National Minimum Standards for Accommodation of Students Under 18 By Further Education Colleges

1.	Welfare
2.	Managing residential accommodation and welfare
3.	Welfare support
4.	Staffing
5.	Premises
6.	Lodgings

Introduction.
This is a summary of the National Minimum Standards used by Ofsted when carrying out welfare inspection of FE colleges that provide accommodation for students under the age of 18. The standards are there to safeguard and promote the welfare of the students as described above. They do not apply to students aged 18 or over. At present FE colleges are inspected by Ofsted once every three years. This summary gives examples of some of things contained in the standards. For more detailed information please see the pdf version of the national Minimum standards accessible from this page.

1. Welfare
The college should provide students, parents and staff with details of how they intend to deal with student welfare, accommodation and support.

Bullying. Students should be protected from bullying and harassment. The college should have a procedure, which sets out how the college will respond to students reports of bullying.

Student protection - responses to allegations. The college should have a policy showing how it will deal with allegations or suspicions of abuse. Allegations (or suspicions) should be reported to the local social services department within 24 hours for them to investigate matters, rather than college.

Discipline and restraint. No excessive or unreasonable sanctions should be used. Significant sanctions should be recorded. Physical intervention should only be used to prevent injury to self or others or serious damage.

Complaints. Students should know how to complain and how to contact an inspector. Major complaints should be recorded and where appropriate involve someone independent of the college.

Under-age drinking etc. Under-age drinking and substance misuse is dealt with appropriately by the college. No person under 18 works in a college bar providing alcohol.

Health records. Adequate records are kept detailing health and welfare needs of students. These records are confidential.