We received additional guidance from government late last night regarding school and college closures, and expectations for supporting vulnerable students and the children of critical workers.

Having assessed the current situation, we have reached the point where it is in the best interests of our community to start transitioning to online learning as a precautionary measure because of COVID-19. We have a significant number of staff and students, who have been advised to follow guidelines on social distancing because of either age and/or pre-existing health conditions. This means they should significantly limit their face-to-face interaction with others. 

Within current Government guidance, the College will remain open, but face-to-face teaching will pause from close of play on Wednesday 18^th March 2020. Thursday 19^th and Friday 20^th March 2020 will be designated as staff development days with the exception of planned exams. Online learning will commence from Monday 23^rd March 2020. We are currently working through the arrangements for individual courses. We have put in place arrangements for those in receipt of Free School Meals to access financial support and have allocated teams to keep in touch with our most vulnerable learners. 

We have spoken with our local MP, Robert Halfon, who is in full support of the measures we are taking to safeguard our community. 

We do not envisage face-to-face teaching restarting before the start of next term at the earliest. We understand that this is a difficult time for students who are preparing for examinations and formal assessments, but the current public health situation is unprecedented. Our sector is working closely with the Department for Education to ensure there is clarity regarding arrangements for the Summer assessment period. 

We will keep you up to date as the situation changes through the News section of our website. 

Updated guidance for education settings on coronavirus (COVID-19)

Today, the Department for Education and Public Health England have issued updated guidance for education settings on COVID-19. 

Current advice remains in place: no education or children’s social care setting should close in response to a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.

What you need to know:

• staff, young people and children should stay at home if they are unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature to avoid spreading infection to others. Otherwise they should attend education or work as normal
• if staff, young people or children become unwell on site with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature they will be be sent home
• clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces more often than usual using your standard cleaning products
• ensure you wash your hands for 20 seconds, more often than usual, with soap and water or hand sanitiser and catch coughs and sneezes in tissues

A short video on hand washing can be found here

The updated guidance can be found in full here

The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the impact of closing schools on both children’s education and on the workforce would be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be. Decisions on future advice to education or children’s social care settings will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.

We are continuing to follow advice from Public Health England in respect of Coronavirus.

You will have no doubt seen the news about early years, school and college closures from next Monday 23rd March 2020, other than to particular vulnerable groups and key worker children. 

Educational establishments all over the country are currently working through the implications and awaiting to receive further details from government. We do not currently have guidance on what constitutes a key worker or arrangements for vulnerable groups. Please bear with us, as we will be unable to answer any questions until we have received further details.

As soon as we have these we will send information out to parents, carers and students. For those students who were due to sit exams and take assessments, there will be plans from government in place for you to get your qualifications. We are awaiting further information and will share this as soon as available.  It is still our current intention, as communicated earlier in the week, to move study online from Monday 23rd March - keep learning and stay resilient. 

APPRENTICES

For those apprentices who were due to sit exams and take assessments, there will be plans from government in place for you to gain your Apprenticeship. We are awaiting further information and will share as soon as available.  We are also aware that some apprentices have been made redundant because of the financial insecurity for business - if you are in this position, please make contact with us at  and we will work out how we can support you to continue learning to gain a qualification. Keep learning and stay resilient.

Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms

Stay at home and self-isolate in line with Government Guidelines if you have either:

• A high temperature (over 37.8 degrees)
• A  new, continuous cough

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home.

Read the advice about staying at home.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice

Only use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• You feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• Your condition gets worse
• Your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Students report absence by email to: 

Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms.

Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:

• a high temperature (over 37.8 degrees)
• a new, continuous cough

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home.

Read the advice about staying at home: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

Only use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• your condition gets worse
• your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Students report absence by email to

Latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice is as follows: