Safeguarding

Responsibility is shared, but everyone has a defined role. Before departure, we explain who will be available on the ground and where the family can find every relevant contact in the portal.

We do not rely on a campus photograph or a brochure. We look at the school, the people responsible for students and the procedures that matter during a real placement.

Schools and centres

Before offering a school, we consider:

• criminal-record checks, such as DBS checks in the UK or the local equivalent;
• staff references and relevant experience;
• written safeguarding and emergency procedures;
• the centre’s track record and feedback from students and families;
• the quality of teaching, accommodation and support on the ground.

We visit the schools we work with personally and continue to assess them through direct contact and feedback after each placement.

Formal staff checks are carried out by the school or responsible organisation under the rules of its country. EduLeap reviews the partner’s process before offering the programme.

Host families

Host families are recruited by the school. Every adult living in the home completes the required checks, and the property is visited by the school or EduLeap before a student is placed there. The arrangement is then monitored periodically.

A family is not chosen on distance alone. The household, home environment, experience with international students and the student’s individual needs are also considered.

Supervision must be appropriate for the student’s age. A nine-year-old and a seventeen-year-old do not need the same rules. The details vary by school, destination and programme and are explained before departure.

On excursions

Students travel in organised groups with assigned leaders and attendance checks throughout the day. Staffing levels vary according to age, activity, school and local rules, so we do not publish one ratio for every programme.

At night

Junior residences have staff available overnight, and under-18s are accommodated separately from adult students. Curfews, evening checks and access arrangements depend on the centre and are explained in the pre-departure information.

If a student misses their return time

The school begins its procedure immediately: checking the relevant areas and known movements, trying to contact the student and alerting the responsible people. Parents, EduLeap and local authorities are involved according to the situation and the centre’s protocol.

Junior programmes may offer either a host family or a residence at any age, where both options are available in the chosen destination. For under-18s joining an adult course, host-family accommodation is the only option.

In a residence

Junior residences provide:

• staff available on site overnight;
• separation between under-18 and adult students;
• access rules and curfews;
• attendance checks;
• procedures for dealing with emergencies.

Rooms, bathrooms, access systems and layouts vary between properties. The exact arrangements are shown on the programme page and in the pre-departure information.

With a host family

Host families are recruited by the school and visited by the school or EduLeap. Every adult living in the home completes the required checks. Before a longer placement, such as a school year abroad, the student can normally meet the family by video.

For shorter stays, accommodation details are generally provided with the other pre-departure documents, around one week before travel.

If something is not working

The student or family should contact EduLeap as soon as a problem arises. We speak with the school, student and host family to understand what is happening and whether it can be resolved.

If there is a genuine problem or no suitable solution can be found, we look for another available, vetted family. We do not promise a move within a fixed number of hours because this depends on local availability. Timing and any costs are assessed according to the situation and the reason for the change.

If a student becomes ill or is injured, the people on the ground are the first able to respond. The precise procedure depends on the school and accommodation, but the essential steps remain the same.

Insurance

Travel and medical insurance is included in junior programmes. For other programmes, it may be offered as an optional extra. The insurer, cover and contact numbers vary according to the student’s age, destination, school and programme length.

The policy for each booking is provided after confirmation and remains available in the portal. In a medical emergency, families should use the contacts and procedure shown in that policy.

Medication, allergies and medical needs

Medical information, allergies, dietary needs and medication must be declared using the forms in the portal.

Where staff need to store or administer medication, written instructions and parental consent are required. Relevant information is shared with the school and, for a homestay, the host family.

If a condition or treatment changes before departure, the family must update EduLeap. Putting different medication in the suitcase is not enough.

Emergency numbers

The correct numbers depend on the programme, destination, school and insurance policy. To keep student emergency lines available for the people who need them, we do not publish them on the public website.

Booking-specific contacts are available in the portal and pre-departure documents. Parents and students should save them before travelling.

Staying in touch

Phone use follows the school’s rules. It may be limited during lessons, activities and at night, but students and families receive clear guidance on when they can speak.

For younger children, very frequent calls during the first few days can sometimes make settling in harder. There is no single rule for every child, however. If a student needs to contact home, staff will help them.

If something is wrong

You do not need to wait until you have every answer, and you do not need proof before raising a concern.

You can:

• speak to school staff, the local coordinator or the assigned guardian;
• contact your consultant or the EduLeap support team;
• use the emergency numbers in the portal if the situation is urgent.

EduLeap gathers the relevant information and involves the appropriate person at the school or centre. Each programme has different responsible contacts, so the family receives the applicable names and numbers after booking.

What happens next

We confirm that the concern has been received and tell you who is handling it. Where it concerns a student’s safety or wellbeing, it is treated as a priority and shared only with the people who need to act.

Where emergency services or local authorities need to be involved, the procedures of the country and school are followed. If someone is in immediate danger, do not wait for a reply by email or WhatsApp: use the emergency contacts shown in the portal.