Introductions
Ben Hughes
Managing Director
Pippa's Guardians
ben@pippasguardians.co.uk
Sophie Lindsay
Director of School Memberships & Marketing
AEGIS
sophie@aegisuk.net
Questions we will be answering today
- What is a Guardian and why do we need one?
- Difference between host families and a Guardian?
- How are host families vetted?
- What is AEGIS and why important?
- Q&A's
School Responsibilities as Visa Sponsor
UKVI Sponsor Duties Care arrangements for children
Student Sponsor Guidance (taken from gov website)
3.27 Sponsors who recruit a child under the age of 18 must ensure suitable care arrangements are in place for them in the UK. This must include arrangements for their:
- travel
- reception when they arrive in the UK
- care while in the UK
New National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools (NMS) - September 2022
Standard 22 – Educational Guardians
- 22.1 All educational guardians appointed by the school are subject to the same safer recruitment procedures as staff.
- 22.2 Where the school is responsible for appointing educational guardians it regularly monitors the suitability of its arrangements.
- 22.3 Whether an educational guardian is appointed by the school or a parent/carer the school takes appropriate steps to ensure that the guardianship arrangement is promoting the welfare, physical wellbeing and emotional wellbeing of the boarder.
- 22.4 Any concerns about an educational guardianship arrangement should be acted upon immediately and referred to any relevant agencies.
- 22.5 Under no circumstances should school staff be appointed as an educational guardian for boarders.
New National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools (NMS) - September 2022
Standard 22 – Educational Guardians
DfE Clarifications:
- Where an AEGIS guardian is in place, due diligence done
- Vagueness intentional – not prescriptive
- 22.3 ‘Where parents have appointed a family friend or family member, schools will need to be comfortable with the arrangement. Schools will not be expected to visit or carry out lengthy vetting. A telephone call to the appointed guardian in order to check that the arrangement is legitimate, and also a conversation with the student after stays outside of school to ensure they are happy, were deemed to be appropriate steps. Schools are to use their own judgement on a case-by-case basis.
- 22.5 'Designed to ensure there are external avenues to support children - avoiding ‘closed cultures’ and blurred boundaries’
Why is a guardian important?
- Area Manager – knowledge, experience, support, local
- Parents meeting academic support
- Transport
- Emergencies
- Host families
- Good Communication
What is the difference between a guardian and a host family?
- Educational Guardian – Guardian! Duty of care. Primary contact. Safeguarding and Insurance.
- Assign host family, accommodation for term breaks.
How are host families vetted?
- How do they come to us
- Phone screening
- Interview
- Expectations
- DBS
- References
- Insurance
- Gas, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide
- Re-inspection
What are the benefits of becoming a host family?
- Long term
- Difference
- Culture exchange
- Pay
What is AEGIS?
Why is it so important?
What do AEGIS Guardians have in place for safeguarding?
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
- Regular safeguarding training for staff, volunteers and homestays, safer recruitment procedures
- Schools and Parents/Agents should liaise with the DSL
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
- Links with external agencies- sharing information to keep children safe
- DSL for mental health, online safety, prevent