HOMESTAY HANDBOOK

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SECTION X // LOREM IPSIM

Dear Host,

This handbook provides information about the EF

homestay program. A member of the EF team is

available to answer any questions you may have to enjoy

this enlightening experience.

Your EF Accomodation Team

EF INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE CENTRES WELCOMES YOU TO OUR HOMESTAY COMMUNITY

THE BASICS5 Your responsibilities5 Laundry 5 Internet 5 Number of students 5 Visiting your home

SAFETY7 Gas safety regulations7 Smoke detectors7 Carbon Monoxide detectors7 Insurance7 Risk assessment 7 DBS

STUDENT PLACEMENTS9 Allocating students9 Cancellations, late changes & terminations

HOSTING STUDENTS11 Student’s arrival11 Student’s first day & study timetable 11 Making your student feel at home11 Cultural awareness12 Under 18’s12 Meals13 Code of Practice

HOSTING JUNIOR STUDENTS

WHAT TO DO IF...?19 My student is unhappy19 My student is ill19 My student is not going to school 19 My student brings home too many friends 19 My student damaged my furniture 19 Money 19 My student wants to open a bank account

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION21 Payments21 Data protection21 Tax

SAFEGUARDING AT EF23 We aim to 23 Safeguarding Officer 23 Homestay accommodation24 Supervision/curfews 24 Confidentiality24 Suspecting or hearing a complaint24 Procedures for dealing with concerns 24 Action to be taken by the Safeguarding Officer

CONTENTS / INDEX

EF Education First is an international education company focusing on language, academics, and cultural experience. With a mission to open the world through education, EF was founded in 1965. We are committed to providing a supportive, friendly and nurturing environment where students from diverse cultural backgrounds are able to learn English in the most effective way. You, as the homestay provider play a key role in making your student(s) experience a great one. It is therefore essential that you make your student(s) feel welcome and at home in our town/city.

EF International Language CentresEF International Language Centres offers students and adults the opportunity to study a language abroad, whether this is a short term course of two weeks or on an on an Academic Programme of 6, 9 or 12 months. Our students are aged from 16 upwards but the majority are aged 18 to 25. We also have a dedicated centre

for young professionals (25+) at London Russell Square. A few of our centres run junior courses where students will be aged 12 to 16 on short term courses. The majority of our students travel as individuals throughout the year but we receive many groups in the summer.

The British CouncilThis British Council is a registered charity and is a network for education, culture and development of services. The British Council aims to protect the interests of international students in Britain by monitoring standards in organisations.

In order to be accredited by the British Council we have to follow stringent criteria and this therefore means that the accommodation we offer has to meet specified guidelines. For this reason we ask you to sign the Annual Homestay Provider Agreement agreeing to abide by the British Council guidelines.

ABOUT US

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Your responsibilitiesWe ask you to provide each student with:

> A warm, friendly welcome. > A clean, comfortable, well lit room, with sufficient heating, ventilation, natural light, storage for clothes and a desk.

> A balanced and appropriate diet; breakfast and evening meals Monday to Friday and all meals at weekends.

> Bed linen and towels which should be cleaned by the homestay provider on a weekly basis (the student should have the option of extra blankets and duvets).

> Regular access to the bathroom as per a member of your family.

> A key and access to your home at anytime. > Assistance to find his/her way to school on their first day. Guide the student to the bus stop/route on their first day of school.

LaundryPlease explain to your student the facilities available to them for personal laundry. This is individual to each family and may involve you explaining where the nearest launderette is or how to use the washing machine. If you charge for laundry we strongly recommend that you do not charge more than up to £5 per student, per week; and we strongly recommend that you do not charge more than £15 per household per week. Students do talk to each other about laundry charges and can feel upset if they believe they are overcharged. Please note that charging for laundry does not apply to students on Junior courses (please read junior section).

InternetMost of our students are using their own laptop and smartphones to maintain contact with their friends and family at home and we encourage private online study. We therefore provide free Wi-Fi to students in all our schools and residences. We welcome hosts who are also able to provide an internet connection in their homes.If you do not have internet access we strongly recommend that you consider getting it as many students require internet access.

Number of studentsIn homestay accommodation, no more than two students can be placed in one room and no more than four foreign students should stay with you at any one time. Homeshare providers may host up to 8 students if they are all aged over 18. At no time should there be another student who speaks the same language – unless authorised by the student and EF. You may not host students from another organisation while hosting EF students.

Visiting your homeAfter visiting your home our Accommodation Officer will either confirm that we are happy with the cleanliness and state of repair or ask you to improve on certain areas. Once at a satisfactory level, we would expect that this standard is maintained whilst you are hosting EF students. As part of our ongoing quality assurance all homestay providers will be revisited on a regular basis. We may also make unannounced visits and all personnel will carry EF identification.

THE BASICS

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Gas safety regulationsHosts providing accommodation are classified as landlords/ladies under the Gas Safety Regulations (Installation and Use) 1994 and current Amendments. These regulations were introduced to ensure that gas appliances in rented premises were modern and safe for tenants use. The Regulations as amended define a landlord as someone who leases relevant premises for less than 7 years and relevant premises or any part of premises occupied for residential purposes. Thus renting a room in your home comes under the definition of the lease.

You therefore need to conform to the Regulations by ensuring that all boilers and central heating systems are installed and serviced under contract with ‘competent persons’ only. Such work can only be done by businesses that are members of the Gas Safety Register (formally know as Confederation of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI)). You can find a Gas Safety engineer in your area on www.gassaferegister.co.uk or British Gas operates a certification system whereby your gas appliances are inspected annually by one of their engineers.

For more information use their website www.britishgas.co.uk.

We would like to remind you that it is your responsibility to conform to the Regulations and

obtain a certificate. Failure to do so would be breaking the law and result in EF removing your students or not allocating students until all the required paperwork is in place.

Smoke detectorsHomestay providers are also expected to have smoke detectors fitted throughout their homes and ensure that these are checked regularly. Argos sells a number of smoke detectors priced between £7.99 and £19.99.

See www.argos.co.uk.

Carbon Monoxide detectorsIf you have any kind of gas appliance in your home, then we recommend the use of a Carbon Monoxide detector, also available from Argos and other household stores.

See www.argos.co.uk.

InsuranceHosts providing accommodation to students from overseas are required to inform their household insurers that they have students staying with them. Failure to inform your insurers may well have repercussions. We do urge you to think about your circumstances and if you have not done so, to get in touch with an insurance broker or insurance company.

SAFETY

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Risk assessmentIt is a legal requirement for providers of accommodation to carry out fire risk assessments. To assist you with this we have an EF Fire Risk Assessment form that you should complete and go through with your students on arrival. We will also go through the Fire Risk Assessment when we visit so please ensure it is available for us.

EF complete risk assessments for all our buildings and student activities and we also consider any risks our students may encounter travelling to/from their homestay provider. Please inform us if you live in an area which, for example, may have poor lighting after dark or is close to a road which can be particularly busy at certain times.

DBSThe Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps organisations make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. We strongly encourage every household that hosts students to complete a DBS/CRB (main carer). EF will take the Host through the process and submit the form to the appropriate office. By completing this process it will allow you the opportunity to host more students (when available), and any studentsunder 18.

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Allocating studentsThe Accommodation Officer will keep in close contact with you regarding availability of students. We do our best to match the requirements of the homestay provider and the requests of the student. We often have special requests i.e. non smoking home, dietary requirements etc. We do try where possible to accommodate these and if you are able to help us with any special diets etc then please keep us informed. Under no circumstances may a change be made to a student’s allocated accommodation without prior consultation with the EF Accommodation Office.

As soon as a student matches your details, the accommodation office will call you to confirm the student details over the phone. You will also be sent, either by email or post, the student’s booking form with all the student’s details. Please check the room requirements and the dates (the accommodation is either Sunday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday unless special arrangements have been requested and you were informed by the accommodation office over the phone). Please contact the Accommodation Office immediately if the information is incorrect or if there are any issues with you hosting the student.

If the arrival details are not already indicated on the booking form please contact the school approximately 3 days before arrival and we

should be able to give you an indication of the student arrival time. Students are often transferred from the airport to you by a taxi organised by EF. However some students choose to travel to their homestay independently and should contact you directly with their arrival time. Please remember to be flexible, many students will have travelled long distances and international flights are subject to change and cancellation, so be prepared for students not to arrive exactly as expected. You may find that there are occasions when your student rooms are not full. Please be patient if the Accommodation Officer cannot find you an immediate booking as there are times of the year when numbers are lower and we thank you for your understanding. However as the largest language organisation, it is probable that we shall always be able to offer you a suitable booking. An adult member of the family must be available to meet each student on arrival to your home. If there is no one home the student will be allocated to new accommodation.

Cancellations, late changes & terminations

CancellationsStudents may have to cancel or postpone their course due to visa, work or family issues. Should this happen we will endeavour to find a suitable replacement. However should no replacement be available, it is regretted that EF can make no

STUDENT PLACEMENT

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financial compensation. Similarly, in the unusual circumstance that a student needs to return home earlier than planned, EF regrettably cannot give financial compensation but will offer you a replacement student as soon as possible.

An important part of the student experience is the accommodation. Students really look forward to meeting you and may contact you before they arrive. A last minute cancellation can cause the student anxiety and affect their experience at the beginning of their course. We understand that emergencies occur that will not allow you to host a student, but please let us know about these as soon as possible.

TerminationsIf a student is unhappy with their accommodation this may result in a request to leave your home early. We appreciate that there are always two sides to every story and the Accommodation Officer will always talk to you regarding a student issue/complaint. However, if repeated complaints are received with no satisfactory answers the Accommodation Officer will have no alternative but to withdraw your accommodation from our register and cancel all future bookings.

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Student’s arrivalIt is essential that an adult member of your household is at home to welcome the student. We therefore contact you a few days prior to the student arrival to inform you about an estimated arrival time. Please offer your student a snack and a drink as they may have been travelling for a long time. The student may want to contact their family to let them know they have arrived safely – if necessary please help the student make a ‘reverse charges’ call by dialing the international operator on 155. Once your student has had the opportunity to wash, unpack, perhaps take a short rest, please take time to sit down and give them some guidelines on living in your home. Also it is advisable to write down your name, address and telephone number (and take their mobile number if they have one), the number(s) and times of your local buses and ask them to keep this information on them at all times. Do not expect too much from them at this point as they may still be suffering from jet lag or perhaps culture shock.

Student’s first day & study timetableYour student will have a full induction on their first day, covering information about the school, the city, their academic programme, the activities, accommodation & customer support department. If the student hasn’t done their test online

pre-departure then they will do their test in school to determine what language level they are. They will be given a timetable outlining their study programme. Students normally attend classes Monday to Friday (sometimes Tuesday to Saturday) the amount of hours per day depends on the type of course they have booked – it is useful for you to see a copy of their timetable so you know what time they start and finish (this can help plan their meal times etc).

Making your student feel at homeHomestay providers generally find that welcoming a student into their home is a positive and enjoyable experience. Our students have chosen homestay accommodation to improve their English and to learn about our culture and way of life. Here are a few things to help enhance their experience:

> Many students will be travelling from abroad on their own for the first time and it is vital that they are made to feel welcome as soon as they arrive.

> Build a successful relationship with your student. Get to know each other by asking about their homes and culture. Compare different aspects of life in England with that of their country.

> The early days can be the most difficult for both sides but a little tolerance and understanding will go a long way towards

HOSTING STUDENT

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eliminating possible misunderstandings. > Treat each student as an individual. > The most important part of the experience is the involvement in your family life, do your best to include them in as many family activities as possible.

Please note some students will participate in all of the EF organised activities during the day and evenings. However some students are not so outgoing and prefer to spend time with you and your family.

Cultural AwarenessNo matter how keen students may be to adapt to the British way of life there will be times when their upbringing or traditions conflict. There are many areas where cultural awareness can cause misunderstandings (food, religion, social behaviour, cooking, personal hygiene etc) but cultural awareness means that one should not be offended if a student departs from ‘usual behaviour’.

Developing our cultural awareness helps us understand behaviour or situations with our students, for example:

> A ‘difficult’ student may be homesick. > Students from hot countries may not understand the cost or need for heating.

> Helping with the washing up and making beds can mean loss of status back home.

> Pets may be a problem and some students would be horrified to find cats and dogs in the kitchen (as they consider them unclean).

> Polite and acceptable behaviour in one culture may not be polite in another: - In the UK/Ireland it is polite to eat everything on your plate, in other cultures it is polite to have food left over to show that you have eaten plenty. - We expect our guests to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, other nationalities may express their gratitude differently.

> Some nationalities feel that it is rude to speak

out whilst others make a point of being open and vocal.

> Many students prefer showers to baths as they consider having a bath not as clean as a shower, as you don’t get to wash the dirt off.

> Some students will need to be told that it is ok to put toilet paper in the toilet, not into a bin.

> Not using clean water to rinse the detergent from dishes is regarded unhygienic by some.

We hope that these examples and the short introduction to cultural awareness will help you have a greater understanding of the many different nationalities that you may welcome into your home.

Under 18’sEF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Please see page 23 for further information on safeguarding at EF. Students aged 16 and 17 years old must adhere to the following curfew times: > Sunday to Thursday 23:00> Friday and Saturday 24:00Students under 18 are not permitted to stay away overnight unless they have signed parental permission and this is confirmed by the accommodation office.Please speak to the student if they are not home by this time and contact the centre if the student does not comply with the curfew times. Please remind all students under 18 years old that it is illegal for them to buy or consume alcohol. It is also illegal for under 18s to buy cigarettes.See the Junior section for information on hosting junior students.

MealsStudents should be provided with breakfast and an evening meal each day and lunch on the weekends. A typical breakfast should include a minimum choice of toast, cereal, plus tea and coffee or you may want to substitute cereal for eggs or yoghurt.

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In the evenings a substantial hot meal should be provided (allowing salads for the summer months). An evening meal may comprise of cooked meat or fish served with pasta, rice or potatoes and a vegetable, followed by fruit or dessert. At weekends it is acceptable to offer a light snack or sandwiches for lunch with a hot meal in the evening. However if you eat your main weekend meal at lunchtime please ensure that your student also has a snack in the evening. Meals should be taken together with students whenever possible; however there may be the odd occasion when it would be appropriate to leave prepared meals for them to warm up, for example if they have late lessons one day or are returning from an excursion.

Students generally like:Rolls, French bread, rice, pasta, cheese, fresh fruit, juices, fresh meat & fish, salads and vegetables.

Students generally don’t like:Frozen meals and microwave food, tinned vegetables, baked beans, tinned pasta, sliced white bread, flavoured crisps, fish fingers, chicken nuggets or similar, squash drinks.

We recommend that you speak to your student about their likes and dislikes, as this will avoid any unhappy students and unnecessary waste.

Tell your student what time the family have dinner and ask them to let you know in advance if they will be out for a meal. If you are going to be out for an evening inform your student in advance and remember that the student will expect the same quality meal to be prepared and left for them.

Code of PracticeAll hosts will be asked to sign our Annual Homestay Provider Agreement, this covers all points listed in the Code of Practice.

I/We agree to abide by the EF Homestay Code of Practice for the providers of homestay accommodation for English Language Students.

> English should be the only language spoken with the students and used in the home in front of the students.

> To encourage the student to feel at home and to treat him/her as a member of your family rather than a paying guest.

> Not to host another student of the same native language at the same time unless by special arrangement with the school.

> Not to host students from other schools whilst hosting EF students.

> To ensure a responsible adult member of the family is at home to welcome the student on arrival.

> To provide a clean and comfortable student room meeting with the requirements laid down by the British Council, namely: - A sufficiently spacious bedroom with natural light. - Equipped with an adequately sized bed and adequate hanging and drawer space for clothes. - Adequate heating and lighting. - In a proper state of cleanliness and repair.

> To provide clean bed linen and a towel on a weekly basis and adequate duvets/blankets.

> To provide a home environment in which it is possible for the student to carry on his/her English studies properly.

> To provide the student with a balanced and appropriate diet; breakfast and evening meal Monday to Friday, all meals at weekends.

> To show due concern for the welfare, safety and security of the student during his/her stay.

> To give the student reasonable and regular access to the bathroom and laundry facilities.

> To maintain a close liaison with the school and so be in a position to resolve any problems that the student may encounter during his/her stay.

> To respect the student’s different cultural background and to be sensitive to the needs of the student.

> To have a smoke alarm installed in the home which is checked on a weekly basis.

> To provide the school with a copy of your annual Gas Safety Certificate.

> To inform the school immediately of any household changes: e.g. additional family members, members of the household moving out, or children reaching the age of 18 years.

> To complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly CRB) upon request.

> To follow the Code of Practice for hosting juniors (if applicable.) Please refer to page 22.

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Our junior courses (run only in Bournemouth, Cambridge, Bristol, Eastbourne and Dublin) are provided for students aged 12-16 (and occasionally aged 17 if the student comes as part of a school group).All students aged 12-15 will be on a junior course without exception, and some 16 and 17 year olds may be. We will always clarify and discuss with you in advance and you can double check your paperwork.

Many junior students travel in groups with a leader from their home country; some travel individually. In both cases, EF provides local leaders to supervise and support the students.

Junior students have classes aimed specifically at their age group and have a full programme of activities. Greater care is taken with their welfare and safety and as a host family we ask you to support us in looking after these students by taking note of the following:

> All juniors have a transfer booked via EF and they will be collected at the airport and brought to your home – it is vital that you or someone responsible is there to greet them. We will advise you on arrival times. They will also have a return transfer back to the airport arranged by EF; please check departure times with your student and be there to wave them goodbye. If their return transport is more than 15-20 minutes late

please call the EF emergency phone. > Juniors are more prone to home sickness, so please ensure that they have made contact with their parents on arrival and that their parents know when it is convenient for them to call.

> All junior students are expected to travel to and from school independently, however we would appreciate your help in bringing them to school on their first day (normally Monday).

> Please ensure that juniors know which bus to take from your home to school and vice versa and they have your address and contact telephone numbers on arrival.

> All junior students receive a student handbook; please ensure that they carry this at all times and ask for a copy of the ‘Important Telephone Numbers & Addresses’ page as it contains their mobile phone number for your reference. You should also look at the code of conduct in their handbook.

> Junior students need to be at school by 8.45am Monday to Friday. Lessons are either in the mornings or afternoons with supervised activities when they are not in classes. On Saturdays they will only have an activity or excursion and start times may vary. Students will be given two copies of their timetable, one to pass on to you so that you are aware of their exact schedule.

> If junior students do not choose to return home immediately after lessons or activities have finished then they can visit local shops

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with friends, or enjoy local sports or cinema facilities unsupervised.

> Junior students must return home for dinner between 5pm-7pm according to your family routine. If a junior student does not return home for dinner please let us know during office hours and they will be given a warning.

> After dinner, juniors may participate in an optional EF evening activity so please check with them to see if this is the case. If they are not attending an EF activity then they will be under your supervision for the evening. If they want to go out unsupervised then you may give your permission providing you know where they are going and with whom. They are NOT allowed to leave the course town, visit pubs, bars or nightclubs or go anywhere with strangers.

> Please help junior students with their personal laundry.

> Laundry charges for Junior Students: Please note that you cannot charge your students on a Junior course for using your laundry facilities as per British Council regulations.

> Junior students should be provided with their own door key.

> There should normally be an adult present when junior students are at home (and always overnight).

> The junior curfew times are 22.00 Monday to Sunday for all students on the Junior programme, irrespective of age.

> Please try calling your student if they are late. If juniors have not returned by 10.30pm then please call the EF emergency phone. This will leave us time to try to locate them before we must report them missing to the Police at midnight. If they do break the curfew time and return home late between 10.00pm - 10.30pm without good reason then please report this to us during office hours and they will be given a warning.

> Sunday activities or excursions are optional. If a junior student does not have an EF activity or excursion then please ensure that you give your permission if they want to go out unsupervised, following the same guidelines as described above.

> Please provide a packed lunch each Saturday (and on a Sunday as required).

> Please make sure that they do not carry any large amounts of cash with them and make sure that they do not carry their passports or airlines tickets with them.

> Please remind your junior student/s that it is illegal for them to buy or consume alcohol and illegal for them to buy cigarettes.

> A junior student should always be accompanied when visiting a doctor’s surgery or hospital. If you cannot accompany a student on a medical visit or if a junior student is sick and cannot attend school please contact us immediately.

> In line with British Council guidelines, homestay hosts are advised that they should avoid having students enter the host’s bedroom. Hosts should also look to restrict contact between young students and visitors to the home, such as workmen carrying out repairs, or any neighbours, relatives or friends who are not listed on the host family application form. It is always advisable for hosts to avoid having physical contact with their students. Hugging, friendly back-slapping etc,can be perceived differently in other cultures.

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however if it is apparent that they are regularly missing lessons please contact the school and express your concerns.

My student is bringing home too many friendsIt is always nice to meet your student’s friends, but occasionally you may find your home being overcrowded. Explain to your student that while you do not mind them bringing home one or two friends it should always be with your permission. Your student should understand that any of their friends visiting should respect you, your family and home and that they should leave quietly and at a reasonable hour.

My student damaged my furnitureEF acts as an agent in making arrangements for homestay accommodation and as a mediator between a student and the homestay provider. For this reason we regret that EF cannot be held responsible in the unlikely event of a student causing damage or additional expense while staying with you. In the event of damage, please contact the Accommodation Officer immediately. We will endeavour to recoup your losses whilst the student is with you. We also recommend that additional coverage of personal household insurance is taken.

MoneyWe advise you against lending money to your students or borrowing money from them.

My student wants to open a bank accountHaving a bank account in the UK might be advantageous for the students and will avoid them having large amounts of cash. Students normally have to be staying in the UK for at least 6 months to open a bank account, and we recommend they provide the school address for this. The customer support team will be happy to assist them getting all required documents.

WHAT TO DO IF...?

My student is unhappyTheir unhappiness may be caused by exam worries, personal problems or homesickness. We have a number of staff in school who will help an unhappy student. If the student doesn’t come and speak to a member of staff please contact the Accommodation Office who will ensure that the student gets the help and advice they need.

My student is illIf your student is unwell they can obtain free advice from a local pharmacy for coughs, colds or sore throats. The free 111 NHS number is a good alternative where you can get free advice any time of the day. If you are concerned about their health we would suggest that you contact your local doctors/dentist, or get a recommendation of a Practice from the school. Please inform the school if a student is sick for more than one day. If a student has to pay for any medical treatment and/or medication they should always obtain a receipt. Under no circumstances should the homestay provide payment for any costs incurred by the student, nor should they provide a student with any medication unless prescribed by the doctor/hospital.

My student is not going to schoolAs mentioned previously, each student has an individual timetable, so if you think that your student is missing lessons ask to check their timetable. We do have procedures in place to follow up on students that are missing lessons;

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PaymentsAll payments are made by direct bank transfer and we shall therefore ask you to complete a form so that the payment can go directly into your bank or building society. You will receive a statement via email or post dependent on your communication preference.

The payment for students on an Academic programme is broken down into monthly payments which are made every 30 days (not per calendar month).

You will receive a payment schedule from the Accommodation Office. In December we make an early payment so that the money is in your account before Christmas.

For all other students staying over 2 weeks, payments are made on a weekly basis, the first payment is made on Thursday of the student’s second week and then every week thereafter and payment is based on the number of nights.

If you have any queries with your payments please do not discuss them with your student but contact the Accommodation Officer immediately.

All bank details changes must be made in writing to the accommodation team.

Data ProtectionAll information given to EF will be kept private and confidential and we will only pass on appropriate information to students, sales staff and agents and inspecting bodies on request. This information is kept in accordance with the data protection act.

TaxTax duties depend on your own situation therefore please contact your local tax/revenue office for more information.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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Safeguarding is the process of protecting children (under 18’s) and vulnerable adults from abuse or neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that enables children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.

EF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults and expects all staff, volunteers and hosts to share this commitment. We believe that every child has a right to feel safe and protected from any situation or practice that may result in a child being physically or psychologically harmed. We aim to

> Support the child’s development in ways that will foster security and confidence.

> Provide an environment in which children and vulnerable adults feel safe, secure, valued and respected, so they may approach adults if they are in difficulties, believing they will be effectively listened to.

> Safeguard the welfare of students through positive measures.

> Raise the awareness of all teaching and non-teaching staff of the need for safeguarding and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.

> Provide a systematic means of monitoring

children and young adults thought to be at risk of harm and to ensure that we contribute to assessments of need and support packages for those in need.

> Emphasise the need for good levels of communication, between all members of staff.

> Develop a structured procedure within the school, which will be followed by all members of the staff in case of suspected abuse.

> Develop and promote effective working relationships with other agencies where required.

> Ensure that all staff working within our school that have access to children and young adults have been checked as to their suitability, including verification of their identity, qualifications and an enhanced DBS check and a single central record is maintained.

> Ensure that any weaknesses identified in child protection and safeguarding are addressed without delay.

> Undertake an annual review of our policies and procedures with the Operations Director.

Safeguarding OfficerThere will be at least two senior members of staff who will be take responsibility for Safeguarding; the Safeguarding Officer and the Designated Person. Both will have received the appropriate training and will have the knowledge and skills in recognising and acting on child protection concerns. They will act as a source of expertise and advice. They will

SAFEGUARDING AT EF

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be responsible for coordinating action internally and liaising with outside agencies. At least one of these staff members will lead the safeguarding part of the fortnightly manager’s meeting.

Homestay accommodationAll hosts are visited and assessed before they are able to accept a student, revisits take place annually and further monitoring takes place by checking student evaluations where any concerns may be addressed by an interim visit. The appropriate DBS checks are made across our homestay database and appropriate action is taken where concerns are raised on a disclosure. We ensure that under 18’s are twinned together and not with over 18’s.

Hosts are provided with an EF handbook on hosting overseas students and supporting documentation for hosting younger students.

Supervision/curfews16 and 17 year olds on adult courses must return home by 23.00 hrs (Sunday to Thursday) and 24.00 hrs (Friday to Saturday).Under 18’s on adult courses require a Liability Waiver to be signed by their parent/guardian.

Supervision on all extra curricula activities for under 18’s is 1:20.

ConfidentialityThe Company and its staff will ensure that all data about students is handled in accordance with the requirements of the law, and any national and local guidance. Any member of staff who has access to sensitive information about a child or the child’s family must take all reasonable steps to ensure that such information is only disclosed to those people who need to know. Regardless of the duty of confidentiality, if any member of staff has reason to believe that a child may be suffering harm, or be at risk of harm, their duty is to forward this information without delay to the Safeguarding Officer. All child protection concerns are recorded and stored securely by the Safeguarding Officer.

Suspecting or hearing a complaintIf you suspect a problem or hear a complaint of abuse you must:

> Record what you have seen, heard or know accurately at the time the event occurs

> Share your concerns immediately with the Safeguarding Officer

Procedures for dealing with concerns/allegationsYou should not investigate suspicions. If somebody believes that a child may be suffering, or may be at risk of suffering significant harm, they must refer such concerns to the Safeguarding Officer. If there is a suspected issue with a homestay host, the student will immediately be removed from the homestay and placed in alternative accommodation. The homestay host should be suspended whilst the allegation is investigated and if appropriate a report would be made to the ISA.

If there is a suspected issue with a member of staff, this person will be suspended immediately whilst the allegation is investigated. Where appropriate, the Safeguarding Officer will contact the ISA to inform them of the situation.

Action to be taken by the Safeguarding OfficerThe action to be taken will take the following into account:

> The local inter-agency procedures of the Council’s Local Safeguarding Children Board.

> The nature and seriousness of the suspicion or complaint. A complaint involving a serious criminal offence will always be referred to the police.

> The wishes of the student. However, there may be times when the situation is so serious that a decision may need to be taken, after all appropriate consultation, that override a student’s wishes.

> The wishes of the student’s parents, provided they have no interest which is in conflict with the student’s best interests and that they

are properly informed. It may be necessary, after all appropriate consultation, to override the parental wishes in some circumstances. If the Safeguarding Officer is concerned that disclosing information to parents would put a child at risk, he or she will take further advice from the relevant professionals before making a decision to disclose.

> Duties of confidentiality, so far as applicable.

If there is room for doubt as to whether a referral should be made, the Safeguarding Officer will consult with the LADO on a no names basis.

For further information on safeguarding please refer to: https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/00305-2010DOM-EN.PDF

We hope that you have a very successful and rewarding hosting experience with EF. We look forward to working with you!

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NOTESNOTES

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Bournemouth11 Poole RoadBournemouth, BH2 5QR 01202 767 555 accommodation.bournemouth@ef.com

Brighton1/2 Sussex SquareBrighton, BN2 1FJ 01273 571 780 accommodation.brighton@ef.com

BristolCustom House - Queen Square Bristol, BS1 4JQ0117 9303505 accommodation.bristol@ef.com

Cambridge221 Hills Road Cambridge, CB2 8RN 01223 240 020 accommodation.cambridge@ef.com

EastbourneRoborough House - 1 Upper AvenueEastbourne, BN21 3XA 01323 819 050 accommodation.eastbourne@ef.com

London Waterloo74 Roupell StLondon, SE1 8SS 020 7401 8399 accommodation.london@ef.com

OxfordPullens Lane - Headington Oxford, OX3 ODT01865 759 660 accommodation.oxford@ef.com

Manchester26 Wilbraham Road FallowfieldManchester, M14 6JX 0161 225 8919 accommodation.manchester@ef.com

London Russell Square46-47 Russell Square - BloomsburyLondon, WC 1B 4JP 020 3713 9749 accommodation.londonrussellsquare@ef.com

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