Make money: doing what you like, when, how and with who you want.

It is free: completely free, you only get money for the services you list.

You are Free

  -  choose price: for your product and services, also according to different dates and periods

  -  choose what to do: and enjoy your job - extra activities to do and be paid for, as long as you do it in your language, that is simply speaking.

  -  choose when to work - select on your calendar when not to work

  -  choose who with - refuse any request you believe doesn’t fit your ideals

  -  choose how - list any Rules and add extra Conditions to your agreement

Meet people: many, new, open-minded and knowledgeable tourers. Don’t forget to welcome, please and cherish them, they are your Guests, Students, and Feedback.. that is new Clients.

It is Easy: No skills needed, to start, you only need a connection. Find a spare bed, provide a good descriptions (to attract Student Guests): details as wi-fi, rules, Members of the family, good pictures; conversation lessons and activities in your language.

PS: Limitations - Local Rules and regulations, Local, national and international laws. Our Rules for minors, rules for all, we reserve the right to ban or cancel listings of School Houses, Members, Clients, Comments or any other material on our portal.

You will automatically receive an e mail or by checking your account.

After the first contact, you will be able to confer with the interested Student Guest by using the apposite messaging sections.

After the first contact you and your Student Guest will be able to message together using the apposite section; personal details about you will be given to the Guest after the booking.
If the Guest fails to inform you about the delay before the arrival with a convenient time, there may be the chance that you are not at home, make sure you both have contact details and are ready and able to be contacted.

The Student Guest might have already sustained costs: in that case, the School house hosting may have to reimburse these costs in case they cannot be refundable ( i.e. flights, tickets and so on ). Our advice is to keep in mind Student Guests may be damaged so to limit or avoid any extra costs or even a legal dispute make sure you find a suitable alternative not to call off the booking leaving the Student Guest home, or worse stranded in a foreign Country; have a plan B ready beforehand

So before cancelling a booking you have to keep in mind that it may be extremely costly in terms of time, money and risk management, not only in respect to you and the Student Guest, but also for us.
It is not difficult to understand how great opportunities such those we offer are held up by reputation, and every cancelation is a big problem we have to deal with, not only in terms of image but also in terms of paperwork and administrative costs.
The worst aspect of canceling is the impact it is going to have on the Student Guest, who have emotionally prepared him/herself to this new adventure, with all the anxiety that comes along.
So please, before canceling a booking make sure it is absolutely unavoidable, and, if it is, give plenty of notice to reduce any possible damage to a minimum.

It is the School House’s responsibility to meet any tax liability incurred as a result of hosting and for the Services provided. Every case is different, for example in the UK teaching English, which includes CLIL lessons on any subject, matter and methodology, is exempt from VAT and income arising from homestay which does not exceed £4,250 per annum (true of October 2014 so most likely higher now) is exempt from tax on that money. Yuo will have to register VAT at £83.000 yearly income (true of April 2016).

Learn in a FLASH Ltd.  is not responsible for loss or damage to third parties, to the property or the persons of either the School House or the Student Guest. We are just provide a free listing service. FLASH also provides extra paid assistance, use our quote request contact form. You are recommended to check with your home contents insurance provider. You may want to consider purchasing public liability insurance. Student Guests may be asked upon booking request to purchase an insurance which is usually rather cheap (as little as £5 per week) but of course depends on the coverage you are looking for; consider contacting specialised insurance companies.

Student Guests, School Houses and third parties generally have to prove the other party’s negligence to claim compensation for extra expenses, so work properly, respect others and their spaces and all will be fine.

Signing in as School House you accept the fact the you are expected to have a positive attitude towards all your guest and  resolve eventual argues or misunderstanding with having in mind that cultural  differences or language or religion may not always be suitable with English behaviour standards.

Respect any deals made like pick up and meeting point and time.

If any changes occur to any of your rooms or houses ( i.e. any modification in the house, people living there or acquired pets ) which has been declared as available in your profile, you ought to modify your profile as soon as possible.

School Houses are required  to help Student Guests upon arrival and provide them with all the basic information, such as public transportation, Cash machines, travel cards, doctors, pharmacy, and  entertainment. Possibly on the site in the appropriate sections. The more information you provide, the more likely a booking will be made and the least likely useless questions will be asked.

Student Guest should be free to come and go as they please within legal requirements (i.e. under 16 minors in the UK must be home before 10pm).
In the case you provide a key, make sure it is given back upon departure, we apologise but we will not assit you in getting your keys back.

Remember not to write the address on the key, in case a student loses it you will not have to channge door locks. If lost you may ask for the reimbursement of the cost of making a copy but only if requested while the student is still there because we must be able to contact them before they leave to make appropriate checks..

Please keep in mind that  many Student Guests who come from warmer climates feel the cold in a different way and are not used to the heating being switched off during the night. You may be prepared to offer the student an extra blanket .

In any case heating in the cold seasons must be present in Student Guest’s room.

Clearly, you will be hosting both genders, so provide a disposal for sanitary protection, keep the bathrooms clean and don’t charge the Student Guest for the use of hot water or soap.
The towels shall be changed with clean one at least once a week.
It could be useful to organize the bathrooms use schedule and specify them on your School House Rules section on the portal, in order to avoid complaints.

You should show where the telephone is in order to allow your Student Guest to get in touch with emergency numbers.
School Houses are highly recommended to let the Student Guest know their number and rules about its use if allowed.

We live in the internet era, so Internet is very important. Student Guest might be students or online workers,or might use Skype to contact their relatives. It may be a determinant in one's choice.

If you have wi-fi, specify it in the Facilities section of your profile on the portal, it should be free of charges.

If you provide it….Of course!

The Student Guests should be allowed to use it at least once a week, without any economic cost. If the washing machine will be used more than twice you can feel free to charge the extra uses. If you have an iron and an ironing board the Student Guest should be allowed to use it else provide information on where and how to obtain such services, you could provide them at a cost or for free like almost anything else.

You can freely choose to let a Student Guest invite another person, but  you are not expected to let them do it. Again specify it in the School Houses rules on your profile.

Yes, they usually do.

They didn’t choose this experience only to learn a different language, they also did it because of the bond that is created when you live and learn with someone else! They would love to watch tv with you, to play with you, and to chat with you.

They are not simple lodgers.

Student Guests over 18 years of age can freely stay out whenever they please, and spend the night away without any problem.

They should notice you if they are going to be late at any lunch or dinner or if staying out, but it is just a matter of good manners.

You may specify in your School House Rules any extra Term and Condition and limit their freedom, thus limit their access to your school house if they breach any.

This guideline must be read according to the terms and Conditions.

Learn in a FLASH Ltd.  holds the School houses information, which may include DBS check, personal documents, house address, any  censured content, according to the Data Protection Act  of 1998.

Learn in a FLASH Ltd.will not disclose your personal information to any third party without your consent.

For further explanations refer to valid Safety Acts.

Any discrimination based on Gender, Religions, Citizenship, or Political belief will not be tolerated.

Learn in a FLASH reserves the right to inspect any School House and Work place.

If you decide to become a British Council awarded School you may consider their self evaluation sheet to see if you meet the criteria, it may be a good starting point to see how to become a good one sooner or later:

Be as detailed and accurate as possible: complete all parts of the forms provided. We provide useful language.

Take wonderful pictures: here some tips or ask someone skilled. Requiesting our visit will include a photo-gallery production.

Set the right prices: you can manage prices directly, expand/improve services to make more money.

Pick your clients: set automatic limits or simply verify Clients thorugh messaging and social media (better through FLASH to preserve your privacy).

Reply quickly to messages and requests: do you like to wait?

Engagement: if you can’t make it help Client to find alternative.

Be a tidy organiser: keep up to your promises to get positive feedback, tuition, pick up, dietary, activity arrangements must be met. Print/save properly our confirmation email which cointain all the info but remember to add any other direct agreements.

Make clear arrangements, for example for payments: eg. to be paid on arrival is our standard. FLASH only received its commission as paiment, you will be paid directly by clients- we require flight info and some activites can be paid in advance.

Check your standards - Act and Host responsibly! Safety! 

Hospitality! Check where the clients come from and read his or her profile to understand cultural and individual differences.

Take this seriously:

Teaching, hosting and meeting people may be a great experience, a pleasure and lucrative but it is also engaging: organisation and know how require time and effort.

Safety first:

How to make accommodation and stay safe:

In general (you should do this for your own safety anyway):

Keep a first aid kit in an appropriate place and show where to find it.

Place a smoke detector in your house.

Make an evacuation plan and place small extinguishers in your property.

Systems and appliances checked and safe

Clearly indicate any possible cause of injury like low ceilings, hidden steps, missing handrails on stairs.

Lock up any dangerous thing.

Exits should be clearly marked on your School House planimetry and shown to guests on arrival

In case of Emergency

Provide Contacts, among other Local Amenities you believe useful, of Health care services, Police, Fire-fighters.

Provide emergency numbers.

Make sure it is clear how to act in case of emergency.

Take note of Client’s phone number(s) and emergency contacts provided by them.

Make sure they take or have taken note of them, possibly on their phones.

Upon arrival

After the aforementioned you should also, when accepting underage clients or those coming with children, consider safety of any object about, sockets, wires, cupboards, drawers. Warn about any existing fault upon arrival.

Check your air conditioning systems and that explain how heating can be adjusted upon request or in autonomy.

Show how doors, windows, appliances and equipments should be used. You will be surprised on how different cultures have no idea of what you see as utterly normal and easy to use. You will find out a classical example is the shower.

Neighbourhood:

Comply with rules and regulations, of your building, local administrations, Regional, National and International, including for example on smoking, parking, communal areas, noise, animals.

Locally:

You should consider, other than our Terms and Conditions, local, national and international laws, standards and regulations regarding teaching and the services you provide (ie. number of students you can hold), accommodating (for example age allowed, number of people for example 4 in the UK to be considered home, tenancy contracts) and organising a business (for example how to pay tax, income levels at which to declare your activity). You may need specific devices such as smoke detectors or an evacuation  procedure in place, warn about surveillance cameras or you may have to displace them.

Hereunder a list of possible things you may need to consider:

 - Tenancy contract (students are not lodgers), family members approval and compliance with all rules and regulations herein

 - Taxes

 - Permits and registrations for teaching and accommodating

 - Pricing limitations

 - Insurance:

Our school students on Work Related Learning Program are covered with their State School Insurance on their work premises. Other clients are not forced to purchase any insurance. Feel free to ask for yours to have one, for example at least for damages to third parties.

Responsibilities:

This is a portal listing services provided by its users, we cannot verify the truthfulness of all the content as this will be uploaded by persons using our website and not by us or our staff. The services are provided by persons who will be responsible for the correctness and complete satisfaction of their clients we have assisted in getting in touch with.

Rules:

This info should be listed in your rules you may feel appropriate. Consider always adding that the only language to be spoken be to target language and that any communication home should be in writing and possibly in the target language. Remind Students of the importance of doing so for their improvement.

Keys are a private issue. Consider having a spare key in case you provide one to Student Guests.

Feedback:

Consider writing feedback appropriately as you will be held liable of any damaging comments, feel free to criticize and give a negative feedback but beware of language used and effects on your School House.

Please do provide feedback every time you provide a service through this site as this will enhance likelihood of other bookings and visibility on the web, positive feedback as well as positive and constructive criticism will be useful and welcome.

The host family is responsible for providing a light breakfast and other meals as indicated on the Website and eventually special diets booked, agreed upon and paid for.

There should be food available for the student to make their own lunches or the appropriate amount of money given for a packed meal in case lunch wee agreed upon and you can’t provide it for a particular reason.

On weekends or days when the student is home during lunch time, the host is usually responsible for providing all three meals.

Check your agreements with agents and specify on your profile what is included and any other diet or meal not included in the paid services section.

Hereunder guidelines for Accommodating Students (also Under 18 years of age)

There are three main types of accommodation options you may offer to student though our site (no more than 4 students per house):

1) Bed in a shared room staying with family child (same gender and similar age)

2) Bed in a private shared room with foreign student (same and gender) different language or same language only upon request

3) Bed in a private single room

Other accessories are welcome (En-suite, wifi, ecc- all can increase to total price required)

These accommodation guidelines provide information to assist you in your responsibilities and the basic standards required.

HOMESTAY

Mandatory Requirements

A responsible adult must be in the home whenever the students are on the premises

Students under 16 will be accompanied to and from school and social activities, by either their host family, or a group leader

Hosts hosting under 16’s will be checked according to local laws and regulations, and/or will have signed a self-declaration, stating they have had no (not even minor) criminal offences in the past

Students must be placed in a well maintained, clean, heated and safe environment

There will be a place for their personal belongings, for example part of a wardrobe and or drawers with adequate space

Ample natural light and proper study light

Study table, or place for study is accessible

All students must have a private, proper bed. (Sofas, Cots, camping type, makeshift mattresses are not acceptable).  

No student shall share a bed unless it is a couple that has requested this in advance.  

Their children may share a room with a student, this must be specified in the room type section of the website.

A change of bed linen and towels at least weekly.

Extra blankets, duvets are available and location known by students.

Daily access to washing facilities (bath or shower)  

Students over 18 years old will not be housed in the same homestay as students under 18.

English will be the spoken language in the School house.

Students speaking the same language will not be placed in the same home at the same time unless prior consent from all parties is received

Phone charges are the student’s responsibility Hosts should help students in obtaining an English SIM card at their own expense

Attention to Special Needs must be followed. Some students may have special needs e.g. dietary requirements that need to be adhered to and followed.

Lessons? 5 individual lessons would be a good start as a minimum package

Extra activities: could be simply bike ride, cooking, shopping, walking, playing card and or board-games etc.

Work experience: ie. volunteering, waitressing, pub, shop assistant, hairdresser’s butcher's (no cleaners or carers)

Airport pick up: Agents could organise this.

School House Programme:  Overview

The service provider is a very responsible position sustaining, providing and ensuring a family-like experience for the student. In essence, the student is treated like one of the family and not as a paying guest. This programme is the most pastoral and most interactive with the student. The student’s details will have been emailed to you prior to the arrival date along with 24 hour contact details for the students parents/legal guardians and /or agents.

Arrival / Departure

Exact itinerary for arrival and departure will be emailed to you with the students’ details in advance of their arrival.

This is an extra responsibility for hosts welcoming the student on arrival and personally seeing to your student’s departure as you would a family member.

If for some reason this responsibility cannot be met, please contact student ASAP. FLASH is a booking service and not responsible for any inconvenience arising. Hosts are responsible for all services other than the booking, marketing and administration of both.

A taxi transfer to/from the airport is arranged by the Host if the student requires one and is paid by students.

Public services to reach host address should be specified on the website

Relating to students

Keep in mind some students may not have travelled much or been away from home before. Their arrival to you may find them tired after a long journey.  They (and you too) may be nervous about that first meeting and their new environment. Communicating may at first be uneasy, and they may have difficulty in expressing themselves in the English-speaking environment. Try and talk slowly, engage them in your conversations in an inclusive manner, be patient, relax and don’t forget to smile.

House rules / services

Some house rules may need to be stated. The following are areas that need to be addressed:

Meal Times - The time of morning and evening meals should be clearly stated.

The evening meal is an important opportunity time to sit down together and talk.

Your student should not eat alone.  

The standard we require for meals is a light breakfast, lunch (may be packed lunch) will be provided if students pay for full board evening meals will be provided if students pay for half board

Please double check the student’s booking information for all dietary and/or allergic cautions.

Laundry Usage - Your students will need to know about the laundry and kitchen usage.  Explain to student where dirty clothes should be placed and when you will do the laundry.  

Kitchen usage is an area that is often missed in preparing for your student.  Consider what access you want to allow to this area and discuss it with the student.

Homecoming Times

Students staying with your family will be in your company and under your supervision.

FLASH will email a copy of the student itinerary for the duration of the stay. This will include details of all activities (late nights or missed meals).

As a rule, students under 18 years old will not have permission to go out unsupervised at any time and a phone call to agent r Parents necessary if student not home by 10pm (this to avoud baing liable of negligent act).

Medical Attention:  

Consult with your Doctor prior to the arrival of your student.  In some medical practices doctors require registration in advance of any visit/consultation and some only if needed.  Please assist the student in making any appointments and accompany them to the visit if required.

Language schools:

If a student is booked in a language school, is ill and cannot attend class, it is Host Family Memeber’s responsibility to let such shcool know as soon as possible. Follow the language school’s rules.

If on a Student Visa, all absences must be reported and recorded and made available to the UK Border Agency upon requested.

The UK Border Agency requires 85% attendance for students on visas.

Other Important Areas

Damages - Your premises should always hold insurance that is current and maintains coverage for accidental damages.  WE WILL NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES CAUSED DURING A STUDENT’S STAY.

If a student causes damage in your house, in the first instance please obtain an estimate for repairs or find out the replacement cost for broken items, and request payment on behalf of the student from the group leader/agent/parent.

Problems

No matter how careful we all try to be, sometimes personalities do not get along.  

In order to provide for this allow a settling in time. That means allow time for you and the student to decide if the arrangement is equally suitable. If the unforeseen occurs and a student is removed from your home, you most likely will be paid pro rata for the nights concerned.  

If at any time, questions arise or uncertainties please contact via email or for emergencies your local agent.

First the rules set by your School House in your profile and any other Term agreed upon directly using our sistems.

Then consider what hereunder as agreed upon as Members of this community and using this site, as part of Terms and Conditions for using the site and the services listed:

 Keep a proper behavior

 Comply with the Rules set out on this site and by School Houses, Work Tutors, Agents and any institution and involved parties who may have set any yu ought to obey. Be civil and avoid any occasion which may, even involuntary, be cause of accidents.

 Be punctual and strictly comply with the scheduled meeting points and times.

 Respected the place where you are, be it a School House, a Workplace or any other, and do not create disorder with unappropriate behavior.

 Always stay in groups, with the family or your giude, during group visits and inform supervising adults for any possible problem

 Always keep with you the address and the phone number of the School House / Agent / Supervising adults / hostel / hotel.

 ID card or passport, a photocopy of the same at home, Health Insurance Card, your travel schedule and map of the city.

 Avoid, on public transport, disturbing and excessive noise.

 Do not make use of drugs and / or illegal and alcoholic drinks, this is true also for older students when on a school trip.

 Respect the customs and rules of the host population.

At the School House and Work place:

 Check for damage to the rooms and report to the School House in writing (an email). Any damages caused as a result may be charged to the occupants of the room itself.

 Keep your room in order.

 Do not smoke in the bedroom or in other environments where it is not allowed.

 Do not talk loudly in the corridors, or lean from balconies or windows or put yourself in any dangerous situation.

 Do not go out of your School House after the time agreed.

 Do not leave the School House or workplace without notice.

 Strictly obey to curfew and meeting times.

 The nights out are possible only if organised by host parents and in their presence. If any, the person accompanying Students might have to be informed.

Failure to comply with these basic rules of behavior and of living together may result in taking disciplinary action, including, ultimately, the suspension of the experience and Termination of Agreements.

 In the event of a serious individual breach of discipline, the immediate return of the student responsible is expected, after notifying the family, who will have to sustain the cost of bringing his child back home.

 In school groups even over 18 students must submit the authorisation to travelling with parental signature.

 In school groups the referent teacher has the task of taking all the decisions that are necessary for unforeseen situations and events, program changes, including to the limit, trip interruption as well as the obligation of direct communication with the company / fostering agency if any.