National Minimum Standards for Boarding 2022

In summary, the key changes are:

• a restructuring of the standards into separate parts A - G, each of which has a key aim:
  • • Part A - Governance, Leadership and Management
    • Part B - Boarding Provision
    • Part C - Boarders' Health and Wellbeing
    • Part D - Safeguarding
    • Part E - Health and Safety
    • Part F - Boarders' Rights, Advocacy and Complaints
    • Part G - Promoting Positive Behaviour and Relationships

• a raising of the threshold - by the replacement of 'suitable' or 'adequate' with 'good' as the measure of sufficient quality of provision in many of the standards

• greater emphasis on the individual needs of children

• the separation of standards on bullying and behaviour and safeguarding and health and safety

• the revision of standards promoting positive behaviour and safeguarding to bring them in line with changes to KCSIE

• the introduction of two new standards - preventing bullying and promoting good relationships

• the introduction of a separate standard on Educational Guardianship, which includes existing and new provisions and links to the recently updated BSA Boarding Briefing School's paper, revised by us on behalf of the BSA.

While the new Educational Guardianship standard is welcome and reflects wider acceptance of its significance to pupil welfare to international pupils in particular, the issue of the regulation of educational guardians remains unaddressed, despite IICSA's identification of educational guardianship as a core component of effective safeguarding. The DfE has acknowledged this and confirmed plans to give further thought to its policy position on the subject, which is likely to be addressed in further consultations on amendments to the NMSB, KCSIE and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

For more information please contact Kris Robbetts on 07795 662 796, or complete the form below.