Information for students, parents and agents
Safeguarding
Safeguarding our students is at the very centre of our ethos. inlingua Cheltenham has a named Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy, four fully trained staff in our Welfare Team, a 24/7 emergency telephone number for students and parents, and DBS checks on every member of staff and every adult over 18 in a homestay. Our policies apply to all students, whatever their age or vulnerability — not only to younger learners.
If a child is in immediate danger
Call the police on 999 straight away. Do not wait to contact the school first.
For anything urgent involving an inlingua Cheltenham student that is not a 999 emergency, use our 24-hour emergency number. Every student and parent is given it before arrival, and reception will give it to you on request: +44 (0)1242 250 493
Our approach
Every person who comes to our school matters. Their contributions are each unique, and each is recognised.
All inlingua Cheltenham staff are on hand at any time for students, under our open door policy. If anyone would like to discuss any issue, the staffboard in the entrance hall and our Safeguarding Team Posters let students choose who they feel they can trust to speak with. That choice matters: the person a student wants to talk to is not always the person an organisation would nominate.
We lead by example. Everyone at the school is spoken to and treated with dignity and respect. We listen, we encourage academically, and our pastoral care is backed up with age-appropriate language and respect for privacy.
Who is responsible
Safeguarding at inlingua Cheltenham is led by two named members of the senior team. Any student, parent, agent, host or member of staff can contact them directly.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Wendy Makise
Principal
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mitzi Powles
Vice Principal and Academic Director
Behind them sits a Welfare Team, and every other member of staff is informed of and understands the safeguarding process. To reach the Designated Safeguarding Lead, telephone +44 (0)1242 250 493 or email info@inlingua-cheltenham.co.uk marking your message for the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
What we do
For added reassurance for students and their parents, inlingua Cheltenham ensures the following.
A 24/7 emergency telephone number
Parents and students can reach a member of inlingua staff at any hour, on any day, including during school holidays and at weekends.
External professional training
Our staff receive outside professional safeguarding training, and we subscribe to Gloucestershire's Safeguarding Board, which applies to all educational institutions working with young people in the county.
A trained Welfare Team
Four members of staff are fully trained in safeguarding, and all staff are informed and aware of the safeguarding process and how to act on a concern.
DBS checks on staff and hosts
Every member of inlingua staff, and every adult over the age of 18 living in a homestay household, is DBS checked, with references obtained to show that they are suitable to work with children and young adults.
Homes we have visited ourselves
Hosts are found and inspected by our own accommodation officers against British Council standards. We do not subcontract placement to an outside agency.
How to raise a concern
If something is worrying you — about yourself, about another student, about a host, or about a member of our staff — please tell someone. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need to have evidence. Reporting a worry that turns out to be nothing is always better than staying silent about something that turns out to matter.
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Speak to any member of staff
Our open door policy means you can approach anyone you feel comfortable with. Use the staffboard in the entrance hall or the Safeguarding Team Posters to choose. Whoever you speak to will know what to do next.
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Or go straight to the Designated Safeguarding Lead
Contact Wendy Makise, or Mitzi Powles as Deputy, directly. Telephone +44 (0)1242 250 493 or email the school marking your message for the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
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Out of hours, use the 24-hour number
Students and parents are given the emergency number before arrival. It is answered by a member of inlingua staff at any time of day or night.
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You can also go outside the school
You do not have to come to us first, and you do not have to tell us that you have contacted someone else. The organisations below are independent of inlingua Cheltenham.
Independent help and reporting
If you would rather speak to someone outside the school, or you are not satisfied with how we have responded, these organisations can help.
| Organisation | When to use it | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| PoliceEmergency | A child or adult is in immediate danger, or a crime is happening now | 999 |
| PoliceNon-emergency | You are concerned about someone's safety but it is not an emergency | 101 |
| Gloucestershire Children and Families Helpdesk | You are worried that someone under 18 is being abused or neglected. Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm | 01452 426565 childrenshelpdesk@ gloucestershire.gov.uk |
| Gloucestershire Emergency Duty Team | The same concern, outside office hours | 01452 614194 |
| Gloucestershire Adult Helpdesk | You are worried that an adult is being neglected, harmed or abused | 01452 426868 |
| NSPCC Helpline | Advice for adults worried about a child. Confidential, and you can stay anonymous | 0808 800 5000 |
| Childline | For anyone under 19 who wants to talk about anything. Free and confidential | 0800 1111 |
Telephone numbers checked August 2026. If you are calling from outside the UK, dial +44 and drop the first 0 — for example +44 1452 426565. Emergency numbers 999 and 101 only work inside the UK.
Students aged 16 and over
Please read this before booking
Students aged 16 and older who are enroled in adult group classes are treated as adults by the school. This means they do not receive special supervision during their studies, and they are expected to manage their own transport to and from school.
If your son or daughter is 16 or 17 and you have any questions about what this means in practice, please contact us before you book: info@inlingua-cheltenham.co.uk. We would much rather have that conversation in advance than have anyone arrive expecting something different.
Our safeguarding policies still apply in full to these students, as they do to every student regardless of age. The distinction is about day-to-day supervision, not about protection.
Common questions
Who is the Designated Safeguarding Lead at inlingua Cheltenham?
Wendy Makise, Vice Principal and Academic Director. The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mitzi Powles, Assistant Academic Director. Either can be contacted through the school on +44 (0)1242 250 493 or by email.
Are hosts checked?
Yes. Every adult over the age of 18 living in a homestay household is DBS checked and references are obtained. Homes are found and inspected by our own accommodation officers against British Council standards rather than through an outside agency.
Do safeguarding policies only apply to children?
No. Our safeguarding policies are in place for all students, no matter their age or vulnerability. Adult students are covered too, and the Gloucestershire Adult Helpdesk number above is there for concerns about an adult.
Can I speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead before I book?
Yes. Parents and agents are welcome to ask questions about our safeguarding arrangements before making a booking, and to request our policies in full. Email the school and mark your message for the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
What happens after I report a concern?
The member of staff you speak to will pass the concern to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, who decides what action is needed and whether the concern must be referred to Gloucestershire's children's or adults' services or to the police. We will keep you informed as far as we properly can, though there are limits on what can be shared while a matter is being looked into.
Can I report something anonymously?
You can tell us as much or as little about yourself as you wish, and the NSPCC Helpline above accepts anonymous reports from adults worried about a child. Giving your name usually helps, because it lets us come back to you with questions, but it is not a condition of being listened to.
Our full safeguarding policies
Our safeguarding policies are not just in place for younger learners, but for all students no matter their age or vulnerability. You can read the full document below.
Reading the document
Use the arrows to turn the pages, or the controls to zoom, search and download. If the document does not load, or you would prefer a plain copy by email, contact info@inlingua-cheltenham.co.uk and we will send one.
Questions about safeguarding?
Students, parents, agents and hosts are all welcome to ask. If you would like to speak to our Designated Safeguarding Lead before booking, or to request our policies in another format, just ask.
inlingua Cheltenham is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK and is a member of English UK. This page was last updated in August 2026. Our safeguarding policies are reviewed annually.