What kind of accommodation do we organise and where? 

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We organise:

1. Homestays and

2. Bed and breakfast accommodation for our students.

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1.1 Homestays- where?

• We recruit our own homestays in and around Totnes and in Paignton and surrounding villages and towns. All our tuition takes place at the Gate House in Totnes.

• For students 15 years+ this means that you will either stay in:

               -Totnes in walking distance of the school (maximum 20 minutes), or you will stay in

               -Paignton, at the seaside, and come in and out of school by public bus (included in the accommodation cost). This        is a journey of 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

       If you have a preference for Totnes or Paignton, please let us know when you book though we cannot guarantee we can give             you your exact choice.

• For students 13-14 years, you will stay in host families in or outside Totnes and surrounding villages or in Paignton, and our families will bring you in and out of school for lessons, activities and excursions. For evening activities you may have packed dinner in the school in Totnes itself to avoid too much travelling in one day.

 

1.2 Homestays- what is included?

• There is a maximum of 4 students (or other paying guests) in a single family

• Students 16 years+ on our adult courses:

                - Food- you can choose a half-board (breakfast and dinner included) or self-catering (no food) option.

                - Bedroom- you can choose a single room or to share a room. Tell us when you book.

                - Bathroom facilities- you can choose the shared bathroom option where you and the family/ other students share the same bathroom facilities or you can choose the own bathroom option where you have your own private bathroom.   If you have a preference for own bathroom, please let us know when you book though we cannot guarantee this in busy times.

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•  Students 13 - 17 years on our Junior courses:

                - Food- you will have the full board option where the host family gives you breakfast, a packed lunch and an                               evening meal.

                 -Bedroom- you can choose a single room if you are 16-17 years; if you are 13-15 years you will probably share a room with another student from a different country but of a similar age and same sex. If you want to share with your friend or a family member tell us when you book. If you are going to share with another student we will try to let you know the details of this in advance.​

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1.3 What we ask our homestay hosts to provide for you:

• a safe and welcoming environment so that you, the student, understand important information such as normal household routines, meal and curfew times and the fire escape plan in the house;

• a quiet place in the home with a desk or table where you can study;

• a bedroom with sufficient space, a big enough bed with a proper base and storage space for clothes, as well as natural light;

• bed linen and towels- these should be provided and washed on a weekly basis. There should be an adequate supply of duvets or blankets;

• a laundry wash once a week;

• privacy from the opposite sex;

• a clean and tidy environment in which to sleep, live and study;

• adequate heating and lighting, access to drinking water always and ideally somewhere to store your own snacks in the kitchen;

• a normal balanced diet- particular dietary needs can be met but they may cost extra and please tell us in advance so we can find the right family to match your needs;

• shared use of a bathroom, with showers or baths available daily, unless the own bathroom is booked in which cases you are the only user of the bathroom;

• peace of mind- the responsible adult in our under 18 homestay homes is DBS- checked and the details of all other home occupants noted on the DBS application which means their details have been checked against the police database for added peace of mind for you as parents.

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We recommend homestay as a wonderful way of living our culture to the full!  

 

When you arrive in Totnes, your host will collect you from the coach or train station if possible and show you where to go in the morning. You can relax as soon as you arrive in our lovely town!

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