Overview
The courses at ELC Schools are primarily aimed at adults aged 18 and over but we also welcome students under the age of 18. The minimum age on most brochure courses is 16. On occasion, ELC Brighton, ELC Chester and ELC Eastbourne accept closed groups of students aged from 12 to 16. These groups are accompanied by group leaders. ELC Chester also offers a Summer Course for Teenagers (ages 13-16) at a different site at Queen’s school in Chester. ELC has a responsibility to provide a safe & healthy learning environment for all our students and staff but especially for students under the age of 18 and vulnerable adults.
Students aged 16 and 17 booked on adult courses
Most brochure courses at ELC Brighton, ELC Chester and ELC Eastbourne, with the exception of the Summer Course for Teenagers 13-16 in Chester, are primarily aimed at adults aged over 18 but we do welcome students aged 16 and 17. Our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy document describes how we care for students aged under 18 but you should note that for students aged 16 and 17 booked on adult courses:
- ELC does not provide 24 hour supervision
- students aged 16 and 17 will study in classes with adults
- students will travel between homestay and school unsupervised
- students will be unsupervised outside lesson times and the time spent at homestay
- on full-day weekend excursions to other destinations, students will normally have about 2 to 3 hours free time unsupervised for shopping
On occasion we may accept 15-year olds in international classes provided they are part of a group with a group leader.
Students aged 13-16 booked on the Summer Course for Teenagers in Chester
The Summer Course for Teenagers is aimed at junior students aged 13-16.
- students study in environment where there are no adult students
- students must stay in homestay unless they are travelling and staying in Chester with their families
- students will normally travel between homestay and school unsupervised
- on Mondays and Tuesdays activity leaders show students the way from the bus station to the school in the mornings, and then from the school to the bus station in the afternoons
- students are expected to have dinner at their homestay, usually around 6:30 p.m.
- students must be at their homestay in the evening by their 8:00 p.m. curfew
- students will always be supervised during lessons, afternoon and evening activities and at homestay
- on full-day weekend excursions to other destinations, students will always be supervised
- students have a very busy programme and limited unsupervised free time
Parental agreement
Before arrival at ELC, we require the parents/guardian and student aged under 18 to sign and send to ELC a “Parental Agreement” to confirm that they understand the systems and rules that we have in place for the welfare of under 18s and the level of supervision that we provide for under 18s. ELC will initially speak to the student about minor breaking of the rules. ELC will inform the parents in the case that the student is regularly not abiding by the agreed terms of the Parental Agreement, or immediately in the case of a serious breaking of the rules. We will send a webform to complete but you can see the agreement questions here
Accommodation
In the case of students under 18, we normally require that they stay in homestay accommodation (half-board) for 16 and 17 year olds and full-board for under 16s. Alternative arrangements where the student will have adult supervision, such as staying with a family friend, will be accepted provided we have written confirmation of the arrangements from the parents at the time of the enrolment. We would not expect individual students aged under 18 to stay unsupervised in a hotel or guest house.
For more details about our child protection and safeguarding, including the staff code of conduct and our procedures for caring for students aged under 18, please see