Bridging the gap between schools and parents

Schools in the UK tend to prefer communication via email and often the amount of information they send can be overwhelming. We monitor and filter back the most important information to parents, with translations where required.

Our Educational Guardians are available to visit students at school during term time; this could be collecting them for exeat or holidays, attending concerts or sports events in order to support the student’s participation in the school.

In cases where parental input is required, our Educational Guardians will translate the necessary documentation in order to help parents make an informed decision (such as subject selection or taking part in a school’s optional insurance program).

*Included in the Plus Package

Before the beginning of each academic year, our team will provide a translated copy of the published school calendar including all key dates and events ensuring non-English speaking parents can plan ahead with confidence.

Included in the Plus Package*

Coordinating effective domestic and international travel arrangements for weekends and half-terms can pose parents with a logistical challenge. Our team has expertise in the efficient organisation of all forms of domestic and international travel.

Exeats are weekends when schools close and all students need to leave (usually Friday-Sunday, sometimes also Monday when there is a bank holiday). As part of the hosting services, Alderwood Guardians can organise suitable accommodation for students.

Boarding schools often have specific equipment and clothing requirements; our team can help to source and purchase particular items (such as gum shields for sport). In addition, we can help students buy other necessary items that they may need when in the UK for school or leisure.

Parent-Teacher meetings normally occur once per term. They are a chance for teachers to talk at length and answer questions regarding progress and highlight any concerns that there might be. Our Educational Guardians attend meetings on parents’ behalf in order to ask questions, get feedback, help monitor students’ progress and relay this information back to parents.

Schools generally issue reports every term or twice a term. Sometimes grades and other metrics can be hard to interpret as there is no standard grading system between schools and teachers' comments can be oblique. We condense, clarify and communicate the key points in reports to parents. In addition, our partner organisation Luminary Education, works closely to monitor academic progress and is always on hand to organise any necessary tuition.

Students under the supervision of our team have the advantage of access to our team of expert tutors at preferential pricing.

Scientific calculators, textbooks, software, devices: whatever our students require, we can help source, purchase and deliver. This ensures that parents and students never need to worry about not having the correct academic materials or equipment.

Our Educational Guardians condense, clarify and translate the key points in reports to parents. Alderwood Guardian’s Russian-, Ukrainian- and Chinese-speaking consultants are always on hand to discuss results, planning and decisions.

We can arrange and organise appointments with healthcare and dental specialists when required, as well as recommend specialists.

The individual at school with direct responsibility for students is the House Parent. Our Educational Guardians contact, create and maintain a close relationship with House Parents in order to monitor students’ welfare as they settle into their new and unfamiliar environment. By building this relationship over time, our Educational Guardians ensure that our students’ welfare at school is optimised and any concerns are resolved in a timely manner.

House Parents are the first point of contact regarding the social and emotional well-being of students. Accordingly Alderwood’s Educational Guardians translate all correspondence between houseparents and parents in order to maximise parents’ involvement and peace of mind.

With the advent of the internet communication has never been easier; however, when students find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings in a new country, a regular weekly catch-up with a friendly face can be very reassuring. Likewise, if there have been academic, social or disciplinary concerns a weekly catch-up can help monitor the situation and are supported by House Parents.

There may be additional reasons for one-off school visits; academic or disciplinary concerns may have arisen, or there might be a crucial meeting regarding subject choices or university applications. Whatever the reason, we are on call to visit the school when required.

At Alderwood Guardians we understand the importance of creating memories that go beyond the classroom, allowing students to explore and engage in new experiences. Our dedicated team can assist in booking venues, arranging tickets, coordinating transportation, and planning events both within and outside the boarding school premises. We also understand that birthdays are a time for celebration and let’s be honest, who doesn’t enjoy a thoughtful present on their birthday!

Boarding school provides students with the chance to actively participate in a wide range of activities, including sports teams, school plays, and orchestras, fostering a sense of inclusivity and engagement. These events also offer students the unique opportunity to showcase their talents and skills in front of an audience. There is no better encouragement for a younger student than seeing a friendly face before, during and after the event, which is why we will always be available to attend events and even send videos to parents.