Setting

Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0300 123 1231 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Ms E Johnson Principal Ruskin Mill College The Fisheries Horsley Stroud GL6 0PL

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Ofsted 2010 11 best practice survey: safeguarding in colleges

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of your staff, during my visit on 27 September 2010 to look at your provision for safeguarding students.

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Ofsted 2010 11 best practice survey: safeguarding in colleges

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our publication about best practice in safeguarding in colleges. The publication will include case studies about individual providers. If Ruskin Mill is included as a case study, you will have an opportunity to comment before publication. Individual institutions will not be identified in the main text without their consent.

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Features of good practice:

 a strong commitment to safeguarding shown by senior leaders and by all staff throughout the college  the students, their safety and personal development at the heart of Ruskin Mill’s culture, understood well by all staff  the exceptionally well-managed risks associated with activities within the practical curriculum and the students’ living and working environment  students valued individually and given high levels of personal support to develop their self-confidence and independence so that they learn to manage the risks in their daily lives and make informed choices about healthy and safe living  strong team work which ensures high levels of communication between staff and ensures comprehensive support to students to safeguard them  the careful attention to safeguarding requirements within the thorough staff recruitment and selection processes  all staff’s, managers’ and students’ good training in health and safety, and

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Features of good practice:

understanding in and implementing safeguarding requirements.

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Areas for development:

 continuing to make full use of all opportunities to communicate with students to help them recognise the many actions that are being taken to manage challenging behaviour  the need to keep the promotion of internet safety needs under constant review and strengthening its advice and guidance to students on how to keep themselves safe while using the internet outside the college as already recognised by the college.

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Areas for development:

I hope that these observations are useful as you continue to develop safeguarding provision within the college.

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Areas for development:

As explained previously, a copy of this letter will be published on the Ofsted website. It will also be available to the team for your next college inspection.

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