Welfare

Welfare and supervision are of the highest importance at Heathfield: your daughter’s safety, comfort and well-being are a priority. 

In addition to a staff to student ratio of 1:6, we have a dedicated team of pastoral staff led by a Senior Housemother from the main school staff and a small team of Nurses with many years of experience working in schools as paediatric nurses.

One of the strengths of Heathfield is that some former students go on to become Helpers, and the very best even join our staff team when they are older. These young women have a special understanding of our courses and greet the girls, help them to settle in and keep an eye on all our boarders throughout their stay. They also act as Monitors on duty in the building and grounds to help guide the girls and supervise break and mealtimes.

Medical Care

Heathfield has a medical centre and sick bay area where a school nurse is on duty throughout the day. The school is also registered with a local doctors’ practice. There is an Urgent Care Centre only two miles away and there are three major hospitals in the surrounding area, one of which has a paediatric emergency department. Local parents are always contacted immediately by the nurse if necessary.

Security And Supervision

The school has front and back gates and all doors to the school are security doors which close automatically and are opened by staff. Staff and Helpers wear Heathfield Summer Camp T-Shirts and coloured lanyards for identification.
Parents must sign their daughters in and out and must send written notification if another person is to drop off or collect their child. No girl may leave the school at any time unless with a responsible adult.

Each activity has an appropriate ratio of staff to students based on risk assessments and best practice.

Safeguarding

Heathfield staff have been recruited according to the UK Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education procedures. This means they have undergone UK or overseas vetting checks to show they have no criminal record, have completed a thorough selection process and provided two written and verbal references. All Summer Staff undergo an enhanced DBS check as standard.