Homestay & Accommodation
Our homestay network was originally established through trusted local families who share our commitment to safeguarding and supporting young international students. We carefully select host families who provide a warm, welcoming, and family oriented environment where students feel safe, respected, and supported.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homestays
Why is homestay?
A homestay is a safe and welcoming home provided by a vetted host family, offering students accommodation (Homestay), care, and support during school holidays, weekends, and other periods when they are unable to remain at School. Homestays arranged through AEGIS accredited guardianship organizations are thoroughly checked to meet safeguarding and welfare standards
Why is a homestay important?
A homestay provides students with a safe, welcoming,wellbeing, and supportive & safe environment when they are away from school. It offers comfort, supervision, and the opportunity to experiences family life, helping students feel secure and cared for during their stays.
At Prima Guardian, together with our Thai host families, we recognize the importance of familiar Thai food and cultural understanding for Thai students studying abroad. Our host families offer a welcoming home environment and provide guidance through cultural, religious, and traditional differences, helping students settle comfortably and confidently into their new lives. By preserving their cultural identity while embracing new experiences, students can thrive during their stay and return home with valuable skills, greater independence, and a strong sense of belonging.
How can I be sure a homestay is safe for my child?
All host families are carefully selected, interviewed and vetted. We conduct home inspections, verify 2 references , and ensure that all required safeguarding training and background checks are completed.
The Guardianship organization maintain regular contact with both students and host families to ensure a safe, wellbeing, supportive , and welcoming environment at all times.
What makes Prima Guardian’s homestays different from others?
- Prima Guardian (PG) homestays are mainly hosted by Thai and British families who are familiar with Thai culture and traditions. Many hosts are able to speak both Thai and English and can prepare homemade Thai food.
-They have a strong understanding of Thai values, beliefs, and cultural expectations, and are experienced in supporting students through cultural adjustment when moving from Thailand to the UK. This helps students manage cultural differences more easily and settle into life in the UK more quickly, with greater comfort and confidence.
Where are your homestay located?
Prima Guardian (PG) primarily offers Thai-speaking host families in the Yorkshire region of Northern England. We can also arrange other host family and homestay options across the United Kingdom, subject to availability and suitability.
We currently offer homestay accommodation in York, Leeds, Nottinghamshire, and Sheffield.
If your school is situated more than 75 miles from our head office or any of our homestay locations, we can help you register with one of our trusted guardianship partners. Through this service, we can arrange suitable guardianship and safe environment homestay accommodation near your school, wherever you are studying in the UK.
Please contact us for further information.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some schools were required to close temporarily. In such circumstances, students may need to stay with their appointed guardian or an approved host family until they can safely return to school.
What if Prima Guardian does not have a homestay available near my child’s school, but I would still like to use Prima Guardian’s services?
If Prima Guardian (PG) is unable to provide a suitable homestay near your child’s school, we can work with our trusted partners to help meet your requirements. We specialise in providing Thai cultural and language support and can recommend reputable guardianship organisations that are able to provide guardianship services and suitable homestay accommodation closer to your child’s school.
Please contact us for further information and to discuss the options available.
If my child remains at their boarding school at all times. Do they still need a homestay?
In theory, a homestay may not be required if your child’s boarding school allows students to remain on campus at all times. However, there may be occasions when the school is unable to accommodate students, and your child will need to stay with a host family, guardian, or their own family.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some schools were required to close temporarily. In such circumstances, students may need to stay with their appointed guardian or an approved host family until they can safely return to school.
Does my child have to stay with the same homestay?
We normally recommend that your child remains with the same homestay throughout one academic year. However, if your child wishes to change homestay and there is availability, it is possible to arrange a change.
Is my child required to stay with other students?
Each homestay accommodates a maximum of three students at any one time, and stays are limited to no more than 28 days per visit. Every student is provided with their own private room.
If you would prefer that your child not share a homestay with other students, we will make every effort to arrange a suitable alternative that meets your requirements.
How much does a homestay cost?
We offer a range of homestay options with hosts of varying qualifications, experience, locations, and facilities. Homestay fees typically range from £60 to £75 per day or more, depending on the type of homestay service and individual requirements. Please contact us for further details and availability.
What Qualifications Do I Need to Become a Host Family with Prima Guardian?
To become a host family with Prima Guardian, you should be aged 30 years or over, legally resident in the UK with the right to live and work in the UK, hold an Enhanced DBS check (or be willing to obtain one), be in good physical and mental health, be of good character and able to provide suitable references, have an understanding of child safeguarding and welfare (or be willing to undertake safeguarding training), and be able to provide a safe, welcoming, and supportive home environment for international students.
If you are interested in becoming a host family, please contact us for further information before submitting an application form.
“AEGIS accreditation provides parents with confidence that recognised safeguarding and welfare standards are being met. At Prima Guardian, we believe that exceptional guardianship goes beyond standards alone. It is built on trusted relationships, caring host families, cultural understanding, and personalised support that helps every student feel safe, valued, and at home while studying in the UK.”
Prima Guardian (PG)
At Prima Guardian, we intentionally offer a carefully selected and limited number of homestay placements. This enables us to maintain high standards and ensure that every student receives personalised care, individual attention, and a safe, supportive living environment throughout their time in the UK.
We currently offer 2 homestay options:
1) PG Homestays
Homestay Fees : Please contact us for the latest pricing information.
Through more than seven years of experience supporting Thai students in the UK, we have learned that many international students miss the comfort and familiarity of home. This often includes familiar food, language, culture, traditions, and the reassurance of family-style support.
For many Thai students, living with a Thai or Thai-British host family can help ease the transition to life in the UK. Host families who understand their cultural background and daily lifestyle can provide valuable emotional support, helping students settle more comfortably and confidently into their new environment.
Many of Prima Guardian’s host families are Thai British households, enabling students to enjoy both Thai and international cuisine while benefiting from a familiar cultural environment. Our host families maintain high standards of safeguarding, food hygiene, cultural awareness, and student welfare.
Our homestay network was originally established through trusted local families who share our commitment to safeguarding and supporting young international students. We carefully select host families who provide a warm, welcoming, and family oriented environment where students feel safe, respected, and supported.
All host families undergo appropriate safeguarding, suitability, and accommodation checks to help ensure that students are placed in a safe, secure, and supportive environment.
“We want every homestay to feel like a second home.”
PG Homestay Locations
Our host families are currently based in York, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Nottinghamshire, Leeds, and the surrounding areas.
Please visit our Gallery to view photographs of our homestay accommodation.
2) Alternative Homestay Arrangements
Prima Guardian also fully supports students who wish to experience life with a British host family as part of their cultural and educational journey in the UK.
While many of our host families are based in the Midlands and the North of England, particularly within Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, some students may attend schools outside our homestay network. In these circumstances, we may recommend another AEGIS-accredited Guardianship Organisation that is better placed to provide local accommodation and welfare support.
Currently, Prima Guardian works closely with Quest Guardians, a trusted organisation that we are pleased to recommend where appropriate. Students and parents can learn more about Quest Guardians’ host families here:
Quest Guardians Host Families
Where a placement is arranged through Quest Guardians, students will be registered directly with Quest Guardians for guardianship and homestay services. However, Prima Guardian will continue to provide additional support to students and families through our Personal Assistance (PA) Service, including parent communication, welfare support, and Thai English interpretation where required.
Our priority is always to ensure that every student is placed in the most suitable, safe, and supportive environment, enabling them to thrive both academically and personally throughout their time in the UK.
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Please contact us for further guidance before making any decisions or submitting a new application