BOARDING POLICY
This policy should be read in conjunction with the School’s policies on Anti-bullying, Child Protection and its related policies, Health and Safety, Fire Safety, First Aid and the Administration of Medicines, Missing or Lost Child Procedure, Whistleblowing and Recruitment and Selection of Staff.
We aim to provide a safe, healthy, comfortable and happy environment where the pupils who choose to board may feel they have a home from home and can flourish. This aim incorporates the acquiring of a sense of respect for others, regardless of race, or religion. It also includes the desire to develop a respect, on the part of the pupil, for those who may differ from them by way of gender, age or education. We endeavour to make the boarding pupils feel that they are part of an extended family with the resultant enjoyment and responsibility. The School’s guidelines for Boarding follow the guidelines of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools (made under Section 87 of the Children Act 1989).
Principles Underlying Boarding at Birchfield
1. Each member of the boarding community, be they pupil or adult, will show due respect for each other member regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, culture, family, ability or disability.
2. Each member of the community has the right to be able to work, play, relax or be quiet, free from intrusion, harassment, intimidation, abuse or bullying by any other member of the community as outlined in our Anti-bullying Policy.
3. Each member of the community will demonstrate awareness and understanding of the needs of those around them.
Aims of Boarding at Birchfield
1. To safeguard and promote the welfare of each boarder by providing;
· A safe, clean, comfortable, homely environment.
· A healthy lifestyle through personal hygiene management, controlled diet, exercise and medical care.
· A supporting and trusting ethos encouraging self-confidence and forgiveness within an intellectual openness based on a Christian moral framework.
· Emotional support and spiritual guidance.
2. To develop each boarder’s ability to respond positively to responsibility.
3. To increase each boarder’s level of independence.
4. To promote honesty and integrity in all matters.
5. To develop skills of social integration and be open-minded.
Delivery of the Aims
Delivery will be achieved through a holistic approach to education supported by a framework of simple rules to promote and re-enforce belief in the values contained within the principles and aims of Boarding at Birchfield.
Countering Bullying
Every care is taken to ensure that boarders are protected from bullying. Despite this, small incidents may arise from time to time and are dealt with promptly and in accordance with the School’s Anti-bullying Policy. Within the Boarding House, House Parents monitor the situation carefully to avoid issues arising and remain vigilant to prevent incidents. Any incidents of serious misbehaviour are recorded by the Deputy Head.
Boarding staff are made aware of the School’s Anti-bullying Policy and receive regular updates on it through staff meetings, whilst parents of boarders are advised that they may refer to the policy on the website or request a hard copy from the School Office. In line with the School’s Anti-bullying Policy, corporal punishment is never used within any area of the school’s community. New Boarders also receive a copy of the Anti-bullying leaflet presented to all new pupils in the School with advice and guidance if an incident occurs. House Cards, carried by each pupil, also list contact numbers and suggest people to talk to if a pupil is concerned.
The Boarding Parents and Staff encourage the pupils to talk openly and discuss their concerns and any pupils or parents who are worried should firstly talk with the House Parents or another member of the Boarding Staff. The information will then be shared, as appropriate, with other key members of the teaching staff, Academic Tutors, the School Nurse, Child Protection Officer and the Deputy Head and the relevant follow-up action taken. The School believes it is most important to keep channels of communication open between all parties and this method works to clear up concerns generally. In the event of an incident occurring, boarders who are being bullied are supported and offered guidance and so are boarders who may bully others in liaison with the School as a whole.
Providing a Safe Environment
The Boarding House aims to provide a safe and happy home environment. Boarding Staff and House Parents are fully aware of the Safeguarding policies in existence in the School and receive inset and regular updates through staff meetings as appropriate. They know to work closely with the School’s Child Protection Officer in the event of a concern arising and follow the procedure laid out in the School’s Safeguarding policies for reporting allegations of abuse. Boarders are encouraged to share concerns in good faith about school practices, which may involve staff or about the behaviour of colleagues without further blame or disciplinary action being apportioned. Some boarders may also act as Status prefects within School and, as such, receive appropriate guidance on peer mentoring and support. In this way, they may offer a further link to the House Parents in monitoring boarders’ welfare.
Boarding Parents and boarders are also made aware of the Health and Safety Policy and the aspects which apply to life in the Boarding House, knowing to refer any concerns to the Bursary, School Nurse or Deputy Head as applicable.
House Parents or the Headmaster should receive notice in writing for a request for leave of absence, even in the event of attending an evening club. Pupils are expected to return by bed time and the doors are locked by 9pm. In the event that a boarder cannot be located or absence has not been authorised, staff will follow the procedure laid out in the Missing Child Policy. The constant routine supervision throughout boarding time minimises the risk of a boarder becoming ‘missing’ or ‘lost’. Head counts are taken regularly, with qualified staff supervising at all times. Similar procedures are in place for the morning routine with door alarms in position overnight to limit risk. In the event that a pupil is absent without the House parents being aware, House staff will inform immediately the member of staff on duty or after that time, inform the Headmaster and/or his wife immediately to that effect. At that point, the procedure detailed above is invoked.
Context
Boarding accommodation is on the first floor of the original school building which is also home to The Headmaster and his wife and a member of staff living on the boarders’ landing.
There is accommodation for up to 16 pupils in two dormitories with separate rooms for the medical examination and treatment of pupils and washing and toilet facilities. Pupils’ friendship groups are taken into account for sharing dormitories and a flexible framework exists to cater for allocations and changes from time to time. The procedure is monitored by the Houseparents who ensure that everything is fair and each pupil has an equal opportunity. The pupils are then encouraged to personalize their areas with appropriate personal photos, pictures and posters, as well as carry out ‘housekeeping duties’ in order to keep their area clean and tidy.
The boarding places are generally taken up by pupils at the older end of the school, the 11 to 13 year old age group, prior to moving on to their senior schools. However, younger boarders can be taken if space permits and in discussion with the Headmaster and/or his wife.
Boarders experience increasing levels of responsibility and are challenged to become more independent through structured and sequential programmes within the boarding routines. Every boarder has duties to ensure the smooth running of the house. These range from tidying up the bathroom after use to carrying laundry to the kitchen or making hot chocolate. They are thereby enabled to develop genuine self-confidence, community spirit and teamwork, as well as self-reliance.
There is no boarding at Birchfield at the weekend, so the boarders spend four nights per week at school and three nights per week at home during the school term.
Discipline and the Use of Rewards and Sanctions
The boarders are aware of the expectations of pupils in the School and are encouraged to display positive behaviour in the Boarding House as well. They follow the Behaviour policy, but also have recourse to an additional system which recognises their individual and collective responsibility. Any punishments are never excessive and are designed in the School’s policy to be fair and appropriate. Serious incidents are recorded by the School in liaison with the Deputy Head.
Boarding staff liaise openly and regularly with teaching staff to communicate issues arising. It is important that any behaviour issues within the school ‘working’ day are not carried over into boarding time. Every pupil starts a ‘clean sheet’ in the evening although is free to discuss any concerns or worries with House staff.
Staffing
Boarding is managed and supervised by qualified and experienced adults and staff are recruited in line with the School’s policy on Recruitment and Selection of Staff, with reference to Standard 14 of the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools. Residential Staff have a Duty Room on the dormitory landing and are on duty in The House at all times when boarders are in residence. The Headmaster and his wife are ‘on call’ at all times by interconnecting door and bell. They are assisted by members of the teaching staff each evening on a rota basis.
Medical care is under the supervision of the Headmaster’s wife who liaises closely with the School Matron, a qualified nurse, each day. House Staff are readily contactable by the pupils at all times and whilst on duty the welfare, safety and security of the pupils is their prime concern.
Responding to Complaints
Complaints by boarders or their parents are followed as laid out in the Complaints Policy, but should include a letter in writing to the School in the first instance. If parents are not satisfied with the School’s response, they should write to :
Independent Education and Boarding Team at DFE
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road
Darlington DL3 9BG
Email :
Telephone: 01325 735 304
Copies of the Complaints Policy are available as hard copies from the School Office or can be viewed on the school website.
Boarding Information
Further information relating to the daily routine and requirements for boarders may be found in the ‘Boarders’ Handbook’.
Reviewed April 2014 Page 4