The Bedford College Group
SAFETY MEASURES
on campus from September 2020
CONTENTS PAGE 3. Introduction 4-5.
Travelling to College
6.
Arriving at College
7.
Classrooms and workshops
8.
Facilities on campus
9.
Visitor information
10.
What to do if you feel ill
I WEAR THIS TO PROTECT YOU. PLEASE WEAR YOURS TO PROTECT ME. 2
Since March 2020 we have all been adapting to a new way of life both in and out of College and we would like to reassure you that our priority is your health and wellbeing as a new or returning student of The Bedford College Group. Over the summer we have been following the latest government advice and guidance to prepare our campuses for our students return to ensure social distancing. This guide aims to reassure you of the precautions we are taking and safety measures we are putting in place for everyone on campus from September. If you wish to find out more about the plans or have any questions after reading this guide please email: • Bedfordshire campuses: studentservices@bedford.ac.uk • Northamptonshire campuses: studentservices@tresham.ac.uk
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TRAVELLING TO COLLEGE If you, or anyone in your household have any of the recognised symptoms of Covid-19 you must stay at home and do not travel to College. In accordance with the latest government guidance, when using public transport you should ensure that you follow the safety measures in place such as wearing a face covering whilst on-board.
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COLLEGE MINIBUSES AND TAXIS Where you travel to your campus on minibus, coach or taxis arranged by the College we have put into place a series of measures for your safety. These measures include thorough cleaning of all hard surfaces before and after use with anti-bacterial spray. We would also ask that you stay at home, do not travel to College and isolate yourself if you, or anyone in your household have any of the recognised COVID-19 symptoms. Drivers of our vehicles and taxis provided by the College WILL NOT let you board if they recognise any of these symptoms.
USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT Social distancing and guidance should be followed whilst waiting for the bus, train or taxi. Ideally you should maintain a two metre space between yourself and others where you can, but a minimum of at least one metre, boarding and then getting off at College/ station. The current advice is to wear a face covering when using public transport and providers will be able to refuse boarding if this is not followed. When you board the bus, train or minibus you should try and allow for space between you and others not from your household and use any safety guidance provided by the transport provider. All students arriving by bus/ train will be dropped off at their usual stops and you should ensure that you make your way to the campus entrance as safely as possible. We do not encourage our students to congregate in any bus stops or drop-off areas.
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ARRIVING AT COLLEGE Our timetables for the next academic year have been designed to allow for a mixture of online learning and lessons being held at College with smaller numbers of students in groups at any one time. You should not arrive to College more than 15 minutes before your lesson is due to begin and we will be asking all students to ensure that they leave College once their lesson or support sessions end. When arriving at College you will be asked to:
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Queue 2 metres apart from other students at the student entrance (please remember your Student ID card). Use the hand sanister provided at the hygiene stations.
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Please remember if you or anyone in your household is exhibiting symptoms, they will not be allowed to enter and will be advised to return home and contact NHS 111. On the first day students will be met by staff outside of the main entrances and will be guided to where they need to be. Move sensibly around the building, follow the prescribed one way routes and remain 2 metres apart where possible but at least 1 metre where this is not possible.
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Bring any equipment that you may need for your classes. Even if you are in for a practical session you will still need writing material to complete your portfolio. Arrive in your workshop PPE as changing areas will not be available due to enforcing social distancing. Bring your own bottled water and bear in mind that refreshment facilities will be limited. No water points will be available at this time due to the risk of high touch point areas. You should wear a face covering outside of your classroom to protect yourself and to protect others around you. High touch point areas such as bannisters, buttons, toilets, seating areas will be cleaned a number of times during the day and we will be using a sanitising system that cleans large rooms within 5 minutes using a hygienic fog.
CLASSROOMS AND WORKSHOPS Staff have been working over the summer period to ensure all classrooms and workshops are ready to welcome students as safely as possible at the start of term. The number of students in classrooms and workshops at any one time has been reduced to ensure that we can accomodate social distancing measures. You will be expected to: • Avoid congregating in corridors or landings when waiting for lessons to start • Follow guidance from tutors when entering your classroom or workshop. This may include cleaning your workspace and washing your hands or using hand sanitiser when entering and leaving the room • Not sharing PPE or uniforms • Not sharing equipment and making sure you have pens, pencils, workbooks as these will not be provided by your tutors
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FACILITIES ON CAMPUS Facilities on campus may be limited including appointment only within the Learning Resources Centres and IT Suites. Student Services will be operating appointment only sessions at the start of term. YourSpace Common Rooms will be closed at all campuses and will remain locked until we are able to ensure that social distancing measures can be upheld.
THESE ARE THE FACILITIES THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE CATERING
Costa Coffee Shops and Munch and Mocha will be open with safety measures in place. These will include limited seating areas to maintain social distancing, one way systems and additional hand santisers on entry points. Payment can only be accepted by contactless methods. Our vending machines will be operating but using contactless payment only. You must wear a face covering when purchasing food or drink but you are not required to wear this when eating.
TOILETS
These will be open however, to assist with social distancing, some cubicles, urinals and sinks will be marked as not in use. Please ensure that if you do need to queue to use the toilets, you maintain social distancing at all times. Markings on the floor will help you to do this correctly.
LIFTS
Lifts will be limited use for staff and visitors with prior permission and who are unable to use the stairs safely. Anyone using the lift must follow the safety procedures which will includes a maximium of 2 people using the lift at any one time and you must wear a face covering.
WATER
Please bring your own water bottles to use the newly installed contactless water dispensers.
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SEATING AREAS
Reduced seating is available at our coffee shops and purchases will only be available via contactless payment.
CHANGING ROOMS
These will be limited to students needing to use them after their classes such as outdoor education, sports and animal care.
MULTIFAITH ROOMS
Prayer rooms will be open and will be cleaned more regularly as part of our daily routine, however please also help us by cleaning when you arrive and again as you leave.
COMMON ROOMS
Common rooms will be open for limited times during the day and have been organised to maintain social distancing. You will need to wear face coverings and we do not advise students to visit these areas with others from different classes/ bubbles.
LEAVING COLLEGE
You will be expected to leave College once your lessons or support sessions have ended. If you need to use public transport please follow the same guidelines as advised when travelling to College. Students will not be allowed to congregate on College grounds and will be asked to move by staff.
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WHAT TO DO IF YOU FEEL ILL THE MAIN SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A: • High temperature. This means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back. • New, continuous cough, This means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. • Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. This means you have noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal. If you have any of these symptoms, we ask that you DO NOT come into College and ring 111 for advice. You may be asked to provide details of people you have recently been in contact with, which could include your classmates for the governments Track and Trace scheme. We will be able to help with this and so please advise your Personal Achievement Tutor or Course Tutor if this is requested. If you attend College with any of these symptoms or symptoms develop whilst you are at College, you will need to be picked up by your next of kin and taken home and should ring 111 for advice. Whilst you wait for a lift you will be isolated from other students and staff to ensure your safety and theirs.
ANYONE with symptoms should then self-isolate for ten days following advice from 111 and DO NOT COME to College. IF anyone you live with has symptoms you should NOT COME to College,
RING 111 AND SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS AS ADVISED.
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Published September 2020 The Bedford College Group, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AH Tel: 01234 291000 Email: info@bedford.ac.uk Web: www.bedford.ac.uk