Covid – 19 Information Page

The prevalence of coronavirus (COVID-19) has decreased, the NHS Test and Trace system is up and running, and Public Health England and the DfE are clear about the measures that need to be in place to create safer environments within schools.

Returning to college is vital for young people’s education and for their wellbeing. Time out of college is detrimental for young peoples’ cognitive and academic development, particularly for those already disadvantaged. This impact can affect both current levels of learning and their future ability to learn, and therefore we need to ensure all students can return to college sooner rather than later.

The risk to children and young people themselves of becoming severely ill from coronavirus (COVID-19) is very low and there are negative health impacts of being out of school. We know that college is a vital point of contact for public health and safeguarding services that are critical to the wellbeing of children and families.

Lower academic achievement also translates into long-term economic costs due to having a less well-qualified workforce. This affects the standard of living that today’s students will have over the course of their entire life.

Given the improved position, the balance of risk is now overwhelmingly in favour of young people returning to college. For the vast majority of young people, the benefits of being back in school far outweigh the very low risk from coronavirus (COVID-19).

We are, therefore, preparing to welcome all of our students back this autumn.

Below, you will find a detailed explanation of the measures we are putting in place to ensure your safety and these have been led by the Department for Education and based on the advice from Public Health England.

REOPENING

Harrison College has been de-contaminated and santised by Harrison Facilities Management. This was carried out and a certificate of completion can be viewed on request.

SYSTEM OF CONTROLS: PROTECTIVE MEASURES

PREVENTION

Minimise contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend school

  • Ensuring that students, staff and other adults do not come into the college if they have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or have tested positive in the last 7 days, and ensuring anyone developing those symptoms during the college day is sent home, are essential actions to reduce the risk in schools and further drive down transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Clean hands thoroughly more often than usual

Ensure that all adults and young people:

  • frequently wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly. Review the guidance on hand cleaning
  • Clean their hands on arrival at the setting, before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing
  • Are encouraged not to touch their mouth, eyes and nose
  • Use a tissue or elbow to cough or sneeze and use bins for tissue waste (‘catch it, bin it, kill it’)
  • Ensure that bins for tissues are emptied throughout the day
  • Where possible, all spaces should be well ventilated using natural ventilation (opening windows) or ventilation units
  • Prop doors open, where safe to do so (bearing in mind fire safety and safeguarding), to limit use of door handles and aid ventilation
  • All students will be issued with their own bottle of hand sanitiser

Ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach

Introduce enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces often using standard products, such as detergents and bleach

  • Toilets will be allocated to students and staff to minimise cross contamination. Signage is posted around the college and also disinfectant wipes and provided in each toilet and instructions are available to  explain how to clean the taps, sink, toilet handle and seat and dispose in the bin
  • All teacher workstations and reception are provided with spray on and leave disinfectant which will be done 3 times per day, on top of the usual cleaning routine, targeting heavy use areas such as door handles, desks and chairs

Minimise contact between individuals and maintain social distancing wherever possible

Other Considerations

Reduce the use of shared resources:

  • By limiting the amount of shared resources that are taken home and limit exchange of take-home resources between young people and staff. Students will use their allocated laptops and this will be labelled with their name along with the battery charger. Laptops will be cleaned at the start of each day in College.
  • By seeking to prevent the sharing of stationery and other equipment where possible. Shared materials and surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected more frequently
  • Students will sit at an allocated desk, keeping groups to a maximum of 8. Folders and stationery will be allocated to each student and cleaned at the end of each day and will only be used by the same student each day.

Response to Infection

Engage with the NHS Test and Trace process

Staff members and parents/carers understand that they will need to be ready and willing to:

  • book a test if they are displaying symptoms. Staff and students must not come into the college if they have symptoms, and must be sent home to self-isolate if they develop them in college.
  • provide details of anyone they have been in close contact with if they were to test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or if asked by NHS Test & Trace
  • self-isolate if they have been in close contact with someone who develops coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or someone who tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)

Anyone who displays symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can and should get a test. Tests can be booked online through the NHS testing and tracing for coronavirus website, or ordered by telephone via NHS 119 for those without access to the internet. Essential workers, which includes anyone involved in education or childcare, have priority access to testing.

We will ask parents/ carers and staff to inform us immediately of the results of a test:

  • if someone tests negative, if they feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (COVID-19), they can stop self-isolating. They could still have another virus, such as a cold or flu – in which case it is still best to avoid contact with other people until they are better. Other members of their household can stop self-isolating.
  • if someone tests positive, they should follow the ‘stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection’ and must continue to self-isolate for at least 7 days from the onset of their symptoms and then return to school only if they do not have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell/taste.

Harrison College Ltd Continuity Plan Covid 19 Risk Assessment

Coronavirus Information

We are following the guidance from Pubic Health England and the Department for Education and further advice and guidance can be found on their website by clicking the link below:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19  Uploaded 21 May 2020

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools Uploaded 2nd July 2020

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance