For information about coronavirus and how to protect yourself, visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Use the 111 online coronavirus service if you think you have symptoms:
https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
Coronavirus Information & Advice
Keep up-to-date on social media
Following the latest Government guidelines concerning Covid-19 and returning to learning, we will commence a phased re-opening of our sites to limited groups of students on an invitation-only basis.
- Grimsby Institute (Nuns Corner) will open from Monday, 15th June for around 240 students (but not all on campus at the same time) from our Advanced Technology faculty
- Skegness TEC will open from Monday, 15th June for approximately 40 students
- The Academy Grimsby will open from Monday, 15th June for Year 10 students working to a three-day cycle to minimise the numbers on site
- Scarborough TEC will open from Monday, 8th June for small groups
- MODAL will open from Monday, 1st June.
All students who are being asked to attend will be contacted by phone and letter with their personal start dates and times.
We request that if a student is not contacted by a member of our team that they do not attend college and they remain at home continuing with their online studies as necessary.
Packed lunches will be provided for all students to purchase or receive free (as is normally the case). Staff are asked to provide their own packed lunches and bring a drink, although bottled water will be provided throughout the day.
Our plans are to ensure we operate effectively whilst staff continue to work from home if they are able to, minimising the number of people on site at any one time. However, as we see increasing numbers of staff and learners returning to TEC Partnership sites, we would like to reiterate that reducing the risk of the Covid-19 virus spreading on our campuses is at the heart of all our plans. To this end, a full risk assessment and action plan for the return has been produced and shared so that anyone can see the mitigations that we have put in place.
The key elements of this are:
- All staff must have an induction on the first day of their return to site which will detail social distancing, hygiene and other changes in practice
- Staff must limit face-to-face contact to only where absolutely required
- Replace the offer of face-to-face service areas that are potentially high volume e.g. library, some receptions, and helpdesks with different methods of contact
- Learners are to be directed to external entrances to their learning environments and limit use of corridors
- Learners are to be inducted on arrival as to social distancing, hygiene, and other changes in our practices
- 2m social distances markings in frequently used areas are/have been introduced
- The provision of sanitisation and hand washing options have been increased
- Modifications to toilet facilities has been introduced to enable social distancing
- As part of inductions, staff and learners will be briefed with regards to cleaning regularly used items and touch points (machinery, hand tools, equipment, surfaces…etc)
- The Estates hygiene department have introduced an increased frequency of cleaning to all communal areas (where open) and welfare facilities.
It is incredibly important that we are all vigilant and not just maintain the social distancing guidance ourselves but ensure our learners do too.
We continue to monitor advice from Public Health England and the Department for Education and will update all students on our plans for further re-opening when we have further information.
Our staff are still working online and are available to help and contactable by the following means during normal office hours, Monday to Friday:
- For any student who has a question regarding their coursework or has an educational need, please speak to your Programme Leader
- If a student needs help with any IT issues, please email [email protected]
- If you have any Safeguarding concerns during this time, please call 07920 860241 or 07771 983375 or email [email protected]
- For all other enquiries please email [email protected] and one of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.
Help protect yourself and others:
- Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze.
- Bin the tissue, and to kill the germs, wash your hands with soap and water, or use a sanitiser gel.
- If you have arrived back from infected areas within 14 days follow the specific advice for returning travellers.
Your Health and Wellbeing
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.
- cough
- difficulty in breathing
- fever
Generally, these infections can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. There is no evidence that children are more affected than other age groups – very few cases have been reported in children.
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a new, continuous cough or a high temperature.
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild infection.
The infection is mild for most people, including children. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease) may be at higher risk of more serious illness.
Most people get better with enough rest, and plenty to eat and drink.
The chance of being in contact with the virus is currently low in the UK.
You can only catch it if; you have been close to a person who has the virus (less than two metres for more than 15 minutes) or by touching a contaminated surface, then touching your mouth or eyes without washing your hands first.
- Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of COVID-19: high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
- Avoid non-essential use of public transport, varying travel times to avoid rush hour
- When possible, work from home
- Avoid large gatherings, and gatherings in smaller public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, clubs
- Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet and social media
- Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services
Public Health England recommends using good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene. Coughing and sneezing should be into tissues that are promptly disposed of in bins. Hands should be washed frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, even if hands are visibly clean.
The NHS has guidance on the best way to wash your hands
Please use the NHS 111 website initially for guidance, or if you have no internet access then contact the free NHS 111 telephone helpline, if you think you’ve been in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus.
If you think you may have the virus, you should:
- if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. (After 7 days, if you feel better and no longer have a high temperature, you can return to your normal routine. A Cough may persist for several weeks in some people, despite the coronavirus infection having cleared. A persistent cough alone does not mean you must continue to self-isolate for more than 7 days.)
- this action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious.
- plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home.
- ask friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home.
- stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible.
- sleep alone, if that is possible.
- wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water.
- stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible.
- you do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days use the NHS 111 website. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
The NHS has comprehensive advice on their website about what to do if you think you may have the virus, precautionary measures, and self-isolation procedures.
If you are a student, please also notify the college by contacting your Learning Coach as you would do with any absence.
Self-isolation means staying at home for at least 7 days and not going to classes or work, not using public transport such as buses or trains, and not visiting public areas such as libraries, pubs or shops. Please ask friends or family to help with shopping or other essential supplies you may need.
Please do not be worried about being absent from your studies for this short period, but please do continue with your studies. Your support will be provided through Canvas via on-line learning.
The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:
- Phone: 0800 046 8687
- Email: [email protected]
- Opening Hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)
You should also refer to the following sites for the latest official information and guidance:
- NHS: Coronavirus information
- Public Health England: Coronavirus Q&A
- Public Health England: Self-isolation information
- Public Health England: Stay at home guidance
- UK Government: Guidance for educational settings
- UK Government: Find out the steps the UK government is taking
- World Health Organization: Find out more about Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
If you have any concerns about your health you should use the NHS 111 website initially, or if you have no internet access then contact the free NHS 111 telephone helpline. Check the NHS website for the latest official advice.
Travel Advice
What to do if pupils, students or staff return from travel anywhere else in the world within the last 14 days (not identified as category 1 or category 2 outbreak areas by the UK Government).
Currently there are minimal cases outside the risk areas and therefore the likelihood of an individual coming into contact with a confirmed case is low.
There is no need to advise any of these pupils, student or staff to avoid normal activities or educational settings unless they have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or have travelled from a category 1 or category 2 country in the last 14 days.
If individuals are aware that this is the case, they should contact NHS 111 for further advice.
For the latest country specific information please visit https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries
Please be clear that it is the individual’s responsibility to report any close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
It is also essential that you notify us immediately if you feel any of the above advice applies to you or a member of your family, by contacting 01472 311222.
Thank you for your continued support.