The British Council is committed to child protection. Centres that teach students under 18 must meet the safeguarding standard to gain or retain accreditation. We offer a collection of guidelines and supporting materials for centres that work with under-18s,
Guidance on Inspection Criteria For detailed information on safeguarding inspection criteria, please refer to the Inspection Criteria and Guidance document.
Guide to Writing a Safeguarding Policy This comprehensive guide is an excellent starting point for centres drafting their safeguarding policy.
Safeguarding Training A free online training resource is available to help language centres raise awareness of safeguarding among adults who have contact with children in English language courses and related services. It provides an introduction to safeguarding practices in language centres.
Guidance on Handling Disclosure from a Child Dealing with a child who reports abuse can be challenging and stressful. This document offers practical advice on how to handle such situations.
International Criminal Records Check Directory This directory provides guidance on obtaining criminal record checks from countries outside the UK.
Police Check Letter Some countries require an official document or letter to support an application for a police certificate of good conduct or a criminal record certificate. The Police Check Letter explains these requirements. Centres can forward this letter to their agents to assist with the process.
There is no need to have documents translated. If you agree with your agents to verify the checks, they can do so without translations. Accreditation UK inspectors will not require copies of group leaders' police checks. Instead, they will need documentation between the ELT provider and the agency confirming that the checks have been completed.
Parental Consent Template An optional template is available to help accredited centres create their version to meet the requirements of criterion S3.