At Lexis we put the safety and security of students aged under 18 first.
Students aged 16 and 17 are enrolled on our English language courses for adults and do not have any special supervision. However, we do have additional and very important rules for them.
These special rules are explained at the first day induction and are in our Code of Conduct for Under 18s that the student must sign, and also our Parental Consent Form that both the parents and student must sign. The students will also have a meeting every week with the welfare officer.
Below are some of the ways in which we safeguard 16 and 17 year olds:
Staff training
- All our staff members have completed enhanced police checks before starting work with Under 18s at Lexis. This includes teachers, activity staff, group leaders, other school staff and homestay hosts.
- All our staff members have received at least basic level safeguarding training.
- Two members of the management team have received advanced and specialist safeguarding training.
- Trained first aiders are present all the time on the school premises and staff leading off-site activities are also first aid trained.
Staff-Student Ratios
- We maintain a maximum staff/student ratio of 1:16 in the classroom and 1:15 on school trips.
Contact with other age groups
- 16 – 17 year olds will come into regular contact with other students over the age of 18, in class and during the leisure programme
Before, during and after lessons
- 16 – 17 year olds will be walking or taking public transport alone between the school and their accommodation. All students will be shown the route.
- Students have to report to reception when they arrive at school in the morning. If a student has not arrived 10 minutes into the start of the lesson, the welfare officer will try to locate him/ her.
- Students are allowed to leave the school building at break times and lunchtime, with no supervision. They are responsible for buying their own lunch during the week, unless arranged otherwise.
- Students have to report to reception when they leave at the end of the day.
Social Activities
- Students will not be supervised outside their classes, unless on organised social activities.
- We have comprehensive measures in place to safeguard all students while on any trips and excursions, for example clear safety guidelines and risk assessments for each activity and trip.
- There are certain British laws (e.g. related to smoking and drinking alcohol) that apply to people aged under 18. As a consequence, there may be some leisure activities which 16 and 17 year olds cannot take part in because of their age.
- If 16 and 17 year old students take part in a day trip organised by a third party tour operator, they will be responsible for themselves and will be unsupervised for the duration of the trip. They will be responsible for arriving at the relevant meeting point on time and will have to return back home if they miss the coach.
Curfews
- Students are allowed to have unsupervised free time in London after their classes. They must return for their evening meal to their homestay and if not, they must inform the homestay every time they are eating out. They must return to their homestay before 22.00 (Monday – Friday).
- On Saturday and Sunday, students must return to their homestay before 22.00 (16 yr. olds) or 22.30 (17 yr. olds). If they are late, they must phone their homestay host to tell them where they are and when they will be home. They must follow the safety guidelines provided by Lexis School of English.
If they are more than 30 min late without contacting their homestay, the homestay will contact the school and the school will try to locate the student. The parents/legal guardians will be contacted immediately.
Applies only to 16 and 17 year old students on Summer English for Adults
- When students leave the school after lunch for their afternoon Real English activities, their activity leader and/ or group leader will sign them out of the school building.
- At the end of the afternoon Real English activities, students will be allowed to return home independently providing a parent/ guardian has agreed when completing our Parental Consent Form.
- Students are allowed unsupervised free time in London after the end of the afternoon programme and to return before 22.00. (Monday – Friday). They must inform the homestay every time they are eating out.
- On Saturday and Sunday, students must return to their homestay before 22.00 (16 yr. olds) or 22.30 (17 yr. olds). If they are late, they must phone their homestay host to tell them where they are and when they will be home. They must follow the safety guidelines provided by Lexis School of English.
How to Make Contact
- Students can arrange to speak to the Welfare Officer during normal school hours (9:00am – 5:00pm) to discuss any problems.
- We provide a 24 hour emergency contact number for students to ring if they have any serious problems outside normal school hours.
Other
- For more details please see the following links to our policies:
https://www.lexislondon.com/policies-procedures/child-protection-policy-statement
https://www.lexislondon.com/policies-procedures/safeguarding-policy
https://www.lexislondon.com/policies-procedures/code-of-conduct-for-students-under-18-years
- More information will be shared with you upon registration, e.g. handbooks and safety guidelines etc.
