How should the school, custodian and education adviser work together when a student is struggling academically or emotionally?

Schools will usually identify early academic or wellbeing concerns through assessments and teacher observations, then contact the custodian. The custodian is normally the first local coordinator: arranging follow-up such as tutoring or a counselling referral and updating the parents. Where a family has also retained an education adviser for ongoing support, that adviser can help coordinate academic planning and pathway decisions, but does not replace the school or custodian in day-to-day care. Agreeing each party's role and communication process in advance avoids a gap caused by everyone assuming someone else will act.

What to verify

• Set out the responsibilities of parents, the custodian, homestay provider, school and education adviser in writing.
• Keep routine reporting arrangements—frequency, content, time zone and channel—separate from emergency-contact procedures.
• Medical care, school activities, travel, finances and personal information require different authorizations; a custodian cannot automatically make every decision on a parent's behalf.
• Tell the school, homestay provider and relevant government authorities promptly if contact details, address or custodianship arrangements change.

Planning advice

Before departure, prepare a one-page contact and authorization sheet. Agree which matters require an immediate update and which can be included in a regular report, then reconfirm the arrangement each term and after any material change.