Health and Safety Policy

We offer award-winning blended learning courses in partnership with Mindful Education, prviding the perfect combination of online learning alongside regular lessons on campus. 

Our range of flexible, Online and On Campus part-time professional courses offers the best of both worlds, requiring less time in college than traditional classroom-only courses, while providing all the benefits of being part of a group that meets regularly with a college tutor. Meaning you can choose how, when and where you want to study. Click here to find out more about blended learning.  

Online and On Campus – the best of both worlds

Online, you will study award-winning video lessons, which are available on demand, and can be viewed from your phone, tablet or computer – meaning you can choose how, when and where you want to study. Each lesson lasts for around 45 minutes and is accompanied by animations and motion graphics to bring concepts to life. Practice questions, downloadable lesson materials and interactive case studies help to enhance the learning experience further and learners should expect to spend between 3 and 6 hours studying independently online each week (depending on your level of study).

On campus, you benefit from regular classes with a college tutor – without having to commit to attending multiple evenings each week. Your tutor will review what you have learnt during your online lessons and will be on hand to provide guidance on progress and assessment. Regular discussion with classmates will help to reinforce key points while also providing the additional support and motivation that comes from being part of a group.

"Blended learning means I can have a good work-life-family balance. If I didn’t study in this way, then I wouldn’t be able to do my qualifications." 
Faye McPhillips, Online and On Campus student

Funding available

We can offer a range of funding and loans to help you cover the cost of your study:
• Level 2 – our courses are part-funded, significantly reducing the cost
• Level 3 – accounting courses are fully funded for eligible learners (those without a full Level 3 qualification or who are earning less than the national living wage)
• Level 3 and Level 4 - Advanced Leaner Loans are available and you will not have to pay anything back until you're earning over £26,575 a year.

Please click here for more information about the financial support we offer learners.

Our Online and On Campus Courses:

West Thames College recognises its statutory duty and responsibility to safeguard and promote the safety and welfare of children, young people and those adult deemed ‘vulnerable’ and is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students, staff and those who have direct links with the organisation including offsite students, apprentices and sub-contracting providers. The college actively promotes the positive welfare of all students, those with additional needs, mental health and physical health and expects all teaching and support staff, volunteers, WEX and partner agencies to adhere to these practices at all times.

To ensure all our students are safe we:

• Practice safe staff recruitment and check the suitability of staff and volunteers that work with young students or vulnerable adults
• Raise awareness of child protection, vulnerable adults and safeguarding through staff training sessions
• Implement policy and procedures for identifying and reporting cases or suspected cases of abuse against a young person or vulnerable adult
• Support young students or vulnerable adults who have been subjected to abuse
• Listen to and support our students to ensure their learning environment is safe and welcoming
• Ensuring that our students are safe in their personal lives and in the community is critical to everything we do. The college will be providing continued advice and support to students who are considered to be vulnerable and for those who receive free college meals and bursaries.

Safeguarding and Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism

Prevent is part of the safeguarding process:

• it is a safety net against radicalisation. It aims to intervene early, to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
• Prevent deals with all terrorist ideologies, from Islamist to Extreme Right-Wing.
• Prevent is delivered at a local level by experts who understand the risks in their communities. Partners include local authorities, police, education, healthcare and charities.
• For people who are susceptible to radicalisation, Prevent can provide personalised interventions to help them move away from dangerous ideologies.

Contacting the Safeguarding Teams

If for any reason, you feel unsafe whether inside or outside of college or would like to report a safeguarding concern please contact a member of the safeguarding team.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm

Out of hours
If there is a life threatening situation, please call 999 or 101 non-emergency

Kooth is an online counselling and emotional well-being support service for children and young people aged 11 to 25. Kooth is a completely safe and anonymous website where you can go to gain advice, support and guidance from counsellors 365 days a year.

The experienced counsellors, moderated message forums and magazines can offer emotional support to you around a wide range of issues, from having a bad day or falling out with friends, to more serious issues such as bullying, stress, anxiety, depression, family relationships, sexuality, eating disorders, self-harm, abuse etc.

They can also support you if you are on the waiting list for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or if you do not meet the CAMHS criteria.

Visit Website:  https://www.kooth.com

As temperatures drop and fuel bills rise, we understand that this winter will be challenging for both staff and students.

Hounslow Council and partners are teaming up to provide spaces and places for residents to keep warm and to keep the bills down.

Visit Website: 

https://shorturl.at/tQR12

Domestic Violence Support

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/cover-your-tracks-online/

Police Contact

https://www.police.uk/pu/contact-us/

NSPCC

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/

Opening hours

We are available during normal business hours:
9.00am – 5.00pm (Monday – Thursday)
9.00am – 4.30pm (Friday).

Safeguarding Team

Samantha Louisy Chair of Operations (DSL)
Beverley McGuire Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Jazz Sidhu Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Out of hours emergency safeguarding contacts

If there is a life threatening situation:

• Ring for an ambulance and/or contact the police on 999 or 101 non-emergency
• If you think a child, young person or vulnerable adult is being abused or mistreated or you have concerns about a child, young person or vulnerable adult’s well-being you should call the Duty Team at the relevant local authority. The emergency contact details are available on the Local Authorities website.
  
  Click here for a list of external organisation contacts.