What is Homestay ?

In Ireland great emphasis is placed on the importance of family life. Homestay is an ideal opportunity for your child to stay with an Irish family and have a positive home from home experience. Our host families take their responsibilities very seriously; many are parents themselves and are sensitive to how it feels to be away from home. Students choosing home stay are treated as one of the family and it is our experience that strong friendships are often made and continued long after the student returns home.

• All our host families are carefully chosen by us and are regularly visited by our Accommodation Officer. They receive guidelines that outline their responsibilities and obligations to the students entrusted to their care.
  
  
• Accommodation is full board. Students have breakfast and an evening meal in their family. They are provided with a packed lunch which is eaten in the school cafeteria. All meals are with the family on Sunday.
  
  
• On the first day of the course students are brought to school by the host family.
  
  
• Accommodation is on a shared room basis. There is a maximum of 3 students per family at any one time. No other student of the same nationality may be accommodated unless by prior arrangement.
  
  
• Towels and bed linen are provided by the host families and light laundry may be included in the family wash. It is recommended that students bring only machine washable clothes as hand washing and dry cleaning are not generally available.
  
  
• The majority of our host families are within a 20 minute distance of the school either walking or by public transport.
  
  
• A healthy balanced diet is offered to students. Breakfast typically includes toast, cereal, milk, tea or coffee. The packed lunch is substantial and could include filled rolls /sandwiches, fruit, yoghurt, bar, and drink. The evening meal is the main meal of the day with either meat fish or poultry, vegetables and a dessert.