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Advice from Government Departments

An excellent range of advice is now available on various websites covering a range of issues which affect private colleges:

Fire and Health and Safety

The Health and Safety Executive website www.hse.gov.uk gives comprehensive advice on good practice and legal requirements.  The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority has a very helpful website, which gives links to downloadable copies of legislation and other sources of advice: www.london-fire.gov.uk.

Employment

Institutions requiring guidance on safe and legal employment procedures are strongly recommended to consult the website of the Arbitration and Conciliation Advisory Service, www.acas.org, which includes sample written statement, model disciplinary and grievance procedures and pro-forma employment documentation.

Child Protection

In April 2001 responsibility for the disclosure of those debarred from employment in schools was passed to the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). CRB may be contacted through their website: www.disclosure.gov.uk.

Disability

With effect from 1 September 2005 educational institutions are required to make “reasonable adjustments to premises if there are physical features that place disabled students or prospective students at a substantial disadvantage”.  Further details can be found on www.disability.gov.uk or on the website of the Disability Rights Commission, www.drc-gb.org .

Copyright

BAC 's inspectors are required to confirm that colleges either hold a licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd (CLA) or take steps to ensure that no copyright-protected material is reproduced within the college. Details can be found on www.cla.co.uk .

Visas

Guidance on which students require visas and the process of gaining visas can be found on the UK Visas website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk . The UKCOSA website www.ukcosa.org.uk has advice on visas and a wide range of issues concerning the rights and welfare of overseas students.

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office can be contacted at indpublicenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gov.uk