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FAQs

Common Educational Guardianship FAQs in the UK

Are you interested in UK Guardianship services? Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions to learn more about guardian requirements and the British education system.

What is an educational guardian?
A resident of the UK who is over 25 and is entrusted with temporary responsibility for an international student, acting in loco parentis as their point of contact and support whilst the pupil is in the UK and their parents are overseas.

Do I need a guardian?
International students under the age of 18 and enrolled at a boarding school or university are required to have an educational guardian living in the UK to take care of them if their parents are abroad. Schools are responsible for student welfare during term-time, but during holidays and exeats, responsibility of the child falls elsewhere. When something goes wrong, an immediate emergency contact is essential – a guardian can act as the safeguard for your children at all times.

Can a friend or family member be my educational guardian?

Your guardian should offer pastoral and academic guidance and be in formal contact with the school. Friends or relatives may not have the time to be available 24/7 or know how and when to intervene, often reactively working out issues as they arise. All our staff members at UKG are trained to be proactive, skilled at what we do, and are certified for children’s safeguarding. 

Those who are not UK residents and aged over 25 cannot be educational guardians. 

Do international university students need a guardian?
Under UK law, students under the age of 18 are classed as minors, so most universities and colleges require that international students whose families live overseas have an appointed guardian.

Does UK Guardianship offer guardianship services to all areas of the UK?
Yes. Whilst the headquarters is located in North London, we have guardians, host families and coordinators all around the country.

If my child needs to see a doctor or dentist, can a guardian assist with this?
Our educational guardians can assist with dental and medical emergencies and routine healthcare appointments for students as provided within the WeCare A+ and A++ packages.
How do I know which package would be best suited to my child?
In the UK, every school has short half terms, and some have ‘exeat’ weekends when the schools close, which are often not long enough periods for students to travel home. If your child stays in the UK, would they have accommodation, know who to live with, and who would pick them up and drop them off? If your answer is “I don’t know”, you would suit a WeCare A+ package – we will handle it. 

On top of that, if you are unfamiliar with the UK’s schooling system, we can help monitor your child’s academic progress just as you would at home, led by our Head of Education, an LSE graduate herself. This would suit students who want to be stretched and challenged or those who would like increased supervision. Your child would benefit from WeCare A++. 

Please see our Guardianship services for a comprehensive breakdown


Is UK Guardianship accredited? 
Yes. UK Guardianship is a fully accredited member of AEGIS (Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) and an accredited guardian by the BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association). Every member of our team is safeguarding certified, and we have been held to the most esteemed standards to serve our clients.t

My child’s Visa has been rejected. Can I get a refund?
Yes, we will refund you the full cost of what you have paid minus the initial registration fee. This will be refunded via bank transfer – international charges may apply.
Should I give notice if I don’t need to renew my contract for the following academic year?
You will need to give UKG a full term’s notice via email. If you wish to forego renewal for the coming September, you would need to put in the request before the end of the summer term. Any money left over in your child’s account will then be refunded to you.

If my child turns 18 in the middle of the term, do I still need to pay for a guardianship package that term?
Since your child would still be under 18 and legally classified as a minor for some of the term, it is imperative they have a guardian maintaining their care and safety. Since our guardianship packages are invoiced termly, we charge for the full term.

How do I communicate with the UKG team?

From Monday to Friday 9 am-5 pm, our office landline is always manned: +44 (0) 20 3576 8880

For those who prefer to contact us via messages, we set up private group chats for all our clientele including the child and their family members, on either WeChat, WhatsApp or Line.

Outside of hours, we have a hotline for emergencies only: +44 (0) 7834 465 463

How do I apply for Guardianship?
Please find our booking form on the website, where you can choose the package most suited to your needs

Do you have more questions?

If you have more questions or didn’t find your answer here, please contact us with your enquiries about UK Guardianship services.

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