Quality of Welcome Statements (Host Families)
Host Family Subscribers are recommended to include Quality of Welcome Statements in their References File.
| Remember: The Host Family Subscriber References File also includes: - 2 Statements of Good Character to provide evidence that the family is fit and proper to act as a host.These documents are compulsory. If the subscriber has not provided these documents, a warning appears on their offer to alert families. - 1 Criminal Records File Extract for the first adult and if appropriate their partner recommended by Lingoo. |
• How many?
Two Quality of Welcome Statements. It is up to the subscriber whether or not they choose to provide these documents, but if they choose not to, they must explain their reasons.
• Why are Quality of Welcome Statements needed?
Lingoo recommends that these statements are included in the Subscriber’s References File so that families have a better idea of a Host Family’s ability to welcome students as part of a language study holiday. It’s up to the Host Family Subscriber whether or not they include these statements, but if they choose not to, they must explain their reasons.
• Who writes the statements?
These statements are written by individuals, preferably young people who have stayed with the family as part of a language study holiday, and who are willing to be contacted (either directly or via their legal representatives, as they wish) by interested families for confirmation. They (or their legal representatives) can choose how they wish to be contacted (e-mail, phone, fax, etc.).
• What should a Quality of Welcome Statement include?
The Quality of Welcome Statement must be dated and must include the name and address of the young person or their legal representative, the date of their stay and the age of the child at the time of their stay.
• Here are some examples of the kind of areas that might be covered:
- Welcome (warm, friendly, caring, relaxed, and so on);
- Family atmosphere (relaxed, harmonious, lively, etc.);
- Involvement in the family unit;
- Parents’ availability;
- Activities;
- Comfort and cleanliness ;
- Food.
| Useful tip! Make it easier for people who are writing a Quality of Welcome Statement for you: once you’ve registered, go to your account page and click on Model Letters. |
| Useful tip! The words WARNING –FILE INCOMPLETE on your account page are there to draw your attention to documents that are still missing from your References File. |
• At what point should a young person’s family check the Quality of Welcome Statements from families who have provided them?
You should do this once you have selected a family and talked to them, but before you start organising the trip together.
• How can you check a Quality of Welcome Statement with the person who has provided it?
Contact the person who made the statement (or their legal representative), using the contact details shown, to ask confirmation.
| Note: If the Host Family evaluations show that the family has already been working with Lingoo for some time and has a good reputation, these checks are not essential. But if you have any concerns at all, don’t hesitate to check references. |
