Instagram Live Highlights: How We Help Students Settle In at Buckswood Overseas Summer School (BOSS)

Buckswood Overseas Summer School
7 hours ago
5 min read

Helping Students Feel Comfortable Starts Before Arrival

At Buckswood Overseas Summer School (BOSS), we know that settling into a new environment, especially in a different country, can feel exciting and a little daunting. That’s why we begin the process long before students step onto campus.

Once a booking is confirmed, families receive clear guidance every step of the way:

A welcome email with a student guide that explains what to expect
A parent guide to answer common questions
An online meeting with the BOSS team to outline the first 24–48 hours

This early communication helps students and families feel informed and confident before departure.

🎥 Watch the full session below to hear how BOSS helps students to settle as quickly as possible. 👇

A Warm Welcome From the Moment You Arrive

Arrival day at BOSS is designed to make students feel seen, supported, and relaxed, no matter how they’re feeling.

When students arrive at the airport, a BOSS team member greets them and brings them straight to campus. From that first moment, we want students to feel comfortable.

We understand that every student is different:

Some arrive calm and excited
Some feel nervous or shy
Some are experiencing summer school for the first time

Our goal is to make every student feel welcome and safe, even before they realise they’re settling in.

Young person with colourful powder on clothes and face gives thumbs up, smiling broadly. Greenery in the background suggests an outdoor setting.

Fun, Friendly Check‑In to Break the Ice

Our arrival process is calm and efficient, and it includes:

Collecting passports and storing them safely
Holding pocket money securely
Recording any medication and health details

We explain everything with care so that students understand what’s happening and feel in control.

To set a warm, friendly tone, we might even play music, sometimes students choose a favourite song! We laugh, dance, ask questions, and create a relaxed atmosphere so everyone feels comfortable being themselves.

Children with colourful clothing raising arms joyfully outdoors. Greenery and blue sky in background, creating a lively and cheerful scene.

Arrival Tasks to Help Students Settle In

Every student receives a BOSS diary, a T‑shirt, and a new bucket hat for 2026. Inside the diary, the first page lists simple arrival tasks designed to help students start making connections and exploring their new surroundings:

Call home to let parents know you’ve arrived safely
Meet staff and other new students
Complete fun tasks like making a bedroom door sign
Find a friend who speaks a different language

These tasks help students feel settled and start to build friendships straight away, with purpose and structure.

Getting to Know the BOSS Community

After check‑in, we make sure students feel fed, hydrated, and settled before moving on to the next steps. This includes a short conversational English check‑in with the academic team, just five minutes, so we can organise students into the right classes.

Then it’s time for the welcome assembly. In the sports hall, returning students and staff welcome the new arrivals with applause and energy. This moment helps students see that everyone here is part of the BOSS family, staff and students included.

At the assembly, we share important information in a relaxed, friendly way:

What language we use at BOSS
How mealtimes work
What house points mean
Where activities take place

This ensures new students understand routines without feeling overwhelmed.

Young woman in blue shirt smiling outdoors, surrounded by seated group in white shirts. Lush green background. Bright, cheerful atmosphere.

Your First Evening — Small Group Support

After the welcome assembly, students head to their house meeting. In small groups with their house tutor, they:

Meet their housemates
Get introduced to their room and roommate
Ask questions they may have
Receive extra support if needed

This personal attention helps students feel safe and connected before their first night.

Morning Routines That Continue Comfort and Confidence

The next day begins with room inspections, not as a rule, but as a fun, energising way to start the day. It’s another opportunity for students to smile, demonstrate their personality, and share something fun with staff and classmates.

After room inspections, everyone goes to breakfast, then morning assembly, where daily activities and plans are shared. Each assembly ends with a team game, friendly house competition, helping students ease into the day with energy and community spirit.

Man with a microphone gestures in a gym. Group of young people sit on floor watching. Flags hang from ceiling. Black and white image.

Campus Tour and Orientation

After morning routines, new students are taken on a campus tour, showing them key places like:

The Courtyard
Dining Room
BOSS Office
Teacher and support rooms

We want students to know exactly where to go for support, food, rest, or help at any time.

After the tour, there’s a calm presentation that explains routines, rules, and who to talk to if they need help. This human, straightforward introduction helps new students feel confident and supported.

Classes Begin — But Settling Continues

On Monday afternoon, all students meet the academic team and begin classes. But by this time, most students no longer feel like “new arrivals.” Why? Because they’ve:

Shared meals
Met friends
Participated in activities
Joined morning routines
Explored the campus
Felt welcomed and supported

By Tuesday and Wednesday, with excursions, activities, and daily routines, students are usually fully settled, confident, and ready for the full BOSS experience.

Support That Sees You Before You Ask

At every step, staff are present, observant, and attentive. If a student looks lost, quiet, or unsure, staff approach them, often before the student asks for help. That’s part of what makes BOSS different: support that’s proactive and personal.

Why Students Settle Quickly at BOSS

From before arrival to life on campus, BOSS helps students feel:

Welcome
Seen
Supported
Connected
Confident to begin the summer experience

Working together, staff, routines, activities, and community, makes settling in feel natural, not intimidating.

Need Help or Have Questions About Arrival Day?

At BOSS, we understand that settling into a new place takes care and clear support. If you’d like to know more about how we help students feel comfortable from day one, we’re happy to talk.

FAQs

How does BOSS help students settle in?

BOSS provides pre‑arrival guides, online meetings, personalised welcome events, structured routines, and staff support to help students feel comfortable from the start.

What happens on the first day at BOSS summer school?

Students check in, meet staff and other students, complete guided arrival tasks, eat together, and attend a welcome assembly designed to make them feel part of the community.

Is summer school overwhelming for new students?

BOSS focuses on supportive, friendly introductions with structured routines so that new students gradually gain confidence and feel safe in their environment.

Buckswood Overseas Summer School (BOSS) is based on the beautiful Buckswood campus in Guestling, near Hastings, East Sussex, England. Since 2011, we have welcomed students aged 8 to 17 from around the world to learn English, build confidence, and experience life in the UK countryside. Our accredited courses combine English language learning, leadership training, and cultural experiences, creating a safe and friendly environment where every student can learn, grow, and belong. Our motto, One School, One Family, captures the heart of who we are.

For any questions or to find out more, contact us or visit our website.