International Students - Accommodation
FAQ’s - home stay accommodation
FAQ’s - applying to host international students
Living in Scunthorpe
FAQ’s - home stay accommodation
How will I get to my accommodation from the airport?
A taxi driver will be waiting for you at the airport. This will already have been paid for. If you decide to make your own arrangements we can give you the directions.
Who will I be staying with in the UK?
Accommodation for International Students is with host families. This is living with a UK family arranged by the college.
What type of accommodation will this be?
The type of home international students stay in can vary from small terrace houses in the town centre to a large detached house on the outskirts of town.
Where will I be staying?
Almost all of our home stays are in Scunthorpe town centre.
What are the benefits of home stays over boarding schools?
Staying with local families enables students to develop English language skills, making it easier to meet local people and help develop knowledge and understanding of the Scunthorpe area and of the UK generally.
When will I find out about my accommodation?
When you have sent your arrival details to college we can arrange your host family. Details of your host family will not be sent until you have completed all forms that John Leggott College require. We will inform you about your host family approximately 1-2 weeks before arrival in the UK but may be later if you have sent your arrival details late. Once you have received your host family details they cannot be changed. The taxi driver will have the host family details if a student is being collected from the airport.
How do I get to college from my accommodation?
Home stays are usually within walking distance of college. However, some require a short bicycle ride or bus journey.
What if I don’t like my host family?
It takes time to adjust to being in a new country. We advise a settling in period of at least 2 weeks. If a student still dislikes their host family after this period they should discuss it with the international welfare officer.
Does the host family have children and/or pets?
Some host families have children and most have pets. We only have a few host families with no pets. The accommodation officer tries to meet individual requirements where possible.
What job does my host do?
Hosts do a wide variety of jobs. We carefully select our hosts and accept them regardless of their profession if they meet our criteria.
Will I have a room of my own?
Students will always have a room of their own and are not allowed to share a room with another student.
Will there be other students at the same family?
Some host families are able to accommodate more than one student. No opposite gender students are allowed to stay in the same host family.
Can my parents stay with my host family when they come to the UK?
No but we can recommend hotels for them close by. For more information ask the international centre.
How safe is it to stay with a host family?
College will initiate CRB checks on everyone in the house who is 18 or over and anybody who stays over on a regular basis. Students will not be placed in a home until CRB clearance is received.
Inspection
Further Education colleges accommodating students under 18, or arranging accommodation for them, are subject to inspection by Ofsted to determine whether the welfare of students under 18 is adequately safeguarded and promoted while they are accommodated at or by the college.
Inspections assess the extent to which the college is meeting the National Minimum Standards for Accommodation of Students under 18 by Further Education Colleges, published by the Secretary of State under Section 87C of the Children Act 1989, and other relevant requirements of the Children Act 1989 as amended.
The most recent inspection by Ofsted was very successful [Social Care Inspection October 2008].
FAQ’s - applying to host international students
How close to college do I need to be?
We prefer host families to be within walking distance of John Leggott College.
I live in rented accommodation can I still be a host?
Sorry, the home must be owned or mortgaged by the host, not rented.
What facilities do I need to provide for a student?
You need to be able to provide a room in your own home for the student. It must be of sufficient size to accommodate a bed, drawers, wardrobe or hangers, small table or desk and chair for study. Students must have access to a bathroom (toilet, bath and/or shower)
What normally happens with student’s laundry?
The host must provide laundry facilities or do the washing for the student.
How much do students pay per week?
Each student pays £95 per week direct to the host family.
Which meals are included in the rate?
Breakfast and an evening meal during the week. All meals at weekends, during college holidays and study leave (unless student is self catering).
Can a student self cater?
Yes it is possible for a student to self cater. The rate is reduced to £70 per week if a student buys and cooks their own food
Do I need to have a CRB check?
JLC will initiate CRB checks on everyone in the house who is 18 or over and anybody who stays over on a regular basis. Students cannot be placed until CRB clearance is received and unfortunately we cannot accept any previous CRB clearance.
What support is available for host families?
The college offers full 24 hour emergency support to host families.
I am single/retired, am I still eligible to become a host family?
Anyone who meets the criteria can be a host family.
I am interested in proceeding, what happens next?
The international accommodation officer will make an appointment with you to come and view the house and the student bedroom. She will need to do a risk assessment to ensure that the accommodation is adequate and that the home is clean, safe and meets basic safety requirements (e.g. smoke detectors, regular servicing of gas appliances, suitable fittings and furnishings). During this appointment she will explain all of the details and fill in registration forms.
Living in Scunthorpe
The town of Scunthorpe has a population of around 70,000 and is an expanding centre of high-technology industries. It is well known for its steel works - one of the most modern, clean and efficient steel producing centres in Europe.
Scunthorpe is a thriving and friendly town. It can be busy but it avoids the congestion and bustle which are to be found in some larger towns and cities.
The town has a sizeable number of people who have moved from other countries. The churches, mosques and temples in the town reflect the different religions present in the population. Shops also provide a wide range of foods suitable for all. There are specialist food shops including those selling Chinese food and Halal meat.
The local Council operates a Multi-Racial Advice Centre and a Law Centre where multi-lingual staff are able to answer questions about both local and general UK matters.
Within the town there are large areas of open space including flower filled parks and gardens, unspoilt woodlands and several nature reserves.
There is a range of leisure facilities to suit all interests including a museum, leisure centre [with squash courts and leisure pool], Civic Theatre, bowling alleys, snooker halls, outdoor sports pitches and golf courses as well as a multi-screen cinema.
Scunthorpe is an attractive, varied and interesting area of the UK in which to live and study. Because the town is small it is relatively safe with a low cost of living.
For a detailed area map visit streetmap.co.uk and enter the postcode DN17 1DS.
For more information about Scunthorpe and the local area:
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk - Bringing you local information from the local newspaper.
http://www.britainexpress.com/great_british_sites/lincolnshire.htm - Travel and destination links in Lincolnshire, England, including accommodation and attractions.
http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NorthLincs/Leisure/tourism/ - Discover North Lincolnshire.