Policies

LINK19 College has a comprehensive set of policies to help guide staff and learners.

A copy of LINK19 College policies are available on request.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Protection

Staff at LINK19 College have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, in the same way that school staff do. College’s also have a duty to protect vulnerable adults who may study at their premises and who have similar legislative protection.

The LINK19 College Lead has designated responsibility for safeguarding and promotes an ethos of safety for learners and staff.

All LINK19 College staff have a responsibility to be familiar with college’s safeguarding procedures and to report any disclosures or concerns they have to the Designated Safeguarding Adult Lead (DSAL). Regular safeguarding training is provided to all staff.

Kent Local Education Authority places a duty on Headteachers to report any unexplained or repeated injury or concern to Social Services including non-accidental injury, severe physical neglect, emotional abuse and/or sexual abuse. The procedure is intended to safeguard learners who may be at risk and schools are encouraged to take the attitude that where there are grounds for investigation. Whenever it is necessary to report an incident to Social Services we will make every endeavour to contact parents to inform them that a referral is being made. It is not a procedure that is undertaken without a great deal of thought. It does mean that the Designated Safeguarding Lead may risk upsetting some parents by reporting a case which, on investigation, proves unfounded. In such circumstances, it is hoped that parents will accept that the Designated Safeguarding Adult Lead has the learner’s best interest at heart. I am sure that we are all aware of sad cases reported in the press where incidents have not been reported and a child / learner has been subjected to unnecessary suffering and we would all wish to avoid any possibility of such an occurrence.

Special Educational Needs

In response to the SEND Code of Practice 2014, LINK19 College has developed a SEND Information Report and Policy for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, that contains a comprehensive description of the special needs that we hope to provide for, and what systems and resources we have put in place to meet the needs identified. If you would like a copy of this, or any other statutory or non-statutory policy the provision has in place, please contact the LINK19 office.

Anti-Bullying

LINK19 College and its board of directors seek to ensure that bullying in any form does not happen. We are committed to providing a caring, safe and friendly environment for everyone. Bullying incidents are very rare, due to a very positive ethos in the College and the high level of care and support. We encourage our learners to be kind, to develop respect for each other with a great emphasis on encouraging learners to work and learn together co-operatively. Parents and families have an important part to play in helping to deal with bullying. If you are worried that a learner is bullying or being bullied in college, please contact us immediately, so that any incident can be dealt with swiftly. All incidents of bullying are investigated, followed through and reported to the board of directors.

Supporting Learners with Medical Needs

The provision has a comprehensive policy on administration of medicines in college that is available upon request. Learners may bring medicines into college; however, we do require learners / parents / carers to provide written instructions from the G.P. or pharmacist which should be in the original container which includes the name of the learner, name of the medicine, dose and timing of the medicine and an emergency contact number of the parent / carer. Medicines will be stored safely. Where medicine or tablets are prescribed ‘3 times per day’ the lunchtime dose can be given in college. The member of staff also needs to be given written permission before they can administer any medication.

Learners with complex medical needs require a Healthcare plan written jointly by learners, parents, staff and medical practitioners.

Learners who require inhalers may keep these inhalers within the LINK centre however these should be used under the direction of a member of staff. Learners with sickness and diarrhoea should not attend College until the illness has passed, and they have been free of symptoms for 24 hours.

Equality and Diversity including Public Sector Equality Duty

LINK19 College is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity and to diversity in everything it does. The college embraces diversity and will seek to promote the benefits of diversity in all of its activities. LINK19 College will seek to develop a culture that reflects that belief.

The college will be an equality and diversity champion and leader in:

Promoting equality and diversity;
Challenging and eradicating discrimination; and
Providing responsive and accessible services.

Within the overall framework of its statement of its vision, aims and values, the college is committed to the principle and practice of equal opportunities and celebrates the diversity of people. Without recognising and, most importantly, valuing differences between people, there cannot be true equality of opportunity. Moreover, the college promotes individual life-enhancing opportunities that respect all people.

We aim to encourage our learners to respect individual differences. Through the LINK19 College curriculum we foster attitudes and ways of behaving which respect individuals. LINK19 College is opposed to any forms of discrimination and it seeks to build a partnership with learners, staff, directors and parents to fight prejudice both in college and in the community as a whole. Staff ensure that all aspects of diverse cultures and religions are viewed positively and seek opportunities to make use of materials that will support this. We are committed to include all learners in all LINK19 College activities where this may be managed without risk to health and safety.

The provision monitors its policies, procedures and practices in the light of its duties towards protected characteristics such as but not limited to ethnicity, disability, beliefs, sexuality, age and gender.

Promoting British Values

At LINK19 College we work hard to promote values which ensure that learners develop a strong sense of social and moral responsibility.

We want to prepare learners for life in modern Britain by developing an understanding of British Values. These values underpin the work we do as they are embedded and promoted within our curriculum and through other experiences that learners receive throughout the college year.

As a college, we are responsible for providing a curriculum which:

Is broad and balanced, complies with statutory requirements and provides a wide range of subjects which prepare learners for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in Modern Britain.
Actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance.
Promotes tolerance of and respect for people of all faiths, no faith and of different cultures through the effective spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of learners.

As a college we believe that we allow our learners to develop and recognise right from wrong, resolve conflicts, understand and explore diversity, develop a moral code, understand others’ beliefs and understand how communities function. These qualities will prepare them for their next steps and allow them to participate fully in life in Modern Britain.

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. At LINK19 College we reinforce these values as part of our learning and through regular learning time. We promote these values in the following ways:

Mutual Respect and Tolerance:

This is achieved through enhancing learners understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Tutorials and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in within the curriculum.

Members of different faiths, cultures, including those where English is an additional language, or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the College. As part of our ethos with tolerance we promote the core value of ‘Respect’. Learners are part of discussions related to what this means and how it is shown. Respect is reinforced through classroom and college rules.

Democracy:

Democracy is a fundamental part of life at LINK19 College. learners have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Learner Committee. Learners also have the opportunity to develop their understanding of the democratic process when working together in class activities.

Individual Liberty:

At LINK19 College, learners are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a college we educate and provide boundaries for vulnerable adults to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Learners are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely and responsibly. Learners are included in the choices that they make through identifying challenge in their learning, understanding how their behaviour affects those around them and attending extracurricular activities.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the college, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular college days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through tutorials. Learners are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

At LINK19 College, we are dedicated to promoting values which ensure that our learners develop a strong sense of social and moral responsibility. It is our aim that all learners are able to contribute effectively to the wider community, using the skills and knowledge they have acquired during their time at LINK19 College. As well as being fully engaged in their learning experience, we want them to become responsible individuals who are able to think critically and question appropriately.

We will take action to:

Embed different materials about British Values into different curriculum areas
Ensure that all our learners have a voice that is listened to and valued and demonstrate how democracy works
Use opportunities such as general elections and current affairs to promote British Values and help learners to argue and defend different points of view
Develop and encourage extra-curricular activities amongst learners which promote fundamental British Values
Actively consult with our learners to gather their views and feedback on issues that affect learners
Encourage learners to become responsible adults and to actively participate in their own learning and development.

Staff at LINK19 College promote equality of opportunity and diversity in teaching and learning, using naturally occurring opportunities in lessons and the college environment to further raise awareness of British Values and Prevent.

At LINK19 College, learners will encounter these values throughout everyday college life and the community it produces. As well as actively promoting these values to our learners, we are embedding these into other areas of the colleges work and community.