Jean-Louis Martine- Jean-Louis Martine
We care for our students
Updated: Mar 9
Student welfare and safety is the top priority for London House School of English. Our high standard of care starts when a student enrols and continues throughout their stay, until they return home. The welfare of all our students is important, but we have extra responsibilities when they are under the age of 18.
Before Arrival
Before Arrival: During enrolment, we will ask for important information about all our students before they arrive, to help us care for them while they are here. We will also provide you with important travel information. *If booking through an agent or school, your enrolment will be managed by them. Direct bookings will be managed by London House. Information that we will need includes;
Student details: name, age, passport details, gender and contact details of parent or guardian / person to contact in an emergency
Student medical information: including; known allergies or medical conditions, details of special needs or medicine the student is taking
Medical consent: for all under 18's, a medical consent form will need to be signed, so care can be given in the event of an emergency
Religious requirements: Including dietary restrictions
General Information: for example, likes and dislikes or whether you are vegetarian
Information that we will give you includes;
General travel information
Advice about UK VISA's
Advice about travel insurance
Advice about British weather: Including the types of clothes you should bring
Advice about money
Airport and taxi transfers
For full information please look at Enrolment
First Day
First Day: On the first Monday after arrival at London House School of English, all students will be welcomed into the school and helped to settle in. English Level Test: all students will have a placement test to find out their English level. This is to ensure all students are placed in a class with other students who have a similar level of English. Students will be placed with other students of a similar age and we will do our best to make sure that all classes have students of different nationalities. Student Induction: after students have completed their test, they will be given a 30 minute induction talk. All students will also be given a handbook which will give them all the necessary information they need to make their stay in England, happy, safe and productive. This will be translated by a group leader, if a student's level of English is too low. The Induction and Student Handbook are designed to be understood by students with a low English level. The student induction covers information about: Safety:The School, Problems, Behaviour, Fire Safety, Road Safety, Personal Safety, Beach Safetyand British Weather General: Classes, Homestay, Trips, Activities Who to See / What to do: Medical, Class Level, Feeling unhappy, Complaints, UK Law School Rules, Including why a student might be sent home, Bullying,Drugs and Alcohol Student Orientation: After morning classes and lunch on the first day at London House, all new students will have an Orientation Afternoon. The student orientation afternoon is designed to help the students learn about the local area: find important places, shops, beach, cinema locations where activities are held find the best way home to their host family.
On Going Care
Responsibility for Welfare
London House has a dedicated welfare officer who has overall responsibility for student welfare; this includes homesickness, illness (including help booking to see a doctor), problems with your homestay provider or any other issues.
All other London House staff including; teachers, admin staff and social assistants are trained in safeguarding and child protection and are always available to assist with pastoral care of our students.
If a student is part of a group then responsibility is shared with a student’s group leaders.
24 hour emergency telephone line We also have a 24 hour emergency telephone line and one member of staff on call, allowing; students, group leaders, homestay providers and parents to contact the school at any time of the day or night if there is an emergency* *Please be aware that calls out of hours should be for emergency purposes only. Non-emergency calls should be made during normal office hours. In class: Teachers monitor behaviour and inform the welfare officer of any concerns In your accommodation: All homestay providers are asked to contact the school with any concerns about the students they are hosting. At break times & lunch times: There are places in the school for students to spend time together and have snacks and eat their lunch After afternoon and evening activities: Students are expected to go straight home and social assistants monitor the area. Younger students are accompanied home. On activities and trips: London House social assistants attend all activities and trips. Their main aim is to make sure that students enjoy themselves, are safe and also to encourage them to take part, meet others etc. Mid-stay questionnaires:
All students are asked to complete these
Regular meetings with group leaders
Group leaders have regular meetings with their students and they discuss about all aspects of their stay
Individual students have meetings with a nominated ‘leader’
End of Stay
End of course questionnaires
All students are asked to complete these. It is important for us to see where things have worked well and where we can improve.
Departure
Transfers can be arranged for individual students directly from their homestay accommodation
Departures for group students are from a specific meeting point in Westgate. All homestay providers bring their students to the coach and a member of London House staff attends and sees them off.
