring.
Sable Guardians has a policy concerning staying safe online (as should your child’s school/college). If you have any questions with regards to this please ask.
BANK ACCOUNTS:
If you are planning on travelling with your child to the UK we would recommend making an appointment to open a bank account for your child whilst you are here. It is much more straightforward if the account is opened when parents are present.
We can arrange to pay money into your child’s bank account as long as we have written permission from you and we have sufficient funds in their deposit account.
We do however understand that this will not always be possible, therefore we can assist your child to open an account. It is necessary to make an appointment which we can help to arrange, but please be aware that sometimes there can be a long wait before a time slot can be allocated. Your child will need a letter from their school or college and their passport.
At the time of writing and in our experience, Lloyds Bank and Metro make the process the most straightforward! Also many universities will have an oncampus bank. Your child may be able to submit an application form to open a bank account on line. In order to do this they will need to have their passport handy.
INVOICES AND PAYMENTS:
Our accounts department will send you a full invoice before the beginning of each academic year. You may be sent additional invoices throughout the year requesting for your child’s expense account to be topped up if this is required.
THE LAW
LAW AND CONDUCT:
In the UK anyone under the age of 18 is considered a minor.
As in lots of countries, the laws in the UK for under 18s are very strict and must be adhered to. Please discuss the following with your child where appropriate before they come to the UK;
It is illegal to purchase cigarettes, e-cigarettes or vapes if you are under 18,
• It is illegal to buy alcohol if you are aged under 18. It is also against the law to get someone over the age of 18 to buy alcohol on your behalf,
• Purchasing and the use of drugs or illegal substances in the UK is against the law for all ages,
• Under the age of 18 it is illegal to have a tattoo,
• You may not buy a knife of any sort if you are under the age of 18 in the UK.
SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND THE LAW IN THE UK:
The age of consent for sexual activity in the UK is 16. However, whatever your child’s age (16 or over) sexual activity will NOT be allowed at boarding school, or whilst your child is in the care of Sable Guardians.
MEDICAL INFORMATION
MEDICAL AND HEALTH MATTERS:
It is very important that your child registers with a doctor when they first arrive in the UK. If your child is studying at a boarding school this should be done through the school medical centre during the first week. If for any reason this does not happen, please speak to your child’s house master or mistress or contact Sable Guardians.
If your child will be studying at a higher education college it will be their responsibility to register with a doctor. The college that they are attending should send them a link giving details on how to register. Please emphasise to your child the importance of registering and ask them to do this as a priority.
We will also be saying this to them when we meet them. It’s so important that they don’t wait until they are ill (which hopefully they won’t be!) as the chances are they won’t feel up to doing it then.
All full time students are covered by the National Health Service for all costs except eye care. This means that once your child has registered with a doctor they will not have to pay for an appointment.
Any medication that is prescribed will be charged separately. NHS prescriptions generally cost £9.90 per item, although children in full time education do not normally have to pay for prescription medication. Doctors may also refer your child to qualified nurses instead who will provide professional advice and help on health matters.
IF YOUR CHILD IS ILL OR UNWELL:
From experience, often when children are unwell they contact their parents which is quite understandable. However as you are so far away you may not be able to help them.
Please ask your child to contact a staff member at school or college. If they are unwell when staying with a host family they need to let the family know, and they will contact Sable Guardians.
Depending on the problem they may be taken to see a doctor. Your child needs to follow the advice given by the doctor and keep in regular contact to let both us and you know how they are.
If your child is ill at school then depending on their illness they may be cared for in the medical centre.
If you require your child to be looked after by one of our host families when they are ill, we cannot guarantee that they will be able to stay with their usual host.
EMERGENCY TREATMENT:
If your child feels very unwell or they have a life threatening medical emergency at any time or when staying with your host family (if applicable) they will need to call 999.
DENTAL CARE:
Dental care is also covered by the NHS. Treatment is free to students aged 19 years and under. To find a dentist close to your child’s school or college, either ask Sable Guardians or go to this website: www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist
It is worth being aware that the majority of dentists in the UK run as private practices, if you choose one of these dentists you will have to pay for all treatment.
If your child wears braces on their teeth and requires orthodontic treatment they will have to pay for this as it is not covered by the NHS.
OPTICAL CARE:
If your child needs an eye care check up they may need to pay for this. Boots and Specsavers have shops in many major cities and the cost is likely to be in the region of £25.00. If they need help with an appointment please ask them to contact Sable Guardians.
PHARMACIES/CHEMISTS:
Everyday over the counter medication can be bought from most large supermarkets or for a larger selection Boots or smaller pharmacies will be able to help.
MEDICATION:
If you are sending you child to boarding school with any medication from home or even if they buy medicine over the counter such as Paracetamol/Ibuprofen, this must be handed into the boarding house team. It is very important that medicines are not left in their rooms in the boarding house.
WHEREABOUTS:
As part of our duty of care we need to know the whereabouts of your child during the times that they are not at school or college, e.g. during exeat weekends, half terms and other holidays.
If your child is at boarding school we will ask you for the following information for planned breaks:
Where your child is planning to spend the break, If they are staying in the UK with friends or a family member the full contact details of the person that they are staying with, including name/ address/email/telephone number,
• If your child is travelling home, we will need the flight number, departure and arrival airport and the arrival time of their return flight in the UK. If you would like us to book transport for your child we will provide the details of the driver and their phone number, the time and place of pick up. If there are any problems with these arrangements your child should call Sable Guardians on 07513 106451.
If your child is staying with one of our host families we will arrange transport to and from the host’s house. Sable Guardians will confirm all arrangements with you, your child and the school.
If your child is travelling they will need their passport, BRP card (if they have one), a fully charged mobile phone and some money or a credit card.
SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION:
Sable Guardians takes the welfare and safeguarding of children very seriously. A copy of our child protection policy is available on request or can be found on our website.
SABLE GUARDIANS EMERGENCY PHONE: +44(0)7513 106451
DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD: CAROLINE LLOYD
DEPUTY DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD: LINDSEY LATIMER
DEPUTY DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD: RACHAEL WISTOW
DEPUTY DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD: KAT NOYES
RUSTICATION / SUSPENSION:
In the unlikely event that your child is suspended from school we will arrange a host family to look after them which you will be charged for.
VISAS:
If your child is travelling on a group school trip and needs a visa to travel, the school that they attend should organise this.
If you plan for your child to make a private trip and they need a visa you will either need to arrange this when your child is at home with you or by using an agency. In the past we have found the following company to be helpful;
Sable Guardians 24 hour phone number: +44 (0)7513 106 451
Sable Guardians Office: Address: 18 St Swithin’s Lane, London, EC4N 8AD
Email: guardians@sableinternational.com
Website: www.sableinternationalguardians.co.uk