Guardianship Services

For any parent sending their child to study at a British boarding school, the inability to be physically present, care for, and support them can be overwhelming. Parents face challenging questions: Who will meet my child at the airport? Who will help them settle in? How will we handle all the administrative matters with the school in a foreign language? And, perhaps most importantly, can we provide a sense of warmth and comfort during weekends and short holidays?

For families with close friends or relatives in England, this problem may seem straightforward. However, even this is not always the perfect solution, as the wide range of responsibilities entrusted to a guardian of a private school student may be too much for a busy individual. It is also important to note that school staff cannot act as guardians for international students. For families without contacts in the UK, a practical solution is to turn to organisations that specialise in professional guardianship services. Our company offers comprehensive guardianship services in England, ensuring your child receives the support and care they need during their time abroad.

The tradition of appointing a guardian for children dates back to the British boarding school system's origins. Centuries ago, children were often sent to study and live in boarding schools far from home, while parents frequently relocated to various British colonies and other countries for work. In these cases, a guardian was appointed — a trusted family friend, relative, or a local person living near the school. Mentions of guardians can be found in the works of renowned English writers such as the Brontë sisters, Charles Dickens, and others.

With the rising global popularity of British education, students from countries worldwide, not just Britain, began attending boarding schools. This created an increasing need for guardianship services. While schools gradually developed their own rules, there were no comprehensive regulations until 1989, when the Children’s Act was passed, followed by the Child Protection Act in 1999. These laws stipulated that every international student attending a British private school or educational institution must have an official guardian, regardless of their age. A guardian must be over 25 years old, fluent in English, and permanently residing in the UK.

Brit Education & Travel has been offering guardianship services to students arriving in England from different countries for nearly 25 years. Our team of professionals, fluent in both Russian and English, ensures that Russian-speaking parents don’t need to rely on intermediaries or worry about communication barriers. We understand the nuances of both Russian and British cultures and approach every situation with sensitivity. We believe there are no unsolvable problems, only the wrong approach.

Brit Education & Travel’s guardianship service includes essential organisational and day-to-day support and considers every aspect of education, health insurance, mobile communication, transportation, ticketing, and visa arrangements. Our team constantly contacts students and their parents, offering guidance on educational matters and the child’s well-being. We help ease the adaptation process, monitor academic performance closely, and maintain regular communication with teachers and mentors to ensure a smooth student and family experience.

Once a contract for the provision of guardianship services is signed, we commit to the following responsibilities:

  • Preparation of Documentation: Preparing all necessary documentation for providing guardianship services.
  • School Notifications: Informing the school of all company contacts for correspondence and emergencies.
  • Communication: Maintaining regular contact with parents and the school regarding the child's academic progress, holidays, weekends, exams, sports, and excursion events.
  • Parental Permissions: Signing permissions on behalf of parents for school trips and other school-organised events, as well as completing various school forms.
  • Student Support: Providing support for personal and academic matters.
  • Subject Selection Guidance: Assisting in selecting subjects for GCSE and A-Level exams.
  • Adherence to School and Parental Rules: Acting according to school policies and the parents' wishes.
  • 24/7 Emergency Support: Providing a 24-hour emergency contact number.
  • Health and Accommodation: Promptly resolve issues related to the child's health and accommodation.
  • Academic Reporting: Preparing detailed reports on academic progress at least once per term.
  • Holiday and Weekend Planning: Organising weekend and half-term holiday arrangements, including booking hotels, host families, transfers, and excursions (accommodation, meals, transfers, and attraction visits are paid separately).
  • Documentation: Providing documents and certificates confirming the child's status in the UK.
  • Parent-Teacher Meetings: Attending parent-teacher meetings on behalf of the parents.
  • Parent Visits: Organising school invitations and company letters for parents to obtain visas, book hotels, arrange excursions, and provide accompaniment during their stay (accommodation, meals, and excursion programs are paid for separately).
  • Insurance Assistance: Helping arrange health and property insurance for the child.
  • Tuition Payments: Facilitating tuition payments on behalf of the parents if necessary.
  • Transportation and Transfers: Organising airport meet-and-greet services, transfers, and accompanying personnel as needed (transfers and accompaniment are charged additionally).
  • Financial Reporting: Providing regular financial reports to parents on expenses incurred.

*When registering for guardianship services, the company collects a deposit, agreed upon with the parents, from which payments for transfers, hotels, and other expenses are deducted. A detailed financial report is provided at the end of each term.

Our close collaboration with private British schools—both professionally and personally—along with a deep understanding of the English education system, extensive experience working with numerous schools and educational centres, and many years of guardianship expertise set us apart. Our team's linguistic, psychological, and pedagogical qualifications further strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality services.