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Quest Guardians provides guardianship
services for parents living overseas, and
for their sons and daughters attending
boarding schools throughout the UK.
Founded in 1994 by Sheelagh Michelmore,
the business continues to be run on a
highly personal and professional level by
her son, Chris. Eight regional co-ordinators,
all experienced teachers, regularly visit
students and host families, whilst a team
of six provide administration and accounts
support from the Head Office in Dorset.
Overseas parents need to know that
their children are safe and well cared
for, both during the school term and at
times when schools are closed. During
term time, the prime responsibility for
a student’s welfare lies with the school.
However, Chris Michelmore or a member
of the Quest Guardians staff will visit the
students at school each term to discuss
progress, welfare and happiness, as well
as host family arrangements. We will also
take appropriate action at times of need
or emergency, for which we provide 24
hour cover.
When the school is closed, Quest
Guardians takes over responsibility for the
student, most notably by providing host
families with whom the students live whilst
the school remains closed and arranging
transport as needed. Throughout these
periods, Quest Guardians retains the
role of guardian with the host family
undertaking day to day care.
Quest Guardians answer the top six
questions that parents ask us:
1. Why does my child need a guardian?
It is a UK Boarder Agency VISA and
BOARDING SCHOOL requirement that
every child from overseas must have a
parent or guardian to take care of them:
• when the school closes for school breaks
(like Half Term) and students need to
stay with a host family
• to assist in travel to and from the school,
family and airports
• to be available when things go wrong,
like bad weather, illness (Swine Flu,
SARS), disciplinary action
2. Who are the Host Families?
They are a wide variety of people who
have room in their house for students.
The room normally has a desk, storage
and internet access. Hosts can be a widow
or couple, younger adults with their own
small children, or older families with
grown up children. ALL hosts are police
checked, inspected and selected for being
welcoming to international students. They
are all given guidance on looking after the
students.
3. Who at Quest Guardians acts as my
child’s guardian?
Thedirector, ChrisMichelmore, hasultimate
responsibility, who works together with
the team of office administration staff and
field Regional Coordinators to provide
complete guardianship care and who visit
your child in school and regularly inspect
Host Families.
4. Can my child stay with relatives or
friends instead of a host family?
This is possible, but we must be notified
within 7 days of the start of term. In
addition, in the interests of your child’s
safety, we have a strict policy, dependent
on your child’s age.
Parents’ permission will always be
required in writing by verified email or fax,
and for younger students (those under 16)
we require a named adult, residing in the
UK and aged over 25 years old who will
take responsibility for the student during
their stay. The full policy is available in
the Students Handbook and the Overseas
Parents Guidelines.
5. How much does it cost?
You have to pay a Registration Fee of
GBP150, an annual Guardianship Fee (of
up to GBP1500 per year) plus a Students
Expenses Deposit of GBP1500. This
deposit is used to pay for transfers and
accommodation, charged at GBP35-50
per night. We will request a payment to
restore the fund to £1500 if the balance
drops to below £300.
6. What happens if I want to stop the
guardianship with Quest Guardians?
You can terminate at any time by giving us
ONE FULL TERM’S notice. We will refund
any advanced payment of fees and the
credit balance on the Student Expenses
Deposit.
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Quest Guardians
Working with schools and parents in support of international students
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