Welfare

We have a detailed set of policies and procedures regarding health and safety, welfare, safeguarding and staff recruitment. These include:

• A comprehensive and detailed Safeguarding Policy which is annually updated
• Rigorous staff recruitment procedures including appropriate background & safeguarding checks and references, in line with Safer Recruitment Best Practice
• Staff training days and staff induction with local managers on site covering supervision, fire drills, health and safety, risk assessment, first aid and safeguarding
• 24-hour emergency number for students, parents and partner agents
• First-aiders on site at all times. Appointments will be made with local doctors & dentists as required.  Students will be taken to local A&E in cases of injury or emergency
• All our activities are individually risk-assessed by head office and centre staff
• On arrival students are issued with the student handbook, ID card and lanyard which must be worn at all times
• Students receive a full induction lesson highlighting welfare and safety rules
• Balanced menus with vegetarian and healthy options. All dietary requirements catered for
• Our staff are committed to providing a safe and caring environment free from discrimination. Full details of our Equality and Welfare policy are in our Safeguarding and Welfare Policy   
• Target English International does not tolerate bullying or harassment of any kind. Full details of our procedures are in our Safeguarding and Welfare Policy
• Our age range is 10 – 17 however students aged under 16 will not be placed in a class with students aged 17+

Safeguarding & Welfare Management Structure

Target English International’s Director has overall responsibility for Health & Safety, Welfare and Safeguarding at all Target English International centres. Health & Safety, Welfare and Safeguarding policies are executed through key personnel who have been allocated specific responsibilities.
These are:

• Safeguarding Lead: Based at Target English International’s Head Office, they are responsible for ensuring that Target English International’s Safeguarding policies are followed and make regular checks with centre staff 
• Health and Safety Coordinator: Based at Target English International’s Head Office, they will make regular checks with the Health and Safety Officer/Student Welfare Officer and Fire Officer at each centre to make sure policies are being adhered to
• Centre Health and Safety Officer: Usually the Centre Manager. Responsible for ensuring that Target English International’s Health and Safety policies and procedures are followed at the centre
• Centre Student Welfare Officer: Usually the Centre Manager. Responsible for ensuring Target English International’s policies and procedures relating to student welfare are followed at the centre
• Centre Fire Officer: Usually the Activity Manager. This person is responsible for ensuring that all fire procedures are followed at the centre

Supervision Policy

We have clear guidelines on supervision of junior students which all staff are made aware of during their induction.

• Juniors are defined as anyone under the age of 16, and those aged 16–17 who are enrolled on a junior course. Therefore, all Target English International students are considered to be juniors even if they are 16 – 17 years old
• Attendance at lessons and all Target English International organised activities is compulsory for all students. Registers will be taken and all absences followed up
• Students are not allowed to go off campus unsupervised at any time. This applies even if they have written permission from their parents

Supervision Ratios

When organising activities on-site and, in particular, trips and visits off-site, the supervision ratios are as follows:

• Students 8–10 years old: 1 adult per 10-15 students, Students 11+ years old: 1 adult per 15 – 20 students
• Group Leaders can be included in ratios, although only in relation to their own group. Group Leaders can only be there in a supporting role and a proper level of Target English International staff involvement will be supplied to ensure adequate supervision
• Ratios will be increased if the risk assessment for any activity or excursion indicates that this is necessary.  This may be due to the nature or location of the activity

Evening and night time supervision

• The Target English International Centre Manager will be resident on site, along with other members of the Target English International staff
• The Target English International centre management team will have a clearly laid out pastoral rota for evenings and night time, detailing who is responsible for seeing that students are all in their accommodation by 11pm
• Residential students will be accompanied back to their residences by Group Leaders and Target English International staff immediately after evening activities finish. Target English International staff will then carry out a patrol to ensure students remain in residence
• Target English International staff will endeavour to ensure that students are well behaved and do not cause excessive noise late at night. However, students travelling in a group with an accompanying Group Leader are considered to be under the primary supervision of the Group Leader overnight, between 11pm and 8am

Supervision on Excursions

• On excursions students will be supervised by an adequate number of Target English International staff, according to the supervision ratios
• One or two hours of scheduled ‘free/shopping time’ may be allowed during a full day excursion and if so this will be factored into the itinerary. Students must remain in groups of no less than 3 at all times
• Students must remain in the company of an adult at all times if they are under 14
• At least one member of staff will wait at a designated point during the free time so students can find a member of Target English International staff in an emergency
• Students must carry their ID card and emergency contact number, and wear their lanyard at all times
• Target English International staff will issue students with a town map if appropriate and make students aware of the meeting point and time for the journey back to the campus

Other supervision considerations

• Target English International management will ensure proper supervision in the canteen during meal times and a pastoral rota will be established to detail who is responsible for this supervision