We expect you to arrive on time for lessons, but we understand that sometimes this is not possible. If it is difficult for you to arrive on time every day, please speak to Reception or the Director of Studies.

If you are going to be late or absent, you must inform us before the 1^st lesson begins.
You can do this by phone on +44 23 8022 8203 or by emailing study@lewis-school.co.uk.
If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for the 1^st lesson, you will not be allowed to enter the class and you will be marked absent.
You must arrive on time to the 2^nd and 3^rd
If you are late, your teacher will refuse you entry and you will be marked absent.
You must come to 80% of your lessons.
If you do not, we will not give you a certificate when you finish your course, and you may also have problems if you wish to extend your visa.
Students under 18 are required to attend all lessons.
For safeguarding reasons, if you are under 18 and arrive late to class, you must attend an independent study session and you will be marked absent.

If you want to take a holiday, please tell Reception by Wednesday the week before and complete the Holiday Request Form.

If you are attending Friday Prayers at the mosque, you are allowed to take an extra 30 minutes in addition to your 1-hour lunch break, to make sure you have enough time to eat lunch. Depending on the prayer times, you will either:
be allowed to leave the 2^nd lesson at 12.30 and return on time to the 3^rd lesson at 14.00, or
finish the 2^nd lesson at 13.00 and return to the 3^rd lesson no later than 14.30.
Please note that if you arrive to your afternoon class after the stated time, you will not be allowed to enter and will be marked absent

If you cannot attend your 1:1 lesson, you must contact the school by phone or email to reschedule the lesson.
For lessons starting between 11.30 and 17.30, you must contact the school by 9.30 on the day of the lesson.
For lessons starting at 9.30 you must contact the Director of Studies the day before if possible, or by 8.00 on the day of the lesson.

Regular attendance is very important. You must come to at least 80% of your classes. It may be difficult for you to extend your visa or renew your sponsorship if your attendance is low. Please call the school as soon as possible if you cannot attend or email study@lewis-school.co.uk.
Important things you should know about your attendance
If your attendance is less than 80% you will not receive your certificate when you finish your course.
Repeated absences are reported to the Welfare Manager.
If you are absent for 10 consecutive days without any contact, we will inform your agent / sponsor / embassy / parents / guardians.
If you start to miss classes your teacher will talk to you. If your attendance does not improve, the following steps may be taken.
Step 1
After 2 days of absence, The Welfare Officer checks with the student to see if there is a good reason for their absence.
When attendance continues to be irregular or after 4 consecutive days of absence –>

Step 2
An academic manager has a mini-tutorial with the student and a verbal warning is given.
When attendance continues to be irregular or after 8 consecutive days of absence –>

Step 3
An academic manager issues a written warning.
When attendance continues to be irregular or after 10 consecutive days of absence –>

Step 4
The Welfare Officer contacts the sponsor, if applicable.
Step 5
If the student continues not to comply with the Attendance & Punctuality Policy, the school may expel the student without refund – see the Conditions of Enrolment.

You must attend all of your lessons and activities. It is very important that we know where you are at all times. We check your name on the attendance list before every lesson or activity. If you are ill, you or your host family must contact us. You can call your Group Leader / Guardian or the centre emergency number, which is on your student card.
If you are absent without permission, we will search for you until we have made contact and know how you are and where you are.

You must arrive on time for lessons and activities. If you are delayed for any reason, please inform your Group Leader / Guardian or call the centre emergency number. You can ask your host family to call for you if you prefer.
We have an attendance register for every class and activity. If you are late, you will be marked ‘late’ on the register. Unexplained absence or persistent lateness will be treated as a disciplinary matter and you may be excluded from certain activities.

If you start to feel ill during a lesson or an activity, tell your teacher or activity leader. Another member of staff can supervise you away from class or the activity if you need to have a break. We have staff who are trained in first aid for minor injuries, and if necessary, we will arrange for you see a doctor.

Our priority at the Lewis School of English is to provide a safe, friendly and caring place to study offering the best conditions for your learning. It is very important to us that everyone at the school behaves respectfully towards each other and towards the school buildings and facilities. This includes when in homestay and residential accommodation and on social activities. Please think about other people at all times, and remember that something that may be fine for one person might be upsetting or unacceptable to another person. This is particularly important in our multicultural school.
We take all forms of misconduct very seriously.  Misconduct may include, but is not limited to:
Vandalism
Damage to property
Theft
Drug abuse
Drunk and disorderly behaviour
Display of offensive material – pictures or writing – including sexting
Unwelcome body contact
Insensitive, insulting or abusive comments or gestures, including about race, sex, age, nationality, religion or belief, sexual orientation or disability
Threats – physical or verbal
Acts of violence
Any behaviour which would reasonably upset or offend any student, visitor or staff member
Any action which puts at risk your safety or the safety of others
If you feel that somebody is behaving in any of these ways, speak to the Welfare Manager or another member of staff.

The School’s procedure for dealing with misconduct by students is as follows.

1. A teacher or relevant member of staff will speak to the student and explain what behaviour we wish the student to stop.
2. If the behaviour continues, the Director of Studies will give the student a verbal warning
3. If this does not solve the problem, the Director of Studies will give the student a written warning
4. If the behaviour continues, the Owner/Director will have a meeting with the student to decide what to do
5. The student may be expelled from the School without refund.

Depending on how serious the misconduct is, this procedure may begin at any step from 1 to 5.

In the case of serious misconduct the Student may be asked to leave immediately and no refund will be given. The School will decide if the situation is an example of serious misconduct. See the paragraph entitled ‘Misconduct in the Conditions of Enrolment.
The Student will be asked to pay for any damage they have caused. See the paragraph entitled “Damage” in the Conditions of Enrolment.

Our priority at the Lewis School of English is to provide a safe, friendly and caring place to study offering the best conditions for your learning. It is very important to us that everyone at the school behaves respectfully towards each other and towards the school buildings and facilities. This includes when in homestay and residential accommodation and on social activities.
Please think about other people at all times, respect other nationalities and cultures, and remember that something that may be fine for one person might be upsetting or unacceptable to another person. This is very important in our multicultural school.

We take all forms of misconduct very seriously.  Misconduct may include, but is not limited to:
Vandalism
Damage to property
Theft
Bullying – physical (e.g. violent or intimidating behaviour), verbal (e.g. calling people offensive names or making racist comments) and cyber bullying
Drug abuse
Drinking alcohol
Smoking
Display of offensive material – pictures or writing – including sexting
Unwelcome body contact
Violence
Absence and lateness
Any action which puts at risk your safety or the safety of others
If you feel that somebody is behaving in any of these ways, speak to the Welfare Manager or another member of staff.

You must follow the law at all times. Some UK laws may be different to laws in your country, for example the minimum age for smoking and drinking, which in the UK is 18. Your student book includes information on UK laws. If you break the law, we will involve the police as well as our own discipline procedure.

You must attend all lessons and activities. If you are late or absent, this puts your safety at risk, as we are unable to supervise you. See our Absence & Punctuality Policy

If you are found to be breaking any of the rules, you may be reported to the Centre Manager and asked to leave your class/activity. Depending on the seriousness of the case, you may be excluded from lessons/activities.
In extreme cases, Lewis School may inform you agent and/or parents/guardian and you may be sent home at your expense.
Step 1 – Verbal warning
Step 2 – Exclusion from lessons / activities
Step 3 – Written warning to parents / guardians
Step 4 – Student expelled from course
The discipline procedure may start at step 1, 2, 3 or 4 depending on the seriousness of the case.
Last updated: February 2017

At our Adult School, the minimum age that we accept for students is 16. However, there is no maximum age. For Year-Round Junior Groups, the minimum age is 8.

We are unable to accept a student if their passport has expired or if their visa is not in order. For someone wanting to enrol on a General Student Visa (GSV) their level of English must be a minimum of B1. If their level is lower than B1, we are not able to accept them, but would recommend they apply for a Short Term Student Visitor Visa (STSVV)instead.

We regret that due to the listed status of the buildings, we are unable to make alterations to enable wheelchair access. Therefore, we are not in a position to accept students with disabilities which prevent them from entering or exiting the premises safely.

As it is important to us to maintain a good nationality mix, our quota for students of the same mother tongue is no more than 50% of the total number of students. This does not apply to Year-Round Junior Groups, which are usually monolingual groups. Where appropriate, Year-Round Junior Group classes may be combined to create an international mix.

If we are aware that a potential student has learning difficulties, the Academic Team discusses whether we are able to accommodate their needs or not, and a decision is made on a case by case basis.

Depending on the exam they wish to take, we inform students of the minimum level required, and ensure that their level of English meets with this requirement. A separate class may be opened for lower level students if there are a group of similar ability wanting to enrol and we feel it is in their interest to do so.

If we feel that a student may not fit into a group class dynamic, we will encourage them to consider 1:1 lessons as an alternative. This may be for reasons such as their cultural background, a lack of confidence, an extreme difference in level or learning difficulties, and is assessed case by case.

If you are travelling alone, you must bring a completed parental consent form and show it to the airport staff.

You must let us know your travel arrangements from the airport/station/port to Southampton. We recommend taxi transfers, which we can arrange, but if you would like to travel by train or coach, please let us know and we can help you.

You must attend weekly welfare tutorials so that we can check everything is ok
You must attend all lessons at all times.
We have free Study Clubs and optional social activities at extra cost. There may be some social activities, such as pub nights, which you will not be able to attend because they are for students over 18 only.
We sometimes have evening parties at the school. You are welcome to attend these but you must not drink any alcohol.

Lewis School of English is not responsible for your supervision outside class times
In the UK, you must be over 18 to buy alcohol or cigarettes

We aim to provide a safe and secure place to study. As such, the Lewis School complies with statutory Health and Safety requirements such as Fire Regulations and First Aid. Please tell a member of staff if you see anything which you think is a Health and Safety hazard. Al Clunnie is our appointed Health & Safety Officer.

If you need first aid, please go to Reception to see Suzie Brierley, who is our principal appointed first-aider. First aid kits are located in Reception, the Teacher’s room in No 31 and the Teacher Training office in No 30

Please read and remember these instructions:
If you see a fire

1. Press / break nearest red fire alarm
2. Tell teacher or other staff
3. Leave building IMMEDIATELY. Don’t collect bags
4. Wait in the park with the other students

If you hear the alarm

1. Leave building IMMEDIATELY. Don’t collect bags
2. Wait in the park with the other students

Southampton is a safe place to live and study, but it is important to think about your safety at all times. Please read and follow our safety recommendations below.

Walk in small groups (not on your own). Walk on a well-lit road (not through the park). If you need a taxi, make sure you call one or use Uber app. Do not stop one in the street.

When you travel on the bus at night, sit near the driver, or near other people.

Do not get into a car with someone you don’t know.

Keep money and valuable items (mobile phone, camera, iPod) in your bag or pocket.

In pubs and nightclubs, look after your drinks. When you go to the dance floor or to the toilet, make sure a friend watches your drink.

If you see a fight, walk away. In an emergency, call 999.
For more information about safety in the UK, visit www.educationuk.org/UK/Article/Stay-safe-during-your-UK-studies or ask at Reception.

For trips and other activities not at the school, we provide the phone number for the person leading the trip on your ticket. Please call this number in an emergency or if you are lost.
Make sure you understand the meeting time and place. Take enough money for the journey home in case you are late for the meeting time.

We aim to provide a safe and secure place to study. As such, the Lewis School complies with statutory Health and Safety requirements such as Fire Regulations and First Aid. Please tell a member of staff if you see anything which you think is a Health and Safety hazard.

If you need first aid, please go to Reception to see Suzie, who is a first-aider. First aid kits are located in Reception and the crèche.

Please read and remember these instructions:
If you see a fire:
1. Press / break nearest red fire alarm
2. Tell teacher or other staff
3. Leave building IMMEDIATELY. Don’t collect bags.
4. Wait in the park with the other students
If you hear the alarm:
1. Leave building IMMEDIATELY. Don’t collect bags.
2. Wait in the park with the other students.

To make sure you gain the most from our activities programme please read and follow the advice below. If you endanger yourself or another person’s safety during an activity, we reserve the right to remove you from our activities programme.

Make sure you are at the meeting point on time.
Bring water, and any medication you need.
Wear sensible shoes.

Bring pocket money and good shoes for walking. You may need a raincoat or umbrella.
Stay in pairs or groups at all times. Do not go off on your own.
If there is a problem, contact your Activity/Group Leader
If you do not have their number, call the emergency number on your student card.

Please read, remember and follow our Road Safety policy.

If you are lost or in difficulty, call the number on your student card. If you do not have a phone, go into a shop or public building and ask someone to call the number for you.

In an emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Police, Ambulance or Fire Services. You do not pay for this call.

At the end of the day, you will be taken to your accommodation or bus stop. Always walk in small groups (not on your own). Always walk on a well-lit road (not through the park). If you need a taxi, make sure you call one. Don’t stop one in the street.

When you travel on the bus at night, sit near the driver, or near other people.

Don’t get into a car with someone you don’t know.

Keep money and valuable items (mobile phone, camera, iPod) in your bag or pocket.

If you see a fight, walk away. In an emergency, call 999.
For more information about safety in the UK, visit www.educationuk.org/UK/Article/Stay-safe-during-your-UK-studies or ask at Reception.

The welfare of the child is paramount.  All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. All staff and Group Leaders working with children and vulnerable adults, whether paid or unpaid, have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer.

Lewis School of English has a duty of care to safeguard all children and vulnerable adults in its care.  All children have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account.
Lewis School of English will ensure the safety and protection of all children and vulnerable adults enrolled on its programmes through adherence to the Safeguarding guidelines that we have adopted.
A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).
We will endeavour to ensure that children are protected from harm whilst visiting our centres.  We will do this by:
Making sure our staff are carefully selected
Providing appropriate training for staff in issues of child protection
Taking all reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of any child or vulnerable adult in contact with the Lewis School of English
Not physically, emotionally or sexually abusing an child or vulnerable adult in contact with Lewis School of English
Taking all reasonable steps to prevent any staff member, person working for us or member of the public from putting any child in a situation where there is unreasonable risk to their health and safety
Taking all reasonable steps to prevent any staff member, person working for us or member of the public from physically, emotionally or sexually abusing any child or vulnerable adult
Reporting to the appropriate manager any evidence or reasonable suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult has been physically, emotionally or sexually abused in contact with Lewis School of English
Referring to statutory authorities any incidents of this nature reported to senior staff
Implementing this policy in conjunction with the health and safety guidelines
Ensuring that all visitors and interested parties are aware of this policy and have access to copies

The aim of the Lewis School of English Safeguarding Policy is to promote good practice by:
Providing children with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of the Lewis School of English
Allowing all staff to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues
“Safeguarding” refers to reducing risk and providing appropriate general care for children and vulnerable adults.
“Child protection” refers to protecting children from any kind of abuse.

Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons.
Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts
Abuse can be seen as an act of negligence or omission to act and may be the unintended consequences of a person’s actions
The four main categories of abuse are listed below.
Physical abuse includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, undue restraint, or inappropriate sanctions.
Sexual abuse includes inappropriate physical contact, taking indecent images or sexual acts to which the child or vulnerable adult has not or could not consent, for the purpose of adult gratification.
Emotional abuse includes threats of harm, abandonment, humiliation, verbal or racial abuse, isolation, persistent lack of affection, verbal bullying or cyber-bullying.
Neglect and acts of omission includes failure to access medical care or services, negligence through risk-taking, failure to give prescribed medication, poor nutrition or lack of heating.

It is important for all staff to understand that legislation covers “Abuse of a position of trust” and considers all children under the age of 18 as minors in this case.
Abuse of position of trust is defined as “causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity” and includes “sexual activity in the presence of a child”.
A copy of the Sexual Offences Act can be provided to you or found online.

This code of conduct must be followed by all Lewis School of English employees, clients, contractors and third party suppliers over the age of 18.

Do:
Remember the child comes first
Behave professionally
Treat everyone with respect and communicate at their level
Listen to children
Be aware of policies and procedures
Report any suspicion within Lewis School of English guidelines
Be aware, approachable and understanding
Do not:
Touch inappropriately
Use inappropriate language
Harm or frighten a child
Be alone with a child, if avoidable,
Threaten, shout or be aggressive
Mistreat, demean, ignore or make fun of a child
Force a child to do something they do not want to do
Let a child expose him/herself to danger
Take photos/video of children unless authorised by Lewis School of English senior staff for the purpose of publicity and only where the child’s or children’s parents/guardians have granted permission.
Additionally, all students must remain under the supervision of Lewis School of English staff or nominated persons who have undergone a similar screening process that can be sufficiently evidenced.
You have a strict duty never to subject any child to any form of harm or abuse.  Failure to honour this will be treated as gross misconduct.  This means that it is unacceptable, for example, to:
Distress a child by shouting at them or calling them derogatory names
Slap a child
Hold a child in such a way that it causes pain, or to shake them
Physically restrain a child except to protect them from causing harm to themselves or others
Take part in horseplay or rough games
Allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any kind
Do things of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves, this includes going to the toilet with a child unless another adult is present
Allow or engage in sexually suggestive behaviour within a child’s sight or hearing, or making suggestive remarks to or within earshot of a child
Give or show anything to a child that could be construed as pornographic
Seek or agree to meet a child outside of their visit/stay with Lewis School of English without the full prior knowledge and consent of the parents/guardians
Seek or agree to have any electronic form of contact with a child during or after their visit/stay with Lewis School of English without the full prior knowledge and consent of the Lewis School and the child’s parents/guardians

If any of the following occur you should report this immediately to an appropriate member of Lewis School of English staff and record the incident.
If you accidentally hurt a child or young person
If he/she seems distressed in any manner
If a child or young person appears to be sexually aroused by your actions
If a child or young person misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done
If a child has an accident which does not require hospital treatment:
Management should be notified and monitor the individual.
The child’s parent should be notified of the incident at an appropriate time.
The accident/incident should be completed.
A member if Lewis School of English staff should be informed immediately.

It is not the responsibility of anyone working in Lewis School of English in a paid or unpaid capacity to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns through contact with the appropriate authorities.
The Lewis School of English will assure all staff/volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone who in good faith reports his/her concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child.
If you notice any suspicious signs, report this to your line manager or the person responsible for welfare.
If a child tells you they are being abused, react as follows.

If there is, or seems to be, immediate risk to a child or children, contact the police directly. The parents or carers of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the relevant local authority department.
The manager responsible should only notify other members of Lewis School of English of events on a need to know basis, see confidentiality below.

The Lewis School of English manager responsible will immediately remove the adult from contact with students pending further police and social services inquiries.  In accordance with the findings of the social services or police inquiries the Lewis School of English senior management team will assess all individual cases to decide whether a member of staff or volunteer can be reinstated and how this can be sensitively handled. The welfare of the child should remain of paramount importance throughout.

Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event (eg by an adult who was abused as a child, or by a member of staff who is still currently working with children).
Where such an allegation is made, the school will follow the procedures as detailed above and report the matter to the local authority or the police. This is because other children, either within or outside the organisation, may be at risk from this person.
Anyone who has a previous criminal conviction for offences related to abuse is automatically excluded from working with children.  This is reinforced by the details of the Protection of Children Act 1999.

If bullying is suspected, the same procedure should be followed as that set out in the table above.

Take all signs of bullying very seriously
Encourage all children to speak and share their concerns. If anyone talks about or threatens suicide, seek professional help immediately. Help the victim to speak out and tell the person in charge or someone in authority.
Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure the victim is safe.
Speak to the victim and the bully(ies) separately.
Reassure the victim that you can be trusted and will help them, although you cannot promise to tell no-one else.
Keep records of what is said (what happened, by whom, when).
Report any concerns to the person responsible for welfare or your line manager.

Talk with the bully(ies), explain the situation, and try to get the bully(ies) to understand the consequences of their behaviour. Seek an apology for the victim(s) with a staff member present to keep a written record.
The School will inform the parents of the bully(ies) and of the victim(s).
The School will impose sanctions as necessary.
Encourage and support the bully(ies) to change their behaviour.
The School will hold meetings to monitor progress.
The School will inform all relevant staff members of action taken.
Keep a written record of action taken.
Look at supporting the bully(ies) with any issues they may have.
Further incidents of bullying may result in the bully(ies) being sent home (see discipline policy).

Report your concerns to the person responsible for welfare or the relevant line manager, who should contact the local authority or the police as soon as possible.
See below for the information that social services or the police will need.
If the relevant manager is not available, the person being told of or discovering the abuse should contact social services or the police immediately.
The local authority and the person responsible for welfare or relevant line manager will decide how to involve the parents/carers.
Maintain confidentiality, disseminating information on a need-to-know basis only.

To ensure that this information is as helpful as possible, a detailed record should always be made at the time of the disclosure/concern, which should include the following:
The child’s name, age and date of birth
The child’s home address and telephone number
Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their own concerns or those of someone else
The nature of the allegation. Include dates, times, any special factors and other relevant information
Clear distinction made between what is fact and what is opinion or hearsay.
A description of any visible bruising or other injuries, and also any indirect signs, such as behavioural changes
Details of witnesses to the incidents
The child’s account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred
Whether the parents have been contacted, and if so, what has been said
Whether anyone else has been consulted, and if so, the relevant details
If the child was not the person who reported the incident, whether the child has been spoken to, and if so, what was said
Whether anyone has been alleged to be the abuser, and if so, the relevant details
Where possible, referral to the police or social services should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours and the name of the contact who took the referral should be recorded.
If you are worried about sharing concerns about abuse to a senior colleague, you can contact social services or the police direct, or the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000, or Childline on 0800 1111.

Confidentiality shall be maintained at all times.  Information shall be handled and disseminated on a need-to-know basis only.
This includes the following people:
The line manager responsible for the alleged abuser
The parents of the student who is alleged to have been abused
The person making the allegation
Social services/police
The alleged abuser (and parents if the alleged abuser is a child).
Social services will advise on who should approach the alleged abuser. This will rarely be someone from the company itself.
Information must be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (e.g. the information must be accurate, relevant, secure and, where necessary, regularly updated).

Consideration should be given to the kind of support that children, parents and members of staff or volunteers may need. Use of help-lines, support groups and open meetings will maintain an open culture and help the healing process. The British Association for Counselling directory is available from The British Association of Counselling, 1 Regent Place, Rugby, CV21 2PJ, Tel: 01788 550899, Fax: 01788 562189, E-mail: bac@bacp.co.uk, Internet: www.bacp.co.uk
Consideration should be given to what kind of support may be appropriate for the alleged perpetrator.

If there appears to be illegal drinking in or around one of our centres, or you see anyone apparently taking drugs, giving them to others or being given them you should:
In the event that they are a student
Immediately deliver them to the relevant Manager
Complete a detailed incident report
Be alert and aware to any other similar incidents amongst their peers
In the event that they are a visitor
Not apprehend the person but…
Stay within reasonable distance as a barrier between them and the children
Usher away any students discreetly
Contact the police
Contact your line manager
In the event that they are a staff member
Similarly to that of the visitors scenario, stay within reasonable distance, preventing them from contact with any students
Immediately contact their line manager

It is important, when working with children, to also ensure your own personal safety.  This includes protecting yourself from false accusation.  The following guidelines exist to protect you.
Avoid any being alone with a child wherever possible
Never enter a student’s room without reasonable cause
Never enter a student’s room without another member of staff. At least one staff member must be of the appropriate gender.
Never agree to keep a secret for a student
Complete incident reports – any inappropriate behaviour of any nature should be recorded on an incident report

Lewis School of English staff are strictly prohibited from taken photographs or film footage of students unless authorised by a senior staff member. This includes taking photographs as keepsakes. Photographs and film footage may be required by the Marketing Department for publicity purposes.

Staff may join the company Facebook group and other company social media and message the students collectively. However, no personal messaging of any kind is allowed during or following employment. This includes, but is not limited to, texting, emailing, messaging through social media and telephones calls. Teachers of online courses are not permitted to send emails to students under 18 and must instead communicate via Google Classroom using their teacher account.

Lewis School of English staff are in a position of authority and therefore the relationships with the students is, and should remain, a professional one only. You are role models to the students and not friends regardless of age.

Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation.  It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgment about the appropriate action to take.
Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and other youth sector environments. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them.
All suspicious practice shall be reported following the guidelines in this document.

All reasonable steps are taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children.

All staff should complete the Lewis School of English application form, which details of gives two referees. References must be taken up in writing or if an oral reference is given, this must be recorded in the form of a checklist.
All employees working with children should complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check application form.

All employees and volunteers will be required to undergo an interview carried out to acceptable protocol and recommendations. During the recruitment process:
The individual’s identity should be verified and copies of proof of identity taken
A check should be made that the DBS check application form has been completed in full
Their qualifications should be substantiated where necessary
All employees should receive a formal or informal induction, during which they should receive, or be directed to, copies of the following documents, policies and procedures:
Health & Safety Manual
Risk assessments
Radicalisation & Extremism Policy
Company Handbook
Relevant role manual
The job description and responsibilities should also be clarified during this induction.

All staff must receive training in child protection covering all aspects laid out in the child protection guidance. Access to additional training in relation to safeguarding and child protection must be available at all times.  Staff should request such training as and when necessary.
The Lewis School of English requires:
Employees to attend in-house child protection awareness training, to encourage good practice and to facilitate the development of a positive culture towards good practice and child protection.
This training to be repeated annually.
Senior coordinating staff to have sufficient and up-to-date knowledge on child protection legislation and issues.
Relevant, nominated personnel to hold recognised and appropriate first aid qualifications.
Staff to sign to say that they have read and understood this Safeguarding Policy and agree to the Code of Conduct. All staff will undertake an online training course from North Yorks Training Board at http://www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk/course-signup.html. Further clarification on Safeguarding / Child Protection is given at induction.

Pre-selection Checks

All hosts are required to complete the Lewis School of English Homestay Host Application Form (Main Host), which requests details of two referees.  References must be taken up in writing or if an oral reference is given, this must be recorded in the form of a checklist. All other adult household members must complete the Homestay Host Application Form (Other Member).

Where a host wishes to accept under-18s, all adult members of the household must complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Each must have an individual check unless the main host’s DBS check covers the other adults in the household.7

Training

• All hosts are required to complete a British Council online safeguarding course (level 1) and provide the school with a certificate of completion.
• Hosts are provided with a copy of the Safeguarding Policy and complete a Homestay Agreement in which they declare that they (and other adult members of the household) have read, understood and agreed to the policy
• Hosts are provided with a manual that details their responsibilities to their student(s) and provides practical advice on hosting

All agencies sending groups with any under-18 students must complete a Group Leader Declaration form confirming that police checks have been carried out on each leader and that the person concerned is cleared to work with under-18s. Non-agency Group Leaders must provide evidence of a police check.

All group leaders are sent a role manual outlining their responsibilities and a copy of the safeguarding policy. Group leaders are required to sign an agreement to say that they have read, understood and agreed to the policy.

L.A.D.O Southampton 023 8083 2556 / LADO@southampton.gov.uk
The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) 0207 825 2500 Helpline: 0808 800 5000 www.nspcc.org.uk
Childline UK 0800 1111 www.childline.org
DBS 0870 909 0811 www.crb.gov.uk
Social Services Southampton 023 8083 3336
Emergency Out Of Hours Social Services 023 8023 3344
Samaritans: 08457 909090 www.samaritans.org.uk

Lewis School of English is a multinational, multicultural and multi-faith learning environment with students and staff originating from all parts of the world.
Our school is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its students and staff.  Safeguarding against radicalisation and extremism falls under the umbrella of safeguarding against any other vulnerability. All staff are expected to remain vigilant of any potential threat of radicalisation and to uphold and promote equality, individual liberty, respect for other cultures, faiths and beliefs, and respect for the rule of law.

Extremism is defined as vocal or active opposition to fundamental human values of our society, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
Radicalisation is defined as the act or process of encouraging extremist views or actions in others, including forms of extremism leading to terrorism.

The above policy statement links to the following policies:
Safeguarding Policy
Equality Policy
Disciplinary Policy

The main aim of this policy statement is to ensure that staff are aware of and fully engaged in being vigilant about radicalisation; that they overcome any professional or personal disbelief that such issues will not happen here.

All teaching and non-teaching staff will have an understanding of what radicalisation and extremism are and why we need to be vigilant in school.
All staff will be made aware of what the school policy is on anti-radicalisation and extremism and will follow the school’s procedure if any issues arise.
Students will know that the school has policies in place, as part of a safeguarding ethos, to keep them safe and that the school regularly reviews its systems to ensure they are appropriate and effective.

Although no incidents involving radicalisation and extremism have occurred at Lewis School of English to date, it is important for all staff to be consistently vigilant and report to their line manager any instances or suspicions arising from behaviours, conversations or comments made by others – inside and outside of the classroom – which might indicate a particular leaning or perceived interest in this direction

Our curriculum covers a wide image of topics. These topics need to be handled sensitively to ensure the promotion of respect, tolerance and diversity. Students should be encouraged to share their views and recognise that they are entitled to have their own different beliefs which should not be used to influence others.
It is generally recognised that young people with low aspirations are more vulnerable to radicalisation. Our students typically come from a reasonably well-off and educated background; however we tend to know very little about their home environment and personal circumstances. We strive to nurture confidence and self-belief within all our students, while promoting respect and tolerance as well as setting high standards and expectations for them.

Through INSET opportunities in school, we will ensure that our staff are fully aware of the threats, risks and vulnerabilities that are linked to radicalisation, are aware of the process of radicalisation and understand how this might be identified early on.

The Radicalisation and Extremism policy statement will be reviewed annually as part of the overall Safeguarding Policy review.

1. Lewis School of English oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination or victimisation. To that end the purpose of this policy is to provide equality and fairness for all in our school community in order to create an environment in which all students and staff feel comfortable and at ease, confident and able to learn and work
2. It is the aim of the Company to ensure that no staff member or student receives less favourable treatment (either directly or indirectly) on grounds of age, disability, gender / gender reassignment, marriage / civil partnership, pregnancy / maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation .

This policy and the associated arrangements shall operate in accordance with statutory requirements. In addition, full account will be taken of any guidance or Codes of Practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, any Government Departments, and any other statutory bodies. This policy has been developed with reference to the provisions of the Equality Act 2010.

To create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all our staff are recognised and valued.
Every community member is entitled to an environment that promotes dignity and respect to all. No form of intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated.
Staff are readily available in a welfare role to deal with any issues arising
Training, development and progression opportunities are available to all staff.
Breaches of our equality policy will be regarded as misconduct and could lead to disciplinary proceedings. Any such breaches will be investigated in an urgent and timely manner.
This policy is fully supported by senior management and will be monitored and reviewed annually
The school Director and managers are responsible for the successful implementation of the policy.

Any form of discrimination, once identified, will be dealt with in accordance with our existing polices, namely:
Discipline Policy – Adult Courses
Discipline Policy – Junior Programmes
Safeguarding Policy
Radicalisation & Extremism Policy
Equality Policy (in Company Handbook for Lewis School staff)
Bullying & Harassment Policy and Procedure (in Company Handbook for Lewis School staff)

Students of all faiths are welcome in the school. Information about places of worship in Southampton is available on our student portal, Lewis Online. Our main school has a designated prayer room for Muslims and accepts the use of classrooms as areas of prayer at appropriate times. The school is researching a better solution to accommodate washing facilities prior to prayer. On Fridays, Muslim students in our Adult School are allowed to either leave the second lesson early or arrive late for the third class (up to 14.30), depending on the time of prayers.

We regret that due to the listed status, age and design of the buildings at our main school, we are unable to make alterations to enable wheelchair access. Therefore, we are not in a position to accept students or staff with disabilities which prevent them from entering or exiting the premises safely.
All our summer junior centres are accessible sites with wheelchair access.
Applications for enrolment for partially sighted and hard of hearing students are judged on a case-by-case basis to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of following a course of study with us.
For students at our main school with a partial physical disability or illness, suitable accommodation is arranged with an experienced host family and, where possible, within a short distance of the school. A classroom is allocated in the most accessible location.
Both on- and off-site social activities are selected to ensure that the programme remains as inclusive and risk-free as possible, whilst also maintaining a suitable level of variety.

Lewis School operates on an inclusive basis and every effort is made to accommodate students with learning difficulties. If we are aware at enrolment that a potential student has learning difficulties, the Academic and Welfare teams undertake a risk assessment and feasibility study to assess whether we are able to accommodate their needs or not. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
If a learning difficulty is not declared pre-arrival, every effort is made to accommodate that student. However, in conjunction with the parent/sponsor, we reserve the right to refuse admission or extend enrolment if we judge the continued presence of the student to be a high risk to the well-being of the student, other students and staff.
Staff training is given to help identify such cases and classroom strategies are proposed for dealing with them. In all cases regular meetings are held to help to ensure the continued well-being of the student.

We value all our students and staff, and aim to create an inclusive environment that protects everyone from unfair treatment based on age, sex, race, disability, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marriage and civil partnership.
We aim to create an environment where students feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to when they have a concern.
We aim to respond to students who have complex needs or are going through a difficult period in their life, and to support their health, wellbeing and learning.
We aim to treat all students with dignity and respect.
Everyone should be free to express their identity, but expressing an alternative gender identity or proposing to transition does not change a person’s sex.

The school collects data on the sex of each student during the booking process. This data is needed:
– to provide relevant accommodation, where applicable
– to provide single-sex spaces as part of our safeguarding duty, such as school toilets and twin rooms in junior homestay accommodation
– in some cases, to meet legal or regulatory requirements when providing data to a third-party organisation such as the British Council during a school inspection
If a student’s gender identity differs from their sex, this information may optionally be provided by the student or guardian, to help the school address their needs.
If the student is experiencing gender dysphoria, this should be recorded in the health section of the booking form, to enable the school to support the student.
The school will respect the confidentiality of all students and will not reveal sensitive information about physical or mental health issues without the prior agreement of the student, except to protect their vital interests, in line with our safeguarding policy.
All data processing will be in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

Junior students in homestay accommodation share a twin room. On summer programmes, this is typically with a student of a different nationality. Twin bedrooms for junior students are single-sex, in line with British Council accreditation criteria.
We recognise that a student who identifies as transgender may not feel comfortable sharing a room with a person of the same sex as them. In this case, we will endeavour to offer a single room. Alternatively, if the student is part of a group and the agent wishes to propose a specific roommate from within the group to share a room with the trans-identifying student, this is permissible provided we receive written consent of the proposed roommate and the roommate’s parent/guardian at the time of booking.

All residential accommodation is in private, single en-suite rooms. Therefore, no bathrooms or toilets are shared with other students.

Our school toilets are segregated by sex, not gender identity. We understand that some students may not feel comfortable in single-sex facilities and therefore we also provide single-occupancy unisex toilets at both our main school and our junior centres.
Our main school does not provide changing rooms.
At residential junior centres, the use of changing rooms following a sports activity may not be required if the students’ bedrooms are nearby. If changing rooms are provided at a junior centre or an external venue such as on the English & Football programme, these will be segregated by sex, not gender identity. If a student does not feel comfortable in single-sex facilities, we will endeavour to make alternative arrangements for them.

All sports activities are mixed sex. See above for details about changing rooms.

The school discourages staff from emphasising students’ sex during lessons and activities, for example with male vs female teams, to avoid discomfort for gender non-conforming or gender questioning students.
Students are not treated more favourably or less favourably according to whether they conform to stereotypes associated with the same sex or the opposite sex.

Students may ask to be called by a different first name than the name in their official records (for example a shorter version, a nickname or a complete change of first name, including a name associated with the opposite sex). However, course certificates and other official school documentation will use the name in the official school records.
Third person pronouns are words that people use to refer to another person (most commonly he/him or she/her). Students may request that staff, hosts and other students use ‘preferred pronouns’ for them, but they cannot compel this. It is usually possible to avoid using third person pronouns. Our staff will be happy to avoid using a particular pronoun if you wish, but please be patient as we familiarise ourselves with your request.

All students and staff shall be encouraged to value and respect others. Incidents of bullying and harassment will not be tolerated, including those based on sex, sexual orientation, gender non-conformity and beliefs about gender.

A child or vulnerable adult disclosing gender-identity issues must not fall outside of normal safeguarding practice, as outlined in our Safeguarding Policy, including the commitment to work in partnership with parents.
Staff should be aware that in some cases, students experiencing gender-identity issues may also raise safeguarding concerns, such as changes in behaviour, mental-health issues, self-harm, self-medication, emotional or sexual experiences in which they may have been significantly harmed, or relationships that put them in danger. If any member of staff is concerned about a child or vulnerable adult, they must inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and record information regarding the concerns in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy.
If a child or vulnerable adult confides in a member of staff and requests that the information is kept secret, it is important that the staff member tells the child or vulnerable adult, in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development, that they cannot promise complete confidentiality. Instead, they must explain that they may need to pass information to other professionals to help keep them or others safe.

Last reviewed January 2022

The Lewis School of English aims to provide high quality English language teaching. In meeting this aim the relationship of the school with its students is of the highest importance. The Lewis School will:
treat students with courtesy and respect
provide all new students with a welcome pack and induction session
provide time for students to discuss problems, in a supportive, confidential environment
provide homestay accommodation if required, and deal quickly and fairly with any difficulties (this includes placing a student with another host if necessary)
students’ progress on a regular basis, moving them up through the levels on merit
promptly resolve any difficulties a student may be having in class and move them to a more appropriate level where necessary
support and guidance to students to enable them to complete their studies
enrol students on courses that are appropriate to their level of language skill
ensure that all teachers employed have the Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages as a minimum qualification.

Last reviewed January 2022

If you wish to make a complaint, please follow the procedure below.
Step 1. Speak to the member of staff responsible for the area of the complaint, e.g. the Director of Studies for academic issues. See page 3 of Welcome to Lewis School.
Step 2. If you are not happy with their response, please speak or write to the Director. You must put your complaint in writing before leaving the school.
Step 3. If you are still not satisfied, you may complain to English UK or the British Council. Please speak to a member of staff for these contact details.

If you wish to make a complaint, please follow the procedure below.
Step 1. Speak to an appropriate member of staff, such as a teacher, activity leader or group leader. We will speak to you within 24 hours.
Step 2. If this does not resolve your complaint you (or your representative) should speak to the appropriate manager at the Lewis School. You must submit any complaint before leaving to allow the school the chance to resolve the problem.
Step 3. If you are not happy with our response, you (or your representative) can write to Alistair Walker, Director, Lewis School of English, 30-33 Palmerston Road, Southampton, SO14 1LL or email alistair@lewis-school.co.uk.
Step 4. If you are still not happy, you can contact English UK: English UK, 219 St John Street, London EC1V 4LY. Tel: +44 207 608 7960. Fax: +44 207 608 7961. Email: info@englishuk.com

Last reviewed January 2022

If you wish to make a complaint, please follow the procedure below.
Step 1. Speak to the member of staff responsible for the area of the complaint.
Step 2. If you are unable to resolve your complaint, please speak or write to the Director. If you are not happy with our response, you must submit your complaint in writing before leaving the school.
Step 3. If you are still not satisfied, you may lodge your complaint with English UK, British Council, or Ecorys UK (regarding in-service course complaints, including Erasmus+), and for CertTESOL related complaints Trinity College London.
Please speak to a member of staff for these contact details.

Last reviewed January 2022