--- title: "FAQ | Hosting Students with Charles Eaton in Hastings" description: "Answers to common questions from host families and partner agencies: meals, transport, supervision, lead times, and how a stay with Charles Eaton works." url: "https://www.charleseaton.org.uk/faq" locale: "en" --- # FAQ ## Frequently asked questions Here you'll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. ## For host families ### Can two students share a room? Often, yes. How many a room will take depends on the room itself, so we will advise when we visit. ### Can I have students from other organisations? Certainly, it is a possibility. As we prioritize the well-being and safety of our students, we kindly request that you take into account our booking requirements, such as gender segregation. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your options before making a double booking. ### Why is a home visit necessary? We believe that a home visit is essential to ensure that our students will have a safe and comfortable environment during their stay. It also allows us to get to know you and your family, and to discuss our expectations and guidelines for hosting. Our goal is to create a positive and enriching experience for both our students and host families, and the home visit is an important step in achieving this. ### Are student activities arranged by the group? We have a variety of groups, some of whom organize their own activities, while others require our assistance in arranging them. Regardless, we provide a comprehensive itinerary to ensure that you are aware of when the students will be returning home and leaving in the morning. ### Do I need to make a packed lunch? Typically, students will need a packed lunch, and the itinerary will outline any additional meal requirements. During our visit we can discuss this further, and we are happy to suggest packed lunches that are easy to put together and go down well. ### Do the students need to be dropped off and picked up? Yes. We ask you to meet your students yourself when they arrive and drop them off again, at the times and places set out in the itinerary we send you. ### How long is a typical stay? Our bookings are flexible and can vary in duration, ranging from three days to two weeks or more. We make payments promptly on a weekly basis, or at the conclusion of the stay, whichever comes first. Get in touch and we will talk through how you would like to be paid. ### What dates do you have students arriving? Our season runs from March to September, and you choose when it suits you to have students. Once you join us, we will keep you updated as new bookings come in. ## For partner agencies and schools ### What lead time do you need for a new partnership? We are happy to talk throughout the year. For our busiest season (April to October), we recommend getting in touch at least three months ahead so we can match your group with the right host families. ### What countries do you currently work with? We have welcomed students sent by Czech, Dutch, French, and German agencies, and we are warmly open to partnerships from new countries. Please get in touch and we will talk through what would work for your group. ### What is included in a standard booking? Every confirmed booking includes a safe and secure home with a dedicated host family in Hastings, all meals during the stay (breakfast, packed lunch, evening meal), daily transport to and from the school by the host family, and a same-day point of contact at Charles Eaton from arrival to departure. Optional English language lessons and cultural programmes are available on request. ### How do you handle safeguarding? Students are never placed alone. Every host family welcomes a pair of students or more. Hosts are responsible for daily transport, students do not travel into town alone in the evenings, and once they are home for the day they are home. Every prospective host family is met by our team in their own home before they welcome their first student. DBS checks are not a regulatory requirement for homestay hosts in our context, but we are happy to arrange them on request for partner organisations who require them as a condition of placement. If you have any further questions, feel free to [get in touch with our team](https://www.charleseaton.org.uk/contact). We're always happy to help. ## Get in touch - Call us: [+44 7850 769810](tel:+447850769810) - Email us: [info@charleseaton.org.uk](mailto:info@charleseaton.org.uk)