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Languages United is committed to providing a supportive and caring environment for all of its students, both adults and juniors.
The school recognises that under-18s need special care to ensure their safety at all times during their stay. It also acknowledges that 16 and 17-year-olds, who have greater independence, should be given more freedom. Additionally, the school understands that some adult students may require extra support and guidance.
Care of under-18s
From the moment your son or daughter arrives at the school, their welfare is the top priority for us.
Parental Consent
Before your child arrives at the school we will ask you to complete a comprehensive Parental Consent form to ensure we understand their needs and what you permit them to do.
The Parental Consent includes sections on Parent/Guardian Contact Details, Emergency Contact, Medical Information, Emergency Treatment, Travel, Insurance, Accommodation, Attendance, Participation in Activities, Code of Conduct and Values, Unsupervised time, Students aged 16 and 17, Photographs and Video.
Accommodation
We take great care to select homestay accommodation that is suitable for your child. We want their experience to be a "home away from home".
To select hosts we have a thorough process that includes:
- visiting the house
- getting references to support the host's application
- conducting background checks to ensure they are suitable to work with children
- providing hosts with all the information and advice that they need to ensure your child is safe.
Junior students may be in a room with other juniors. There is a maximum of four students in each homestay. We do not place junior students in the same accommodation as adult students without your specific consent, e.g. we are sometimes asked if a junior can be in the same accommodation as a group leader.
Boys and girls are not placed in the same homestay unless we get a specific request for this, e.g. for a brother and sister or cousin staying together. Again your written consent will be needed.
Junior students are expected to spend every night at their homestay. If a student requests to spend a night away from homestay accommodation, e.g. visiting relatives or for a sleepover with a friend, then you must give your permission for this and provide the name, address and contact number of the person they are staying with.
Students over the age of 14 may be allowed to be on their own in their accommodation for short periods of time. Students will be made aware of the homestay's rules and must not engage in any activity while unaccompanied that might put them or the household at risk (e.g. cooking).
A curfew is in place and all junior students are expected to return to their accommodation by this time. If they do not do this, and are not contactable to find out why, then the host will call the school's emergency number.
Travel
When your child arrives, the host shows them the route to school and will accompany them on the first journey. Bath is a small city and the journey to school is generally less than 30 minutes either walking or by bus. After being shown the route, students will travel unaccompanied.
Juniors are not permitted to travel outside of the city except on excursions arranged by the school or with their host. Parental permission is required for any other travel.
Juniors are not expected to take part in any activities other than those organised by the school or host without your written permission.
Students must discuss arrangements with the Welfare Team and with their homestay host.
Please note that if you ask us to arrange an airport transfer for your child, they will not be accompanied unless you specifically request a chaperone service.
Supervision at school
The school's welfare team is available to help and answer questions. An emergency number is provided for students to call if they need help when the school is closed.
In order to provide the best care for your child, the school:
- checks the suitability of staff to make sure they are suitable to work with children;
- ensures that staff and students understand what is acceptable behaviour and what is not allowed;
- trains staff to identify when a student might need support or guidance;
- gives students the information they need to stay safe;
- makes sure that students know who to speak to if there is a problem.
Activities
We put our students' safety first when running activities. Our activity staff are well trained and will carry out a risk assessment to ensure we make the activity as safe as possible and that it is adequately supervised.
Our activities are generally run for junior students only, however on occasions there are activities that are suitable for adult students to join as well, for example day excursions. If this is the case then adults sign a Code of Conduct which gives them guidance on how to behave with under-18s.
16 and 17 year olds enrolled on adult courses
Students aged 16 and 17 can enrol on adult courses. They will come into regular contact with other students over the age of 18, in class and potentially in their free time.
Adult students at the school are made aware that there are younger students in the school and they sign a Code of Conduct which gives them guidance on how to behave with under-18s.
Policies and further information
The following documents detail our policies and how we implement them:
Safeguarding Policy
Abusive Behaviour Policy
Child Protection Policy
Safeguarding Reporting and Complaints Procedure
Staff Recruitment Policy
Staff Code of Conduct
Homestay Provider Code of Conduct
Whistle-blowing Policy
Any questions
If you have any questions about student welfare, please email