It is very important to us that students remain safe, happy and healthy throughout their stay and we have a full set of specific policies and procedures to ensure this happens.

All students receive an ID card and a 24 hour emergency telephone number on arrival at the centre which they are expected to carry with them at all times. In addition all students receive an induction highlighting welfare and safety rules and regulations, during which they also have to complete an emergency contact form.

Attendance at lessons and ATC organised activities is compulsory for all students and registers are taken.

Health & Safety Management Structure

ATC’s Director has overall responsibility for Health & Safety and Student Welfare at all ATC centres.
The policy is executed through key personnel who have been allocated specific responsibilities.
These are:

  • H&S Coordinator: Based at ATC’s Head Office, they will make regular checks with the H&S Officer, Student Welfare Officer and Fire Officer at each centre to make sure H&S policies are being adhered to
  • Health & Safety Officer: Usually the Centre Manager. Responsible for ensuring that ATC’s Health & Safety policies & procedures are followed at the centre
  • Student Welfare Officer: Usually the Director of Studies. Responsible for ensuring ATC International’s policies and procedures relating to student welfare are followed at the 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 16 –18 who are at a junior centre. Therefore all ATC International students are considered to be juniors even if they are 17 and 18 years old
  • We are responsible for supervising students at all times except when they are with the host family or when the Group Leader has signed them out of an ATC International organised activity
  • No students are ever allowed to go off campus unsupervised. 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:

  • Under 12s: 1 adult to 8 students and a minimum of 2 adults per group (this applies, however small the group may be)
  • 12 – 18s: 1 adult per 15 students
  • Group leaders can be included in ratios, although only in relation to their own group

Evening & Night time supervision

  • The ATC International Centre Manager and welfare officer will be resident on site, along with other members of the ATC International staff
  • The ATC International centre management team will have a clearly laid out rota for evenings and night time detailing who is responsible for seeing that students are in their accommodation. ATC International staff will endeavour to ensure that students are well behaved and do not cause excessive noise late at night
  • Residential students will be accompanied back to their residences by Group Leaders and ATC International staff immediately after evening activities finish. ATC International staff will then carry out a patrol to ensure students remain in residence and assist the Group Leaders in ensuring students are well behaved

Supervision on Excursions

  • On excursions students will be supervised by ATC International staff throughout the trip
  • One or two hours of scheduled ‘free/shopping time’ may be allowed during a full day excursion and this will be factored into the itinerary. Students must remain in pairs or small groups, and in the company of an adult 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 ATC International staff in an emergency
  • Students must carry their ID card and emergency contact number at all times
  • ATC International staff will issue students with a town map if appropriate and make students aware of the meeting point for the coach home

Other supervision considerations

  • ATC International management will ensure proper supervision in the canteen during meal times
  • In the case of individual students [i.e. those not coming as part of a group], they will be assigned to the care of an ATC International member of staff who they will report to at all meal times and at bed time. This member of staff will be responsible for their pastoral care throughout their stay