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This page aims to provide you with everything you need to know about the measures that have been put in place to ensure learning delivery continues throughout these unprecedented times, and the college sites remain a safe environment in accordance with Government guidelines.

The guidance is constantly changing, and so will the information on this page to reflect any updates, therefore please ensure you check back regularly. Whilst there is a lot of information provided on this page, it’s important that you understand the measures we are putting in place to minimise further transmission of the virus.

GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES

Following the latest Government guidance, there are two parts to our approach:

PREVENTION

  1. Minimising contact with anyone with coronavirus symptoms by ensuring they do not come on site

Site access is currently restricted, with a small number of staff continuing to work onsite until further notice. Should you require access to site for EPA preparation, or to access materials, equipment etc. and you have any of the coronavirus symptoms, have tested positive within the last 10 days, or you are required to self-isolate due to someone in your household testing positive, you will be unable to attend site. Please contact us immediately by calling us on 0330 120 0375.

If privileged access has been granted, and you are able to attend site and you develop symptoms whilst on site, please inform your lecturer or a member of the Learner Experience team ASAP. You will then be asked to leave site and go straight home, avoiding public transport – if you need to be collected, you will be asked to wait in an isolated room until your lift arrives.

  • The main symptoms of coronavirus are a new, continuous cough/a high temperature/loss of, or change in your normal sense of smell (anosmia)/taste.
  • You will need to self-isolate for 10 days and arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus, and other members of your household should also self-isolate for 14 days from when the first person had symptoms.

Information on testing can be found here

Stay at home guidance can be found here

  1. Where recommended, use of face coverings

Face coverings are required to be worn in colleges where social distancing cannot be maintained. Our social distancing measures will help to limit potential transmission of the virus, but in all social areas, a face covering must be worn.

  1. Regular hand cleaning

Coronavirus is very easy to kill when it is on the skin, so washing your hands more often is very important. We have introduced new hand sanitising stations throughout the college buildings and have replaced our hand driers with towel dispensers. A hand sanitising station has been placed in the temporary entrance where you will be asked to sanitise your hands and you will be reminded to use our hand sanitising stations on a frequent basis. 

  1. Promotion of the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach

The ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach continues to be very important and you will be reminded to do this when using tissues and drying hands while on site.

  1. Enhanced cleaning

We have put in place an enhanced cleaning schedule. Rooms, facilities, toilets, and surfaces that are frequently touched will be cleaned more often and our cleaning teams are using the latest NHS-standard detergents.

  1. Social distancing

Reducing the contact and maintaining distance between individuals will help to limit transmission of the coronavirus, and this will be achieved by:

  • Delivering a ‘remote learning’ delivery model where all lessons will take place online
  • All people on site being asked to maintain a 2-metre distance from each other
  • Promoting walking and cycling as possible alternatives for travel to/from the college
  • Implementing one-way systems throughout the buildings
  • Restricting access to the lifts to maximum of 2 people (try and use the stairs if possible)
  1. Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) where appropriate

PPE will be used where an individual becomes ill with coronavirus symptoms while on site, and if a 2-metre distance cannot be maintained. Usual PPE requirements such as in the workshop and for practical activities will be required as normal.

RESPONSE TO ANY INFECTION

  1. We will engage with the NHS Test and Trace process

Anyone attending the college campuses where needed will be reminded of our obligation to use the NHS Test and Trace process.

  • If you have any symptoms of coronavirus, you must book a test, not come on site as planned and go home to self-isolate
  • If you test positive, you must provide details of anyone you have been in close contact with
  • If you have been in close contact with someone with coronavirus symptoms or they test positive for coronavirus, you must also self-isolate

Tests can be booked via the NHS website here or ordered by telephone via NHS 119 for those without access to the internet

If you test negative and feel well, you can stop self-isolating. If you still feel unwell, you could have another virus (such as cold or flu) – in which case it is still best to avoid contact with people until you are feeling better. Other members of your household can also stop self-isolating.

If you test positive, you should follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus and must self-isolate for at least 10 days from the onset of your symptoms. You should only make arrangements if needed to return onsite when you no longer have symptoms other than a cough or loss of taste/smell (this is because a cough or anosmia can last for several weeks once the infection has gone). The 10-day isolation period starts from the day you first became ill – if you still have a high temperature, you should keep self-isolating until it becomes normal. Other members of the household should also continue self-isolating for the full 14 days.

Stay at home guidance can be found here

  1. We will manage confirmed cases of coronavirus amongst our College Community

If we become aware that someone who has attended college has tested positive, we are required to inform the local health protection team and we will be required to send home people who have been in close contact with that person when they were infectious. Close contact means:

  • Direct close contacts – face to face contact with an infected individual for any length of time, within 1 metre, including being coughed on, a face to face conversation, or unprotected physical contact (skin to skin)
  • Proximity contacts – extended close contact (within 1 to 2 metres for more than 15 minutes) with an infected individual
  • Travelling in a small vehicle, like a car, with an infected person.

Household members of those contacts who are sent home do not need to self-isolate themselves unless the learner or staff member who is self-isolating subsequently develops symptoms.

  1. In the event of any outbreak, we will follow local health protection team advice in order to contain it

If we have 2 or more confirmed cases within 14 days, or an overall rise in sickness absence where coronavirus (COVID-19) is suspected, the college will continue to work with our local health protection team who will advise you if additional action is required.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The College remains to be open for limited access only, with a small number of staff continuing to work onsite. It is anticipated that the current restrictions will remain in place until February half-term.
Lessons will take place remotely until further notice. You should have been contacted to inform you of the current arrangements in place specific to your course.
Site access is currently restricted, with a small number of staff continuing to work onsite until further notice. Should you require access to site for EPA preparation, this will be organised by your lecturer or our Apprenticeship team who will liaise accordingly with the team onsite. If you do need to come onsite to access materials, equipment etc. please contact the Learner Experience team in the first instance at [email protected] or 0330 120 0375 to request a visit.
We expect public transport capacity will continue to be constrained for some time. We advise that use particularly during peak times should be avoided where possible or alternatively kept to a minimum. Remember that face coverings are now compulsory on public transport. Travel safer guidance can be found here
All lessons will take place remotely until further notice - this also includes learners with an EHCP.
Work placements in the UK are continuing to take place as planned. You should observe your placement providers’ local Coronavirus response and follow the guidelines they have in place. Academic support for placements will be delivered wherever possible remotely via the usual communication channels (email, telephone and videoconferencing).
No – all lessons will be taking place remotely. If you are unable to attend your remote lessons for any reason, please follow the usual absence procedure and email [email protected] ASAP before the start of the working day.
If you are required to self-isolate, contact your lecturer who should be able to help you to continue your learning, providing you are feeling well enough - all online sessions will still be accessible to you. If you do need more advice regarding extensions or adjustments, please contact the Learner Experience team via [email protected] or 0330 120 0375 who are always on hand to help
All lecturers have been receiving ongoing training and support throughout these unprecedented times, ensuring that our online learning is as engaging as it can be. The Observation of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Procedure has been adapted to focus on the high-quality delivery of online learning, and learners are surveyed weekly to ensure we capture any issues which are then addressed and adapted accordingly.
We have several rigorous quality processes in place, which monitor and improve the attendance of learners, which are operated at course, curriculum area, senior management and board level.
A number of guides for online learning have been created to support both the learners and lecturers with additional support that may have been required, and these have been adhered to throughout. Mandatory training was all provided to all lecturing staff in an online learning practice ahead of the online deliver for learners. In addition, we also have a coaching and mentoring scheme for Teaching, Learning and Assessment which has been implemented throughout and has focused on the checking of learning in online sessions and maximising learner engagement.
We continue to offer comprehensive support to all our students, including vulnerable and disadvantaged learners. Where learners feel the need for some additional support, they are able to contact the Learner Experience team via [email protected] or 0330 120 0375 who are always on hand to help provide support and advice.
All learning for all cohorts is currently being delivered online and learners should follow their typical timetable - there is no reduction in the amount of contact they should receive from their lecturer. All information about learning (timetables, assessments, delivery arrangements etc.) can be accessed through canvas, although course lecturers are the central source of information regarding remote learning.
The college’s priority is to ensure that all apprentices continue to receive their learning, and to provide the best possible experience despite the current circumstances. Target end dates for apprenticeship programmes have not changed, therefore it is important that all apprentices are given the opportunity to maintain their 20% off the job time by their employer.
All current learners and apprentice employers should have received communication regarding the college’s current delivery arrangements, and all learner communications will continue to be provided via the college learning portal Canvas. Copies of all communications to date can be found on the website at www.ncati.ac.uk
You can contact the Learner Experience team as normal during working hours via [email protected] or 0330 120 0375.
The college IT helpdesk (Phoenix) continues to operate as normal and can be contacted during working hours at https://support.phoenix.co.uk or 01904 562 207. If you do not have a laptop or device to enable you to attend remote lessons, you can access the laptop loan scheme which can be arranged via your contacting your lecturer in the first instance.
Should you have any safeguarding concerns of any nature, please contact the safeguarding team via [email protected] or 07471 353 426 who will be able to provide you with any advice and support as needed.
During these times it is understandable that you may be feeling low or experiencing heightened anxiety. We understand that being able to talk to someone is important, therefore our Learner Experience team are on hand during working hours, and will be able to provide any advice and support where needed via [email protected] or 0330 120 0375.
If a you have symptoms of Coronavirus (a new, continuous cough/high temperature/loss of or a change of your normal sense of taste/smell) you should follow the government guidance and inform the college straight away by contacting your lecturer, a member of the Learner Experience team or a member of the Apprenticeship team. All can be contacted on 0330 120 0375.
Whilst access is restricted at this time, with only a limited number of staff working on site, limited access can be provided in extreme circumstances as detailed in the questions above. We have worked hard to ensure the safety of visitors to site during this time, and therefore ask that you always adhere to all guidelines and restrictions in place which are detailed below:  
  • Access to the building is to be made via the side entrance
  • When arriving on site you must wear a face masks at all times within all public areas
  • You must report to main reception on arrival
  • You must adhere to all signage and guidelines in place
  • You must sanitise your hands on arrival and frequently throughout the duration of site access
  • You must keep to the left at all times
  • You must maintain a 2 metre distance of others at all times
  • Limited cleaning is in place (particular attention is being made to key touch points, toilets etc.)
Yes – a copy of our risk assessment can be located on our website at www.ncati.ac.uk/coronavirus
All stakeholders will receive regular updates from the college as and when changes arise as we continue to be led by the Government advice and guidance. In the meantime, please visit www.ncati.ac.uk/coronavirus where all updates will also be published.
The lead for overseeing the quality and delivery of learning at NCATI is the responsibility of Andrew Friesen, Director of Curriculum, Quality and Learner Experience. Andrew is overseeing remote learning throughout the pandemic to ensure the provision is in line with the expectations as set out within the Government guidance, and that the learners continues to receive a positive and engaging experience

KEY CONTACTS

General Enquiries & Admissions

[email protected] | www.ncati.ac.uk | 0330 120 0375

Learner Experience & CEIAG Enquiries

[email protected] | 0330 120 0375

Safeguarding Concerns

[email protected] | 07471 353 426

Head of Education Training Performance

Andrew Friesen | [email protected] | 0121 295 4207

LATEST COMMUNICATIONS

Download our latest communications:

Letter to learners – 3 November 2020 

Letter to apprentice employers – 3 November 2020

You can download and print all of the above information here:

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Coronavirus-COVID-19 Guidelines

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