Young Learner
Welfare & Safeguarding
Our commitment to providing a safe, supportive, and caring environment for every student
As a school working with children aged 8 to 17 years, we take our responsibility for their care, safeguarding and supervision very seriously. Loxdale is not only British Council accredited and a member of English UK, but we are also part of the English UK Young Learners Special Interest Group, ensuring we work to the highest standards and best practice.
Our Promise to You and Your Child
Your child's safety is not just a priority — it is the foundation of everything we do. We have a dedicated, professional team and robust policies in place to ensure student welfare at all times. We are transparent, accountable, and committed to maintaining the trust you place in us.
24-Hour Emergency Contact
+44 7493 106 051Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Tap to Call Emergency LineOur Dedicated Welfare & Safeguarding Team
Anna Thatcher
Principal & Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Anna has overall responsibility for safeguarding and is available to parents at any time. She oversees all welfare policies and is your first point of contact for serious concerns.
Jodie Morden
Accommodation & Welfare Officer & DSL
Jodie manages all accommodation and welfare matters. She visits every homestay, coordinates DBS checks for all staff and hosts, and is available every day for students who need support — whether they're unwell, nervous, or just need a chat.
James de Malplaquet
Director of Studies & Prevent Officer
James oversees the academic programme and is also a trained Prevent Officer, helping to identify and protect students from radicalisation risks.
Daily Support & Care
We understand that both you and your child may feel nervous when they're travelling without you. At Loxdale, your child will be surrounded by people who want to help them feel happy, confident, and safe.
Emergency Contact Card
Upon arrival, your child receives a contact card with the Principal's home and mobile numbers plus the school emergency line — 24/7 support in your pocket.
Daily Welfare Check-ins
Jodie or Anna will see your child every day. Students are encouraged to share any worries, ideas, or suggestions — our door is always open.
Someone to Talk To
Your child can always talk to their hosts, teachers, or social organisers. Our whole team is here to help students feel happy and confident.
First Aid Trained Staff
Multiple staff members are qualified in First Aid and welfare, ensuring professional care is always available on-site.
A Safe Space to Learn and Have Fun
Loxdale English Centre does all it can to ensure a safe and supervised learning environment for every student. We want your child to feel relaxed and able to concentrate on what matters most — improving their English and having fun.
All of our teaching, welfare, administration, and social staff are trained in Child Safeguarding. We have two Designated Safeguarding Leads and a Prevent Officer, ensuring the highest standards of student protection.
Travelling alone? If your child is flying unaccompanied, we highly recommend completing the Travel Parental Consent Form. Your child should carry it with their passport — it provides essential contact information and DBS driver details for their journey.
How We Keep Your Child Safe
24/7 Supervision
Your child is supervised around the clock — from arrival to departure. During evenings, we provide a minibus service home for students living more than a 10-minute walk from school after activities.
DBS-Checked Staff & Hosts
Every member of our staff — teachers, activity leaders, and homestay hosts — undergoes a rigorous DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) background check, renewed every 3 years. Coordinated by Jodie Morden.
Strict Supervision Ratios
Pre-Teens (8–12): 1 staff to 10 students on-site, 1 staff to 8 students on excursions. Teenagers (13–17): 1 staff to 16 students on-site, 1 staff to 16 on excursions (minimum 2 staff always).
First-Aid Trained Staff
Multiple staff members are trained in first aid, with first aid kits maintained in 5 locations across our campus including Anna's office, reception, the residential building, pavilion, and business centre.
Safeguarding-Trained Team
ALL teaching, welfare, administration, and social staff undergo safeguarding training. Key personnel complete external Advanced and Specialist Safeguarding courses. We have 2 Designated Safeguarding Leads and a Prevent Officer.
Children Are Never Left Alone
Children aged 8–11 are never allowed anywhere without a parent, school staff, or their host. Students aged 12+ may walk to school independently ONLY with written parental permission on the safeguarding form.
Safety Rules by Age Group
Parents need to know exactly what applies to their child's age
Supervision
- •NEVER allowed off-site without a parent, school staff, or their host family
- •24-hour supervision and care at all times
- •Must have daily transfer service to/from school if in homestay (£40/week)
- •On-site residential accommodation available (compulsory for summer pre-teens)
Staff Ratios
- •On-site activities: 1 staff to 10 students
- •Off-site excursions: 1 staff to 8 students (minimum 2 staff)
Evening
- •Must be home for dinner by 6pm
- •Not allowed out for any reason in evenings except school activities
- •Minibus home provided after all evening activities
Supervision
- •12-year-olds may walk to and from school alone IF parents have given written permission on the safeguarding form
- •After afternoon activities (finish 3–4:30pm), students may go to their host or visit Brighton centre IF parents have given permission
- •All students must be back at their homestay by 6pm for dinner
Staff Ratios
- •On-site activities: 1 staff to 16 students
- •Off-site excursions: 1 staff to 16 students (minimum 2 staff)
Evening
- •Not allowed out except for school-organised evening activities
- •Minibus home for students living more than 10 minutes' walk from school
- •Host families call school if student not home within 15 minutes of activity finishing
- •Must remain at home after returning from evening activities
Supervision
- •16 & 17-year-olds may be placed in Teenager OR Adult classes depending on maturity and English level
- •More independence than younger students, but still subject to safeguarding policies
- •May need a Child-to-Adult safeguarding form if on adult courses
Staff Ratios
- •Same ratios as teenagers when in YL programme
- •Additional monitoring by welfare team
Note: If your 16–17 year old is on an adult course, different arrangements apply. Please see our 16-17 Year Olds page or contact us.
View 16-17 Year Olds Page →Evening Minibus Service
As part of our commitment to keeping your child safe whilst studying at Loxdale, we provide an evening minibus service. During the summer months, after evening activities, we take home every student who lives more than a 14-minute walk from school so we know they arrive home safe and sound.
Minibuses run set area routes, dropping off between 8 and 16 students per bus. Drivers ensure they see each student go inside their accommodation before moving on. Drop-offs typically take 15–25 minutes.
For students who live less than a 15-minute walk from Loxdale, they walk home. Their host family will call the Principal or Social Manager if the student isn't home on time — ensuring every child is accounted for.
🚌 Bus pass available: £21/week (public daytime transport)
🚐 Evening minibus: £30/week (optional — free minibus already included after evening activities for students living 10+ min walk away)
Required Safeguarding Forms
Important: All forms must be completed by parents/guardians and emailed to office@loxdale.com before your child's course start date. No medicine will be given without your written permission.
Which Form Does My Child Need?
| Age | Season | Form |
|---|---|---|
| 8–12 years | All seasons | Pre-Teen Safeguarding Form |
| 12–17 years | Winter / Spring / Autumn | Teenager Safeguarding Form (Winter) |
| 13–17 years | Summer | Summer Teenager Safeguarding Form |
| 16–17 years (on adult courses) | Summer | Child-to-Adult Form (Summer) |
| 16–17 years (on adult courses) | Winter / Spring / Autumn | Child-to-Adult Form (Winter) |
| All under 18 | If travelling alone | Travel Parental Consent Form |
Pre-Teen Safeguarding Form
8–12 years | All seasons
Medical information, permissions, emergency contacts, medication authorisation
Download Pre-Teen FormTeenager Safeguarding Form (Out of Summer)
12–17 years | Winter, Spring & Autumn
Medical information, permissions, walking to school consent, town visit permissions
Download Winter Teenager FormSummer Teenager Safeguarding Form
13–17 years | Summer only
Medical information, permissions, beach and trip permissions specific to summer programme
Download Summer Teenager FormChild-to-Adult Form (Summer)
16–17 years on adult courses | Summer only
For 16-17 year olds joining adult courses during summer
Download Child-Adult Summer FormChild-to-Adult Form (Out of Summer)
16–17 years on adult courses | Winter, Spring & Autumn
For 16-17 year olds joining adult courses outside summer
Download Child-Adult Winter FormTravel Parental Consent Form
All students under 18
Required if your child is travelling alone. Includes DBS driver information and parental consent for travel. Recommended by UK Border Agency — your child should carry this with their passport.
Download Travel Consent FormWhat Is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is a set of policies and procedures to ensure that students aged under 18 are kept safe and out of harm at all times. Most of these are part of British law, and each school also has policies adapted to their individual circumstances.
The UK has some of the strongest child safeguarding laws and checks in the world. We are aware of the potential dangers that any child may face, and a child in a foreign country speaking a different language needs even more help in recognising these. We do all we can to protect them whilst they are in our care.
Our Safeguarding Policy Covers:
- •Safer working practice for all staff
- •Safer recruitment and training (including DBS checks)
- •Checklist of welfare issues to monitor
- •Handling allegations and/or suspicions
- •Recognising signs of child abuse (emotional, sexual, neglect, and physical)
Core Beliefs (from Safeguarding Policy):
- •The welfare of the child is paramount (The Children Act 1989)
- •Students should be listened to, valued, respected and protected
- •All children have the right to protection from abuse regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs, or sexual identity
- •All suspicions and allegations will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly
- •All staff have a responsibility to be trained in safeguarding and to report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Leads
Student Expectations & Rules
We maintain a positive, respectful environment for all students. Every student receives clear rules on arrival, and our code of conduct is explained during their first-day induction.
Key Rules:
- AttendanceStudents must attend all scheduled lessons and activities
- RespectTreat staff, hosts, and other students with kindness and respect
- SafetyFollow all safety rules during activities and excursions
- CurfewAdhere to age-appropriate curfew times — home by 6pm for dinner, no going out in evenings except school activities
- Alcohol & SmokingStrictly prohibited for all young learners
- CommunicationStudents are encouraged to speak to Jodie, Anna, their teachers, hosts, or social organisers about any concerns
- Homestay rulesRespect your host family's home — it is their home, and you are a guest
Note: Serious breaches of conduct may result in dismissal from the programme with no refund of tuition fees. Parents will be contacted before any such decision is made.
Medication Policy
No student will be given medicine by Loxdale or be allowed to take medicine they have brought from home unless we have written permission from their parent/guardian.
This is why the safeguarding forms are so important — they include medication authorisation sections for:
- •Mild medicine (paracetamol, cough medicine, antihistamine, sore throat tablets) — requires parental permission
- •Doctor's medicine — if we take your child to the doctor and they prescribe medication, can we administer it?
- •Regular medicine — if your child takes daily medication, we need full details
If you give your child medicine to bring to England, please have the ingredients clearly labelled in English in case of emergency.
Only designated senior staff (Anna Thatcher, Jodie Morden, Mike Thatcher, or James Chiesa in summer) may issue medication except in emergencies.
What Happens in an Emergency
Immediate Response
Staff assess the situation and provide first aid if needed. Emergency services are called immediately if required (UK: 999).
Parent Notification
Parents are contacted immediately by phone. A follow-up email with full details is sent.
Documentation & Reporting
All incidents are logged and reported to the Designated Safeguarding Leads. Insurance claims are processed if applicable.
Follow-Up Care
Welfare check-ins continue with the student. Ongoing communication with parents about care and any further steps.
Insurance Emergency Line (24hr)
+44 (0) 1243 621 058 — Endsleigh/Zurich InsuranceAvailable in: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), Thai, Turkish
Our Accreditations & Memberships
British Council Accredited
Independently inspected and accredited for quality teaching and student welfare
English UK Member
UK's national association of English language centres
Young Learners English UK
Member of the YL Special Interest Group — highest standards for under-18 provision
EL Gazette Centre of Excellence
Recognised as a top-performing language centre in British Council inspections
Sussex Safeguarding Children Forum
Active member of our local safeguarding partnership
Related Information for Parents
Questions About Your Child's Safety?
Our welfare team is here to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your child's wellbeing at Loxdale. We understand the trust you are placing in us, and we welcome your questions.
Call Us Now: +44 1273 414 973