National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools

1.	Welfare Procedures
2.	Organisation and Management
3.	Welfare Support
4.	Further support
5.	Staff
6.	Premises

Introduction
This is a summary of the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Boarding Schools. The standards are used by Ofsted when carrying out welfare inspections of boarding schools. They are intended to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who live (board) at a boarding school. The standards apply to all mainstream boarding schools, for pupils up to the age of 18, in England. There is a separate set of standards for residential special school (please see link). Boarding schools who provide accommodation for more than 295 days a year, or intend to do so, are now required to register as a children's home with Ofsted. Please see link for more information on Boarding Schools NMS.

1. Welfare Procedures.

School statement. The school should have a statement, available to boarders, staff and parents, which sets out the actual boarding practice at the school.

Bullying. The school should have a policy on countering bullying, including a definition of bullying, which boarders, parents and staff know about. There are no initiation ceremonies that intend to cause pain, anxiety or humiliation.

Child protection. The school has and follows a policy on child protection and how to respond to allegations or suspicions of abuse. Senior pupils given positions of responsibility over other pupils are aware of how to respond should they receive any allegations of abuse.

Discipline, punishments, rewards and restraint. The school should have a policy that deals with these matters. Staff or boarders use no unacceptable punishments. Disciplinary powers of prefects are clear defined. Major punishments are recorded. A physical restraint is only used to prevent injury to self or other or serious damage. Incidents are recorded in writing.

Complaints. Boarders know how to make a complaint to the school or contact Ofsted. Serious complaints and their outcomes are recorded and reviewed.

Action is taken in relation to any concentration or trend in recorded punishments, complaints or accidents.