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Safeguarding at a glance

A short, practical summary for host households

Safeguarding at a glance

A short, practical summary for hosts (read this first)

Quick links:
Safety hub ·
Child Protection Policy ·
Hosting 16–17 ·
When things go wrong ·
Host Guidelines & FAQs ·
Apply to become a host

Under-18 hosting? If you are hosting a student aged 16–17, or you are thinking about hosting under-18s, please read the full Safety hub first.

Purpose (please read)

This page is a short, easy overview for host households. It is not the full safeguarding policy.

If anything on this page is unclear, please refer back to the Safety hub / Child Protection Policy for the full guidance:

Age range

London Homestays places under-18 students aged 16–17 only. We do not place under-16s individually.

The key principle

All adults associated with under-18 placements have a duty of care.

If anything concerns you, report it promptly, even if it seems minor.

It is not the responsibility of hosts to investigate concerns.

For the full reporting routes (including safeguarding contacts), see:

Reporting routes (what to do)

If someone is in immediate danger — Call 999 (police / fire / ambulance)

SituationAction
Someone is in immediate dangerCall 999 (police / fire / ambulance)
You need the police but it is not an emergencyCall 101
Safeguarding/welfare concern (not immediate danger)Follow the reporting routes in the Safety hub / Child Protection Policy (including how to contact the DSL and alternative safeguarding contact).
Out-of-hours emergency supportFor urgent welfare issues relating to a current placement outside office hours, emergency contact details are provided at booking confirmation and via our office voicemail. We do not publish emergency mobile numbers on the website.

Curfew (under-18 placements)

Students aged 16–17 must follow the curfew arrangements confirmed for their placement. Curfew times are subject to host and parental approval.

As a guide, we suggest students aged 16–17 are home no later than:

  • 11.00pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and
  • 10.30pm on all other days.

If a student asks to stay out late or stay away overnight, do not give permission yourself. Follow the Safety hub / Child Protection Policy and contact London Homestays so we can confirm what is agreed for that placement.

What hosts should do (in practice)

Day-to-day

  • Set clear, reasonable house rules from day one
  • Speak with the student calmly first for minor issues
  • Use a translation app if it helps — Google Translate or DeepL both work well

Safeguarding

  • Report concerns promptly (even minor ones)
  • Keep notes factual: dates, times, what you saw/heard
  • Do not investigate — report and refer

Where to read the full policy

Related resources

Contact us

If you have any questions about safeguarding or hosting, our team is here to help.

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