Welfare has always been one of our greatest concerns. We regard our English host families as playing an extremely important role and so all host families are carefully selected, visited and inspected by our experienced Welfare Staff.

All our host families are checked with the Police and
local Social Services

Welfare Staff are always on hand to liaise with students and families should any misunderstandings arise. Families understand that they are expected to treat their visitor as one of the family, providing a happy and secure environment.

 

Staying with a friendly family and studying with a good school will result in considerable progress and a great educational holiday

In general, students live within walking distance of the schools. Nevertheless, Country Cousins operates a free bus in the mornings to take students to school and in the evenings to take any Young Learners (7 to 11 year olds) home.

Our aim is to provide students with a comfortable and secure environment. Our families understand that the main reason for the visit is to improve their guest’s English by being immersed in an environment where English is the only means of communication. The family environment has proved to be an extremely effective way of learning by providing relaxed and social surroundings where guests acquire language naturally. Families always provide full-board accommodation, including a packed lunch on school days, and care for students as one of the family.

Younger students may share a room with other students or children of the host family. We never accommodate two students speaking the same language together unless specifically requested.

Adults always have a single room and in our experience, staying with a host family can provide a happy and relaxed environment, reinforcing classroom input through daily social contact. However, there is a wide range of accommodation available to adults. Other options include small, family-run hotels or self-catering apartments and cottages in Ilfracombe and Bideford, all of which must be booked early. More luxurious hotels are available in the surrounding area for those with their own transport.

Accommodation at St. Michael's Residential is in clean, light dormitories. There are ample bathrooms and shower facilities and there will also be staff on-site 24 hours a day, other advantages of Residential accommodation are:

• Safety – students do not leave campus without their leader or appropriate adult.
• Security – the centres are closed to the general public. Staff and students only.
• Community Living – Students and leaders live as one big happy international and diverse family, creating a fun and friendly environment.
• Time – students have no travelling time to/from school daily.
• Space – the students have access to the stunning grounds at the centres.
• Amenities – both centres have excellent facilities on-site.
• 24 hrs Support - Fully supervised by carefully selected English staff, who will be staying on-site.
• Single sex dormitories - Boys and girls accommodated separately in dormitories

We provide tailored family visits where parents can also enjoy our courses. Please contact us if the student does not wish to stay with a host family, or if the parents or grandparents want to participate in lessons and/or activities.