However if you are having any problems with your lessons, your accommodation, or are facing any personal difficulties, please come and speak to us – we are here for you. All our staff are trained in welfare issues, ensuring a high level of care, and many also have first aid qualifications. Please feel free to ask any of us about your stay or about learning English. We’re always happy to help!
This is a term that we use for feelings that you may have when you first arrive in a new country. You may feel homesick and everything is very different from what you are accustomed to. You may feel frustrated because people don’t understand what you are trying to say, you may not like the food or you may feel everything is confusing and overwhelming.
Please come and talk to us if you feel this way – there is always someone at school who will be happy to listen to you. You can also talk to your homestay hosts. Not everybody feels this way, but it can be difficult and upsetting if you do. Sometimes it also helps to talk to other students from your country as they can understand what you are experiencing.
To help you settle into life in Southampton we have made a Pre-Arrival Guide to help you prepare for your stay, and a Student Zone on our website with useful information for when you are here. In the Student Zone, you will find information about the following.
Southampton’s Attractions
Bank Accounts
British Laws
Days Out
Driving
Health & Emergencies
Information for Non-EEA Students
Phones
Places of Worship
Private Rented Accommodation
Saving Money
Travel
Voluntary Work
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. We ask all students to 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.
If someone’s behaviour is a concern to you, please speak to Suzie, our Welfare Manager or another member of staff, and we will quickly try to resolve the issue.
You can read our Discipline Policy in full on our School Policies page.
We take great care to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students. As our minimum age in the Adult School is 16, have set up special procedures to ensure the maximum care of all students under 18.
Firstly, we have very robust safeguarding procedures. For example, all of our staff are DBS-checked (police-checked) and receive training in safeguarding issues. The main host in all homestay accommodation for under-18s is also DBS-checked. You can read our Safeguarding Policy in full on our School Policies page.
Secondly, we have special welfare procedures for students under 18. This includes weekly tutorials to check that you are ok. Please note, however, that we are not responsible for your supervision outside lesson times (this is different to our junior programmes, which have a much higher level of supervision). See below for full details.
Travelling to the UK
If you are travelling alone, you must bring a completed parental consent form and show it to the airport staff.
On Arrival in the UK
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.
At School
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.
Outside School
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.
SUZIE BRIERLEY – Welfare Manager – suzie@lewis-school.co.uk
MICHELLE SANDFORD – Welfare & Administration Officer – michelle@lewis-school.co.uk
If you need our help in an emergency, call the school on +44 23 8022 8203.
If the school is closed, listen for the emergency number on the voicemail message.
Your safety and well-being are our top priorities.
Each centre has a Welfare Officer and an emergency number that is manned 24 hours a day. We monitor the whereabouts of all students and ensure full participation in lessons and activities. All our staff are trained in welfare issues, ensuring a high level of care, and many also have first aid qualifications.
Fully-supervised programme
24-hour emergency phone number
Welfare officer in each centre
All staff are DBS-checked and trained in welfare and safeguarding issues
Regular meetings with group leaders
Lewis School guardian for students without a group leader
As part of our warm welcome, you will be given an introductory talk, a welcome pack and a tour on your first day. You are also given a card with your accommodation address and the emergency phone number. We also provide an optional ‘meet and greet’ service (additional fee) to welcome you on arrival at the airport and ensure a smooth transition to the centre.
We work closely with Group Leaders to ensure their students are happy and are getting the most from their stay. Our management staff are always available to discuss any issues, and we organise regular meetings between Group Leaders and our Centre Manager, Head Teacher and Activities Manager.
We also welcome many students who arrive unaccompanied. These students are placed under the care and supervision of a dedicated Lewis School guardian.
We take great care to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students, and for this reason we have very robust safeguarding procedures. For example, all of our staff are DBS-checked (police-checked) and receive training in safeguarding issues. The main host in all homestay accommodation for under-18s is also DBS-checked. You can read our Safeguarding Policy in full on our School Policies page.
We can keep your valuable possessions such as passport, tickets and pocket money in a locked safe. However, we cannot be held responsible for damage, loss or theft. If you do not wish your child to travel with a large amount of cash, you may transfer pocket money to the Lewis School bank account. This will then be passed to your child by the Centre Manager on a regular basis.
Before you arrive, we recommend that you read our Pre-Arrival Guide. This will help you and your parents/guardians to prepare for your stay, and to answer questions you may have about our programmes.
If you have any further questions about your stay, please contact us.
Lewis Schools Ltd (trading as Lewis School of English). Registered in England, No. 03312844. Registered office as above. Director: Alistair Walker MA
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