Principle
Stay Campus London aims to ensure all students are booked on the correct course to suit their needs, as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Procedures
Bookings for Individuals and Groups can be made through the school’s website, by email, in person or by telephone.
Bookings are accepted through the sales team and from students contacting the school directly.
A registration fee of £65 is required for individual bookings.
A deposit of 10% is required to confirm enrolments for individuals and group bookings.
Full payment of fees is required 4 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.
Courses are subject to availability. If a course is unavailable an alternative date will be offered.
When enrolling it is very important that the school receives all medical conditions, allergies and dietary requirements at least two weeks before arrival.
The school should be informed of any serious difficulties with hearing, sight or mobility, or any other factor that may have implications on their learning.
Before booking and paying for a course, students must read and confirm having read contract terms and conditions of enrolment.
The school strongly recommends students travel with adequate insurance to cover expenses in case of emergency and also fees and costs in case of cancellation or curtailment.
Students requiring visas should ensure they have met all necessary requirements for entry into and studying in the UK.
Entry Requirements
If a student intends to sit an examination whilst studying at the school, it is recommended they check their level before booking on the course.
Stay Campus London takes attendance at the school very seriously and expects students to attend every lesson. It is important that students understand what the procedure will be if they do not attend lessons.
The school keeps a record of each student’s attendance at every lesson and calculates total attendance each week. If a lesson is missed the teacher will record the absence and it is added to the record at the end of the week. This can affect the average attendance and parents could be informed.
Arriving late for a lesson is also very important as this is very disruptive and teachers may not let a student, arriving late, join the class. In this case the student will be marked absent and the student must report to the school reception.
To receive a course certificate a student must attend 85% of their lessons.
Any absence due to illness must be substantiated by a group leader. Any unauthorised absences result in a certificate not being issued.
If a student’s attendance is poor the school will try to help the student improve. If this does not lead to improvement, it may result in the student being asked to leave the school.
If a student is studying on a visa it is important to know how poor attendance can affect a student’s right to stay in the UK.
Please see the Handbook for Student Visas and UK Border Agency for details on this procedure.
Before you book and pay for a course at Stay Campus London you must read and confirm you have understood our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellations
Any cancellations of the whole allocation must be notified in writing at least six months prior to the arrival date. Cancellations after this time are is subject to a cancellation fee. We will withhold deposits in the event of cancellation by the booking agent.
We reserve the right to charge 50% for individual (per person) cancellations occurring between 30 and 45 days prior to arrival, and 75% for cancellations that occur 14 to 30 days prior to arrival. No-shows and cancellations on the day of arrival will be charged at the full rate.
Please note that prices may be subject to alteration. See your Consultant or Educational Tour Operator for insurance information.
Force Majeure
Stay Campus London is not liable for loss of tuition or other services due to factors outside our control. Refunds will not be made under these circumstances.
We have revised our cancellations policy to allow greater flexibility and to ensure you can book with confidence. Our revised policy means that booking with us is risk-free.
Pre-booked students who have to cancel due to Covid-19
Existing students who are forced to cancel their place as a direct result of Covid-19 can either defer their studies to a new enrolment date or start their programme online with the choice to continue on-site once any restrictions have been lifted.
This policy covers the following:
New students who wish to cancel due to Covid-19
New students, who have booked after 20 May 2020 who are concerned about starting their course in the UK if Covid-19 remains a threat will have the following options:
Please note that students who choose to cancel less than four weeks before the start date will be subject to our normal terms and conditions.
When a student’s studies have already been deferred and then they subsequently choose to cancel, this will be considered as less than four weeks’ notice.
We will aim to process refunds within four weeks upon receipt of a completed refund form together with the supporting documents. Funds will be returned to the original sending account, as per the company's general refund policy. To apply for a refund contact info@staycampus.com.
We are planning our summer programmes to commence as usual by July 2020, pending on government permission, and we look forward to welcoming all students to London at one of our four campuses.
Stay Campus London’s excellent online courses are now up and running and ensuring that any new or existing students are not missing out on their scheduled tuition. Our online classes may have to continue, or resume, if there are any delays in 2020/21 academic year due to Covid-19.
This policy was last updated on 20 May 2020. We are reviewing and adapting our policies as the situation regarding Covid-19 develops. We understand that this is a very difficult time for everyone. Our goal is to be clear and transparent with the information being released. We are a strong community, our students' and staff's safety and wellbeing remain of the highest importance to us.
Students must adhere to the following:
Stay Campus London welcomes students aged 16-17 on a range of courses throughout the year. They can be placed in a class with either 18+ or students under 18 year’s old, as part of the same programme.
Stay Campus London has a responsibility to provide an enjoyable, comfortable and safe learning environment for all our staff and students. This is especially important for students under 18 and adults at risk and this page explains how we care for these learners and what their responsibilities are.
Students aged 16 and 17 can study at the adult centre if we have permission from their parent/guardian. They must be aware that Stay Campus London does not provide 24-hour supervision except the residence reception and security.
Please be aware of the following:
Emergency Phone
A member of Stay Campus London's Safeguarding Team can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the case of an emergency. This number is given to all students during induction and appears on the student card attached to their lanyards that we require under 18's to wear at all times. Students are also asked to enter the emergency number onto their phones at the school induction.
Parental Agreements
Before a student aged 16-17 begins studying at Stay Campus London, both the parent/guardian and the student must sign and return to us a number of documents. These confirm that they understand the school’s procedures and the rules for the welfare of under 16-17's and the level of supervision that we provide. It is important that parents and 16-17's understand that if a student under 18 breaks our rules, Stay Campus London will inform the parents/guardian and in serious cases has the right to ask the student to return home: in such cases, the fees are not refunded and the travel back is on their own expenses.
It is also important that you give Stay Campus London the student’s mobile number along with next of kin details and once the student has arrived in the UK, he/she must keep the phone switched on and charged.
Accommodation
We require students aged 16-17 to stay in our accommodation. Stay Campus London does sometimes accept other arrangements where the student is guaranteed to have adult supervision from an adult, such as staying with a family friend or relative, provided Stay Campus London finds it suitable and provided we have written confirmation of the arrangements from the parents/guardian at the time of the enrolment.
Pastoral Care
We take the safety of our students very seriously at Stay Campus London and all of our staff, activity leaders and contractors have a minimum basic level of safeguarding for under 18's. This means they know how to recognise and respond to any students who may appear unhappy or distressed at any time during their stay with us.
We understand that living away from home can be difficult for some students, especially for young learners. Our Welfare Officer and Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) are available throughout the day to speak to students about any problems or concerns they have. All of our teachers and office staff can also offer advice and support to anyone feeling homesick or lonely. Outside office hours, we have a 24-hour emergency telephone number that students can call.
We also appreciate that sending a child abroad to study can be worrying for parents so we want to make sure that we give parents all the information they need to be sure they are making the right decision to sending their child to our Campus. We also require parents/guardians to provide us with as much information on their child as possible, including any medical conditions, so that we can provide the best level of care for them at all times. Our Parental Consent Form requires that they ensure that their child is aware of such issues as curfews and unsupervised time, accommodation and school rules that must be agreed to.
We take our responsibilities for young learners very seriously and we have rigorous policies and procedures in place to make sure children have the best possible experience in a safe and secure learning environment.
If there are any aspects of the programme that are not clear, please feel free to contact us. Please also refer to our full list of policies on this page.
Remember that if you break the UK laws (offering alcohol to the students under the age of 18 or by posting something defamatory on social media, etc.), you will be personally responsible.
Principles
Stay Campus London (SCL) is committed to providing clear lines of communication for students to voice complaints and suggestions. The school will make every effort possible to resolve any complaints received by students quickly, fairly and without discrimination. Complaints are viewed as an opportunity to review and improve the services offered by SCL.
Procedures – Students’ Complaints - Pastoral
Any student wishing to make a complaint regarding any aspects of the school should, in the first instance, address his or her complaint to Welfare Officer; Denisa Sava or the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) (Byron Skelton). If they are unable to deal with the problem, the complaint will be passed on to the relevant person.
Where possible, action will be taken to resolve the complaint and where necessary, procedures will be amended to satisfy the complaint.
Where no action is taken, the student making the complaint will be advised of the reason for this.
A full record of the complaint and any action taken will be kept by the Welfare Officer or DSL.
Students’ Complaints -Teachers and Teaching
Where possible students are asked to see their teacher if they are unhappy with their class or level. If you prefer not to speak to your teacher, any academic issues should be addressed to the Academic Manager, Gary Spiers. The matter will be discussed with the teacher and possible solutions identified. The Academic Manager will check after a suitable length of time that the problem has been resolved. If a student is still unhappy, he/she may be moved to another class. The Academic Manager will provide the teacher and student with as much support as possible.
Accommodation
Complaints about accommodation should be made to Paulina Fordon, the School Administrator, who will try and resolve the matter by referring to other departments within Stay Club. If this is not possible, a change of room will be offered. For serious complaints the student will be asked to put the complaint in writing and the matter will be treated with extreme sensitivity.
Staff
Any staff member wishing to make a complaint regarding any aspect of the school or their working conditions, should in the first instance, address his or her complaint to their direct Line Manager or DSL. Where possible action will be taken to resolve the complaint and where necessary procedures will be amended to satisfy the complaint.
A full record of the complaint, any action taken, will be kept by the DSL and Manager in the Complaints File.
Unresolved Issues
In the event of a matter being unresolved an external independent adjudicating panel can be set up with a legal representative and English UK support member.
In this case the complaint should be put in writing and sent to The Ombudsman, English UK, 47 Brunswick Court, Tanner Street, London SE1 3LH or to info@englishuk.com.
Stay Campus London is a multicultural and international environment in which we help to foster an acceptance and tolerance of a range of views students may encounter in such a community.
We encourage our students to express their views and beliefs as long as these respect the core British values of:
Any prejudice, discrimination or extremist views, including derogatory language, displayed by students or staff will always be challenged and dealt with in line with the relevant policies on student behaviour or staff conduct.
As part of wider safeguarding, staff will be alert to and have a duty to report:
Reports of any of the above will be made to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Senior Manager. In extreme cases the police may need to be notified.
Pursuing Excellence in English
The Customer Charter aims to improve access to the Stay Campus London services and to improve quality. The Charter informs customers of the standards of service to expect and what action to take in the event of any problems.
The Charter is reviewed and updated on an annual basis.
Assurance - Fair Service
Stay Campus London strives to maintain a learning environment for its students in which honesty, integrity and respect are constantly reflected in personal behaviour and standards of conduct.
The school is committed to promoting a positive learning environment amongst its students and staff.
The well-being, development and progress of students are of primary importance.
The school provides a safe, caring educational environment with close adherence to welfare and safeguarding regulations.
The school promotes a learning environment which is completely free from bullying and demonstrates respect for diversity and equality.
Complaints
The school makes every effort possible to resolve any complaints received by a student within 24 hours.
Any student wishing to make a complaint should address the complaint to the Welfare Officer or Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who will ensure the complaint is passed to the relevant person to be addressed.
Where possible, action will be taken to resolve the complaint and where necessary procedures will be amended to satisfy the complaint. Where no action is taken the student will be advised of the reason for this.
A full record of the complaint and any action taken will be kept by the Welfare Officer or DSL in the complaints file.
In the event of a matter being unresolved an external independent adjudicating panel would be set up with a legal representative and English UK support member.
Contacts
All enquiries and bookings by email: info@staycampuslondon.com
Website: www.staycampuslondon.com
By telephone: +44 (0) 203 141 7539
Accreditation
The school is accredited by the British Council and is a member of English UK. Inspections are carried out by the British Council.
You may be requested to leave your course if your behaviour is deemed to interfere with other students’ learning or with their experience at Stay Campus London. Disciplinary problems or acts of serious misconduct will result in the School implementing a series of measures to deal with the situation. Gross misconduct will result in immediate expulsion from the school.
Disciplinary problems:
Serious Misconduct
If you do something wrong that is serious enough to put yourself or other people in danger, or goes against the values under which we operate, we will implement disciplinary procedures.
Examples of such behaviour may include:
If you behave inappropriately (as we have described above) at any time whilst you are the responsibility of the school, we will ask you to attend a meeting with a member of the Senior Management Team and with Byron Skelton, the Welfare Officer/Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), where we can discuss your behaviour and look for ways to improve it. Minutes of the meeting will be taken, and a copy sent to your parents or guardian if you are under 18, or to your agent/sponsor (with your written permission) if you are an adult. A copy will also be kept in our files. This will be your first written warning.
We will look at the situation again after the agreed time. If there has not been an improvement, we will ask you to attend a meeting with a member of the Senior Management Team and the Welfare Officer/DSL. If you think it is the right thing to do, we will set another deadline and agree with you again the improvements we are looking for. A copy of the targets will be sent to the appropriate person as above. This will be your second written warning.
If we are still concerned about your behaviour after the agreed time, we will give you a final warning, in which we will explain the conditions to be met if you are to continue at the school. We might, at this time, recommend temporary or permanent exclusion. You will be able to appeal against any recommendation for permanent exclusion or suspension.
If you are excluded from school in the circumstances we have described above, no refund of tuition fees will be given.
Exclusion Policy
A student can be excluded from school if their behaviour or performance has not improved in response to the disciplinary procedures above. If an incident of Gross Misconduct comes to our attention, we will ask you to leave the school immediately.
Gross Misconduct
“Gross Misconduct” means behaviour that is so serious or unacceptable that we have to take immediate action.
If you are excluded from school due to Gross Misconduct, no refund of fees will be given.
If you came into the UK on a visa, obtained on the basis of your attendance at the school, it is our legal obligation to inform the authorities of our decision.
Examples of what constitute gross misconduct include violation of UK laws and any of the following:
Stay Campus London takes a proactive approach to equality, taking seriously the responsibility of promoting equality with regards to:
The school values everyone as an individual and strives to provide an environment which will ensure any person entering the premises will be treated fairly and equally, regardless of the above. Students at the school can be certain they will be studying in an atmosphere where everyone receives respect and can voice their diverse needs, knowing that they will be heard.
The school works to high standards to ensure that the diverse needs of all students are recognised and met by taking account of legislative and regulatory requirements and by identifying key goals to be achieved.
No form of intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated at the school. If a student believes they have been discriminated against in any way they should inform the School Director and the matter will be dealt with immediately.
This policy provides guidance on how Stay Campus London uses the Internet and social media and the procedures for doing so.
Aims
To protect all students and especially Under 18's who make use of technology (mobile phones, games consoles and the internet) whilst studying at the school.
To provide staff and visiting colleagues with policy and procedure information regarding online safety and inform them how to respond to incidents.
Understanding the online world
As part of using the Internet and social media, SCL will:
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Current and emerging technologies used in school and more importantly, in many cases outside the school, by students include:
All of these have potential to help raise standards of teaching and learning but may equally present challenges to both learners and tutors in terms of keeping themselves safe. These challenges include:
At Stay Campus London we seek to maximise the educational benefit that can be obtained by exploiting the use of ICT, whilst at the same time minimising any associated risks. By making clear to learners, staff, contractors etc. what the school expectations are regarding the use of ICT, we aim to protect our learners and staff from harm, as far as reasonably practicable. The precise nature of the risks faced by users will change over time as technologies, fads and fashions change but there are general principles of behaviour and the code of conduct that apply to all situations e.g.: all users need to know what to do if they come across inappropriate material, and that staff members should not give out their personal information to learners such as their personal telephone numbers, email address or allow access to their personal social networking site accounts etc. We also communicate to our students on courses at Stay Campus London they should not give out their personal information such as telephone numbers, addresses etc. to strangers or publish this information on social networking sites.
A balance needs to be struck between educating staff and students to take a reasonable approach towards the use of regulation and technical solutions. We must recognise that there are no totally effective solutions to moderate and control the internet, so this policy incorporates both approaches.
Roles and Responsibilities for Staff
All teaching and non-teaching staff (including suppliers and contractors) are responsible for supporting safe behaviour throughout the school and following e-safety procedures. All school staff should be familiar with the E-safety and Acceptable use of ICT policy (AUP) as well as their relevance to the code of conduct and safeguarding policies.
Roles and Responsibilities for Students
The provision of ICT resources and facilities are a privilege, not a right. Students are encouraged to access various technologies in the school. They should fully participate in e-safety activities and report any suspected misuse to a member of staff.
Students are expected to:
Students are expected not to:
Roles and Responsibilities for Management Team
The management team at Stay Campus London takes e-safety very seriously and will ensure that policies and procedures are in line with best practice and the safeguarding agenda. In particular, they will ensure that all staff receive suitable training and development to carry out their e-safety roles and sufficient resources are allocated to the task. Senior managers will follow the correct procedure in the event of a serious e-safety allegation being made against a member of staff and ensure that there is a robust system in place for monitoring e-safety. This includes making sure that the academic network infrastructure is safe and secure, and that policies and procedures approved within this policy are implemented. SCL has internet security filters fitted to ensure no one can connect to inappropriate sites or material. Regular review of the issues will take place at the safeguarding working group meetings with feedback sessions scheduled to the management team meetings.
Responding to issues
It is important that any incidents are dealt with as soon as possible in a proportionate manner and that members of the school community are aware those incidents have been dealt with.
Any concerns around the misuse of ICT must follow the referral process within the safeguarding policy and procedure where there is a potential threat to another learner, vulnerable person or member of staff. Any suspected misuse must be reported to a member of staff and then an appropriate course of actions will be agreed.
Where an allegation has been made against a student an investigation will take place by a Senior Manager or the Designated Safeguarding Lead. The outcome of the investigation will decide what will be the appropriate course of action and, depending on the nature of the misuse, the student could be suspended from classes until the investigation is complete. The student code of conduct procedure will be invoked should the allegation be found to be true and the sanction will depend on the seriousness of the misuse and whether it was accidental or deliberate, a first-time offence, thoughtless or malicious e.g.: intended to cause harm to others. Sanctions could involve the student having ICT access removed for a period of time or in very serious cases, exclusion. Where there is a potential legal issue the Principal will decide on the need for involvement of outside agencies including the police, together with the designated persons and other members of the senior management team in line with our safeguarding and other policies.
It is the aim of Stay Campus London to obtain feedback on all aspects of the students’ experience during their time at the school. This includes not only their learning experience but also the accommodation, facilities available, the social programme and the service they receive before and after arrival in the UK. We also aim to deal with any issues arising out of the feedback, promptly and to the satisfaction of all concerned. The feedback we receive helps us to evaluate our product and enables us to improve all our services.
Procedures
During the induction on the first morning students and their group leaders (if applicable) are advised who to contact if they have a problem i.e. their teacher about lessons; the School Administrator about accommodation; the SCL reception about the social programme; the Safeguarding Lead or Welfare Officer for any personal problems and SCL reception for any general enquiries. Students are introduced to as many of these members of staff as possible and advised where to find them.
Students are advised that it is in everyone’s interests that any problems are brought to light and dealt with as soon as possible. Students are encouraged to contact their leaders or school team if they have any problems.
On the second day students and group leaders are given a Second Day Feedback Form to complete that day to ensure any initial problems are brought to light and dealt with promptly.
On the last day all students receive an End of Course Feedback Form. This invites students and leaders to rate and comment on lessons, accommodation, the social programme and the school in general. Information gathered from the forms is fed back to teachers and admin staff. Any complaints are discussed by the relevant departments and an action plan put in place to deal with them.
Data from the questionnaires is collated monthly and the forms scanned and passed to Senior Managers, Academic Team and QA Manager. Hard copies are also stored in the school office. A pie chart is produced annually and put to the Management Team for action.
Context
At Stay Campus London (SCL) we enjoy a variety of students of all ages and abilities. All students under the age of 18 are minors, and as such we have a special “Duty of Care” towards both the under-18s and any vulnerable adults who attend the school. Factors that may make someone a vulnerable adult may include, but not be limited to disability (both physical and mental) and level of English. Each student’s level of vulnerability may depend on the context and it cannot be assumed that someone who may not be regarded as a vulnerable adult within the school premises doesn’t become vulnerable off-site.
All students and visitors under the age of 18 and who fall into the category of vulnerable adult are entitled to be protected under this policy regardless of their race, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation or religious belief.
This duty of care applies to all members of staff, and whether or not students are on the premises, are on their way to or from the school, on an excursion or doing a sports or social activity organised by the school.
Introduction
Staff in this organisation accept and recognise our responsibilities to develop awareness of issues which cause children and young people harm. We will endeavour to safeguard vulnerable adults, children and young people by:
We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice at least once a year. The Head of EFL is primarily responsible for this.
If any student or staff member has any concerns about the welfare of an under-18 this will be reported to the DSL.
Terminology
The following terminology is used throughout this policy and other school policy. It is important that all members of staff are familiar with the terms used, and where a term refers to a named person, they know who that person is and how they can be contacted.
Under-18 – Any student or visitor who is under the age of 18. They are deemed to be a minor by law. All students of Stay Campus London who are under the age of 18 have their age highlighted on their Student Card.
Vulnerable Adult – Any student or visitor to the school whose personal circumstances may make them more vulnerable than many other adults. Factors that may deem someone to be a vulnerable adult may include a physical disability (e.g. sight/hearing impairment, mobility impairment), special needs (e.g. learning difficulties, dyslexia), level of English (lower students may not fully understand instructions or be able to effectively express a concern), lack of local knowledge (unfamiliar with the local vicinity or customs).
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – A named member of staff, trained to Advanced Safeguarding for the DSL, who has full overall responsibility to ensure Stay Campus London meets the aims of this policy. Since October 2017, the Designated Safeguarding Lead has been Byron Skelton. The identity of the Welfare Officer/DSL is advertised around the school in posters and during the student’s first week he will meet all new students.
Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP) – A named or named member(s) of staff trained to Advanced Safeguarding Level. The acting DSP is Petra Jedlickova.
Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) - Key statutory mechanism for agreeing how the relevant agencies in each local area will co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in that locality, and for ensuring the effectiveness of what they do. The Children Act 2004 requires each local Children’s Board authority to establish a Safeguarding Board. Stay Campus London falls within the catchment area of Barnet Borough Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.
Designated Officer (DO) – formerly Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) – The officer or team of officers involved in the management and oversight of allegations against people that work with children.
Duty of Care – This is a responsibility of all staff and group leaders to protect under-18 and vulnerable adults from direct harmful behaviour, for example, emotional abuse, physical abuse or any other physical harm, sexual abuse and neglect.
Child Protection – Part of the Safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
Staff Responsibilities related to Safeguarding
A detailed description of the responsibilities all staff have in relation to safeguarding under-18s and vulnerable adults connected to the school can be found in the sections below. The overarching principles are that all staff have the responsibility to safeguard under-18s and vulnerable adults, be vigilant and know to report concerns, including small ones, or allegations and who to contact both within and outside of SCL. All staff must be trained in Safeguarding to the level of Basic Awareness, all Designated Persons to the level of Advanced Safeguarding and the Designated Safeguarding Person to the level of Advanced Training for the DSL.
Legal Framework
This policy is informed by the following legislation enacted by the UK Parliament:
The Children Act 1989
Local Government Act 2000
The Sexual Offences Act 2003
Children Act 2004
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
Policy Availability
This policy can be found in the Stay Campus London Employee Handbook, which all staff receive upon appointment. Staff are required to sign a declaration that they have read and understood the policy. It is also available to the public on the Stay Campus London website www.staycampuslondon.com.
Designated Safeguarding Team
The following members of staff form the Designated Safeguarding Team.
Role:
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Designated Safeguarding Person
Staff Members:
Byron Skelton
Petra Jedlickova
Location:
Stay Campus London Reception
Teachers’ Office
Code of Conduct
Statement of Intent
It is the policy of Stay Campus London to safeguard the welfare of all vulnerable adults, children and young people by protecting them from all forms of abuse including physical, emotional and sexual harm.
This organisation is committed to creating a safe environment in which young people can feel comfortable and secure while engaged in any of Stay Campus London’s programmes. Staff must, at all times, show respect and understanding for the individual’s rights, safety and welfare, and conduct themselves appropriately.
Attitudes
Staff must be committed to:
By Example
Staff must endeavour to:
Prohibited Actions
Staff may not engage in any of the following activities:
Staff are reminded they are in a Position of Trust and that any sexual contact with a student under the age of 18, even if the student is over 16, is a criminal offence.
“Inappropriate physical contact” may be difficult to define in a multi-cultural environment, when students from some other cultures may be more tactile. Staff are therefore prohibited from initiating any physical contact with a student or, if alone with a student, from engaging in physical contact if initiated by the student. Students may wish to have a photograph taken with a member of staff and it is quite natural in this situation for the student to place their arm around the member of staff. This is deemed acceptable provided that the staff member is not alone with the student, the staff member refrains from reciprocating, and the hard or arm isn’t placed on any protected area of the staff member’s body. Staff must otherwise, tactfully and sensitively explain to students that they cannot engage in physical contact with them.
Staff who may need to meet with students under the age of 18 outside of the workplace, must inform a senior member of staff that they are doing this and report back to them when the student has been safely delivered to their destination.
Whistleblowing
Staff are required to report to their line manager (or any senior manager) any instances where they suspect a fellow member of staff to be engaging or to have engaged in any inappropriate or illegal activity. Confidentiality and support will be given to any staff member who raises such concerns.
Anti-bullying policy
Stay Campus London has a written policy on bullying, harassment and extremism for staff and information for students. Staff can find this guide in the Stay Campus London Employee Handbook. Students are referred to this during their induction on Day One. This information for students is also displayed in each classroom.
Safeguarding Young People and Vulnerable Adults on the Premises
It is the responsibility of all staff members to ensure that students are in a safe and secure environment while they are at the school. Annual general safety and fire risk assessments are carried out in all our campuses.
The following are guidelines for ensuring our students enjoy a safe and secure environment while on school premises:
Avoiding accidents
Alcohol and tobacco
Fire safety and evacuation
Full details of what to do in the event of the school needing to be evacuated can be found in the Fire Safety document.
Walking to off-premises classrooms
Students in the classroom
General Wellbeing
The following applies to all students however staff need to consider the implications of the following to our under-18s and vulnerable adults.
Safeguarding Young People and Vulnerable Adults in School Accommodation
Due care and attention is given to where students are placed in school accommodation. The following rules are in force when placing students:
Parents of under 18s are asked to complete Parental Consent Forms. Amongst other things, these stipulate the curfew times as 11pm Monday to Sunday. Parents may stipulate they wish their child to have an earlier curfew time, but not a later one.
Safeguarding Young People and Vulnerable Adults on the Social Programme and on Class Excursions
Events on the social programme take a number of forms, such as afternoon, evening or full-day excursions.
Safeguarding Young People and Vulnerable Adults during Airport Transfers
During taxi transfers between the airport and the campus the following rules are in force:
One-To-One Contact with Students
Staff should:
Electronic contact with students under 18
Online safety for students
While some websites that pay pose a risk to students are blocked on the school server all staff must be aware that certain sites may not be blocked and must remain vigilant when students are using the internet. All staff, and teachers in particular, must periodically remind students of the potential dangers of sharing personal information on the internet, uploading photographs, online harassment and the potential for scams. There are posters around the school advising students on internet safety and these must be pointed out to students. The school’s Online Safety policy is given to students to read and sign during their induction.
Radicalisation and Extremism
The school is a multicultural and international community in which we help to foster an acceptance and tolerance of a range of views students may encounter in such an environment. We fully subscribe to the Government’s Prevent strategy and we encourage our students to express their views and beliefs as long as these respect the core British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.
At Stay Campus London, we are aware that some students may have been exposed to extremist influences or prejudiced views before their arrival in the UK, or may be exposed to them after coming here. These influences may emanate from a variety of sources and media, including via the internet, and at times students may themselves reflect or display views that may be discriminatory, prejudiced or extremist, including using derogatory language. Any prejudice, discrimination or extremist views, including derogatory language, displayed by students or staff will always be challenged and dealt with in line with the relevant policies on student behaviour and staff conduct.
As part of wider safeguarding responsibilities, staff will be alert to and have a duty to report:
In the first instance, reports of any of the above will be made to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Operations Manager. In extreme cases the police may need to be notified.
In order to help prevent such occurrences, the school is committed to:
Dealing with problems outside of work hours
The duty of care to our students extends to outside of the workplace and outside of work hours. You will see a number of our students around the campus area in the afternoons and evenings and at weekends. If you see any student who is known to be under 18 engaging in any harmful or inappropriate behaviour (such as drinking alcohol), it is your responsibility to stop that behaviour, if it is within your capability and/or to report it immediately to a responsible person at the school. Outside of working hours, this can be done via the Emergency Phone.
Child Protection
Child Protection forms part of the duty of care we have to our under-18s and vulnerable adults. This means the need to protect them from direct harmful behaviour, for example emotional abuse, physical abuse or any other physical harm, sexual abuse and neglect. It should be noted that this abuse can come from another child and not just an adult.
All staff must undergo training in Basic Awareness in Child Protection and must be aware that they are at all times responsible for maintaining a safe environment for all under-18s and vulnerable adults. It is each staff member’s line manager who has responsibility for ensuring that this is done, with the Head of EFL having overall responsibility for this.
Child Protection Policy
Stay Campus London is committed to a practice which protects children and vulnerable adults from harm. This includes a) safeguarding, which is the school’s duty of care to look after vulnerable adults and children and help them to achieve their potential, and b) child protection, which involves protection from abuse. Abuse can include neglect, sexual, physical, or psychological and emotional abuse. For the purposes of this policy a child is defined as a person under the age of 18 and all children regardless of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation are protected by this policy.
All staff undergo training in Basic Awareness in Child Protection.
Sharing information regarding child protection
Good communication is essential in any organisation. At Stay Campus London every effort will be made to assure that, should individuals have concerns; they will be listened to and taken seriously.
It is the responsibility of the management to ensure that information is available to, and exchanged between all those involved in this organisation and its activities. Some information is confidential and should only be shared on a strictly need-to-know basis. At times it may be necessary to share information with a Designated Officer in the Barnet Safeguarding Children’s Board.
Children and young people
Stay Campus London will act to ensure that young students have information about how, and with whom, they can share their concerns, complaints and anxieties. When sharing information, SCL personnel will be sensitive to the level of understanding and maturity, as well as to the level of responsibility, of the people with whom they are sharing information.
Parents
Parents/persons with parental responsibility are ultimately responsible for their children’s welfare at all times, and they should be assured that their children are involved with a credible organisation. We achieve this by having a full copy of this Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy available for anyone to view.
Staff
As an organisation, which works with children and young people, it is imperative that each member of the Stay Campus London staff is aware of their responsibilities under the Child Protection legislation and has a working knowledge of the school procedures. Each member of staff will receive online training shortly after they start and refresher training at least every two years.
Other Bodies
A copy of our Child Protection Policy will be made available to any other appropriate body.
Safer Recruitment
Stay Campus London is committed to safer recruitment. A position offered to a successful applicant is subject to references and a DBS check, or overseas equivalent. All applicants undergo a DBS check before they are in the post of employment.
Where a vacancy at SCL is advertised the school’s commitment to safeguarding, as well as our requirement that a candidate must undergo a DBS check, is clearly stated in the advertisement. Candidates are also informed that any gaps in their work history must be explained satisfactorily. Questions at the interview stage of recruitment are designed to assess candidates’ attitudes to the principal of Safeguarding and Child Protection. They are also informed that when taking up references we always ask referees to comment on the candidate’s suitability to work with under-18s.
New staff who are taken on before their DBS check has arrived will be allowed to take up their post but will be barred from being alone with any under-18 until a clear DBS check can be verified. In the case of teachers, they will not be scheduled to teach one-to-one lessons with any under-18.
Staff Records
A single central record of staff is kept maintaining a record of all pre-appointment checks. This record is kept up to date by any member of staff involved in the recruitment process.
Referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
A referral must be made to the DBS when Stay Campus London withdraws permission for an individual to engage in work with under-18s or would have done so had that individual not resigned, retired, been made redundant or been transferred to a position which does not involve contact with under-18s, because they think that the individual has:
If these conditions have been met the information must be referred to the DBS.
The referral should be made to the DBS when the provider has gathered sufficient evidence as part of their investigations to support their reasons for withdrawing permission to engage in work with under-18s and in following good practice, consulted with their local authority Designated Officer (DO) or Health and Social Care Trust Designated Officer if appropriate.
Recognising Abuse
While abuse of young people at Stay Campus London is extremely unlikely we should not assume that it could never happen. Our duty of care to young people and vulnerable adults extends to watching out for signs of potential abuse.
Here are some signs to look out for that may indicate a child or vulnerable adult is suffering from abuse. Some signs may vary with the age of the child or vulnerable adult. Not every child or vulnerable adult will exhibit every symptom. As well as signs, children and vulnerable adults may tell you of abuse. Always listen and follow the procedures for responding to allegations of abuse (below).
Signs of abuse can include:
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse
Specific Areas
In addition to the types of abuse mentioned above, two other specific types of abuse to that staff must be aware of are Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Child Sexual Exploitation
This is a form of sexual abuse where under-18s are exploited to engage in sexual activity in return for money, gifts, drugs, affection or status. CSE does not always involve physical contact as it can happen online or involve pressure from peers or cyber bullying.
Signs to look for in under-18s include:
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
This is a practice that can cause severe and long-lasting damage to physical and mental health. It is carried out for religious, social or cultural reasons, however there are no medical reasons for carrying it out. It is a criminal offence if done in the UK. Staff should be aware that a person who has suffered FGM may ask for help without being explicit about the problem due to embarrassment or fear. Any causes for concern are to be reported to the DSL.
Procedure for reporting allegations or suspicions of abuse
Responsibility of staff to report
It is the duty of Stay Campus London staff to disclose cases of abuse or allegations of abuse to the Designated Safeguarding Lead without delay.
It is NOT for staff to decide whether or not a suspicion or allegation is true. All suspicions or allegations of abuse must be taken seriously. If a member of staff has suspicions, they should contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Person in confidence. If a vulnerable adult, child or young person starts to talk to the staff member directly, they should allow that person to disclose and should allow them to continue talking following the guidelines below. They should then see the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Person in confidence.
What to do if abuse is suspected or disclosed
Record keeping
All records, information and confidential notes should be kept by the Designated Safeguarding Lead in separate files in a locked room or in secure electronic files. Only the Head of EFL and Operations Manager or another nominated senior manager and the Designated Safeguarding Lead will have access to these files.
The Records
In any case where an allegation is made, or someone at Stay Campus London has concerns, a record should be made. Details must include, as far as practical:
Designated Child Protection Persons
For reasons of confidentiality the only people who need to know this information are the following designated Child Protection Persons: Head of EFL, Academic Director, Operations Manager, the DSL, the Accommodation Manager, and any other staff members with specific responsibility for under-18s.
Further Action
Once a statement has been collected from a student further questioning should be avoided apart from important clarification of factual detail.
A senior management representative (usually the Head of EFL) and the Designated Safeguarding Lead will meet at the earliest possible opportunity to consider an appropriate course of action in response to the information revealed by the student and consider any other relevant information.
The Head of EFL will decide if it is appropriate to involve other members of the school staff, e.g. the Academic Director, Operations Manager or Accommodation Manager at this stage, and also whether to inform the student’s agent and parents. There may be no need to take any further action in which case this decision should be recorded in writing.
Further action may include the immediate removal of any imminent threat of danger, seeking advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer, contacting the police, or making a referral to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) depending on the severity of the allegation.
ALWAYS REPORT ANY ALLEGATIONS, PROBLEMS, CONCERNS OR ISSUES TO THE WELFARE AND DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD (DSL), IMMEDIATELY. IN HER ABSENCE REPORT THESE TO THE DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING PERSON (DSP), HEAD OF EFL, OPERATIONS MANAGER OR ACADEMIC DIRECTOR.
Outside Contacts
The following contact information should be used to report a concern about a child:
London Borough of Barnet Designated Officer
email: lado@barnet.gov.uk
tel: +44 20 8545 3179
NSPCC
tel: +44 808 800 5000
Kentish Town Police Station
tel: +44 20 7230 1212
Colindale Police Station
tel: +44 20 7230 1212
Willesden Police Station
tel: +44 20 7230 1212