Our Policies

Child Protection and Safeguarding

By acting in “loco parentis” to overseas students, Oxford Education Enterprises (OEE) follows all relevant provisions and statutory requirements which are contained in the following policies:
 
– Keeping Children Safe in Education (2020)
– Working Together to Safeguard Children
– Safeguarding
  
By following the provisions and requirements, everybody at OEE keeps to these safeguarding principles and ensures that they are always working to protect each student’s and at the same time as promoting their academic excellence, emotional welfare and physical wellbeing.
 
We also fulfil the duties and responsibilities as outlined in AEGIS – Introduction to Educational Duties and Responsibilities (September 2019), and strictly follow the AEGIS’ principles

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Child Protection, means ensuring the safety and welfare of children, or that children are protected from physical or emotional abuse or neglect, or sexual abuse.
 
Everybody at Oxford Education Enterprises is committed to the protection of all students in its care, and aim to ensure that they always experience a caring and secure environment in which they feel safe, respected and valued.
If you have any concerns you should contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Officer, Alyona Lake, mobile 07967 997435 who will record any issues that are raised, undertake an investigation and, where necessary, report them to the appropriate authorities with responsibility for child welfare matters.

We undertake to:

Stress to all OEE employees, and the students in our care, that they must report allegations and suspicions of child abuse to the DSL without delay;
Make student welfare our prime consideration by ensuring that there is trust, openness and clear communication between students, schools, OEE staff and host families.

Carry out an investigation into any reported allegation or suspicion of child abuse in accordance with the principles and guidelines set out in the Child Protection Policy of the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students (AEGIS);
Ensure that students feel safe, secure, respected, have the confidence to approach adults if they are in difficulty, and know their concerns will be taken seriously.

Although we support the student’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence, we appreciate that a child who is abused or witnesses violence may feel helpless and humiliated, blame themselves, or find it difficult to develop and maintain a sense of self-worth.
We recognise that all matters relating to safeguarding are highly confidential. However, all OEE staff and host families are aware that they must share information with other agencies in order to safeguard children. All staff and host families understand that they must not make a promise to a child to keep secrets which might compromise the child’s safety or wellbeing.

Our procedures will be regularly reviewed and updated and deficiencies or weaknesses will be remedied without delay.
The 24-hour Childline Service continues to be available on 0800 1111. All calls are free and confidential, and trained counsellors will help any young person with any problem.


STAFF RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING

Safeguarding children and child protection is central to the OEE recruitment process, and the commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is made clear throughout.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Training

OEE is committed to take its role in safeguarding and the protection of children and vulnerable adults and promotion of their welfare with the utmost seriousness and to ensure all safeguarding matters are investigated following policy and appropriately referred.

To achieve this OEE will:

– Ensure staff are fully aware that safeguarding is a key responsibility
– Have an appointed Child Protection Officer/Designated Safeguarding Lead
– Support the DSL/Child Protection Officer with trained staff
– Provide safeguarding training to all OEE staff

All staff will:

– Take the OEE’s policy and commitment to safeguarding very seriously
– Complete the safeguarding training
– Report any suspicion or allegation of abuse of any kind to Alyona Lake the Designated Safeguarding Lead on 07967 997435

OEE Staff Recruitment Policy is continually reviewed and updated.

– DBS Checks are carried out on all staff including our service providers such Host Families, Tutors, Drivers etc.
– It is not possible to undertake DBS checks without the written permission of the recipient.
– OEE will ensure that staff receive safeguarding training.
– Host Families receive regular communications and always receive a copy of updated Host Handbook
– All relevant OEE literature has reference to telephone numbers and emergency contact
– OEE has no students under a Private Fostering Arrangement (PFA)


TRAVEL AND TRANSFER ARRANGEMENTS

OEE is committed to providing safe travel to and from, schools, airports, host and other suitable holiday accommodation etc. This is with drivers who have the appropriate registration, including DBS checks and local authority vetting, to transport children. Any taxi companies that we use are also approved by the schools concerned.

For any driver that we use we require their name, mobile phone number, details of their badge, licence and current DBS disclosure. OEE makes bookings to comply with the flight details that are provided and ensures that all fees are paid to the driver/taxi company.

OEE’s drivers agree to follow strict requirements which are:

– To monitor the relevant flight status and adjust the pickup/drop off times accordingly to ensure timely service
–  To collect the student promptly at the specified time and location
– To text OEE to confirm when the student has been picked up and dropped off
– To ensure that the student has all necessary documentation for travelling
– Where requested, to provide flight check in assistance for the student
– If requested by the student, to stop for refreshment etc.


HOST FAMILIES AND STUDENTS

Host families will protect the students in their care and must have a valid Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check for each member of the household or regular visitors aged 16 or over who will be present whilst students are staying in their care. Host families must always:

– Be even handed in relationships with OEE students – avoid the appearance, or the reality of, favouritism
– Be unambiguous in your behaviour towards guest students
– Avoid secrecy and understand confidentiality
– Respect students’ rights and privacy
– Share concerns and worries with OEE staff
– Be clear at all times
– Understand issues concerning physical restraint
– Never invite an OEE student to ‘friend’ on any social media sites

Host families should have due consideration for the safe care of both the student and family members and adopt SAFE CARE PLAN (particularly for long stays in excess of 28 nights) and may consider the following:

– Entering the Student’s Bedroom (appropriate, respectful, knocking and allowing privacy)
– Bathroom Conduct and Routines (All need to be able to lock the door, and be given times if necessary)
– Medication locked away
– Smoking by both family, friends and possibly students (although it is banned at all boarding schools)
– Drinking alcohol, plus storage of alcohol both with family, friends, and the impact on students
– Friends visiting and their conduct towards students
– Internet and telephone use (see policy)
– Car driving – Who is allowed to drive the student and in which car?
– Bedtime routines and respect for privacy
– Sexual conduct and demonstrating affection towards both the student and within the family
– Rules that may be non-negotiable or guidelines. These may include:
– Parent rooms are out of bounds
– Adult males should avoid being alone in the bedroom or bathroom with a female student and should be appropriately clothed
– Bathroom routines
– Breakfast (if late, may be DIY) and other meal times

It is also a host family’s responsibility to ensure that all electrical appliances are safe, particularly in the student’s room and it is recommended each electrical appliance is PAT tested annually. All gas appliances are to be inspected annually by a Gas Safe registered plumber, and a Gas Safety Certificate provided to OEE. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms MUST be fitted in the house. 

Medicines and/or chemicals must not be stored unlocked in the student’s bathroom. 

Host families must explain to the student fire escape routes, how to access to the outside doors, and the location of any necessary keys.

They must also ensure that the student knows to dial 999 for Police, Fire or Ambulance if any relevant emergency arises during their stay.


MISSING CHILD

Unexplained student absences or other situations affecting student safety, should be reported to OEE immediately on 07967 997 435. If a student who is booked with a host family does not arrive within 2 hours of their expected time, the host family must advise us so that we can take all necessary actions to locate the child.


HOST FAMILY – ABUSE

It is the responsibility of any host family to immediately report any suspicion or allegation of abuse of any kind to Alyona Lake the Designated Safeguarding Lead on 07967 997435


STUDENT BEHAVIOUR WHEN STAYING WITH HOST FAMILY 

Clear guidelines are given to students on their conduct and behaviour whilst staying with a host family. In the event of a host family having concerns about student behaviour they should contact OEE.


USE OF COMPUTER AND INTERNET WITH STAYING WITH HOST FAMILY

When staying with a host family, a wireless internet connection is normally available. Internet downloads may be limited and can be very expensive, so students are not allowed to download large files, such as films, games and music. Students should not need to use the host’s telephone or computers.

Students should also be aware of the routine of the household and therefore should not be using their computers to Skype, Facetime or otherwise disturb the household between the hours of 11.00 pm and 08.00 am or as the host dictates.

Students should ensure memory sticks or other storage media are free from computer viruses and any software on personally owned machines is legally licensed.

Students are not allowed to use the internet for any illegal activity, this includes accessing sites meant for adults or 18 years or older such as pornographic or gambling sites. Students must not search for, or browse through, any sites that contain offensive, obscene, violent, dangerous, inflammatory, racist or extremist material. Downloading any unlicensed material such as music, video, TV programmes, games and PDF files is illegal and therefore not permitted.

It is important that students understand risks associated with the use of social networking sites and know how to stay safe in this environment and how to avoid making themselves vulnerable to a range of issues including identity theft, bullying, harassment, grooming and abuse. They also need to learn how to avoid the risk of exposing themselves to subsequent embarrassment due to an inappropriate personal profile or inclusion on another’s profile.

The Exploitation and Online Protection body (CEOP) provides some useful guidelines and advice for parents, guardians, host families and students 
Any type of hacking (defined as an attempt to gain access to folders, databases, or other material on the network to which one is not entitled) is considered to be an extremely serious offence. To comply with the Computer Misuse Act 1990, any student who indulges in hacking or is found with hacking software/paraphernalia on their computer can expect to face serious consequences. Likewise, physical interference with any other computer is not tolerated.

We are aware that many past students become friends of the family and keep in touch with the host family when they have returned home. In times of social media sites and the internet, this contact needs to be both thoughtful and appropriate.

OEE will not accept liability for the loss or damage to any computers owned by the student or borrowed from anyone.


Last updated December 2020