Re-Opening Boarding (Ashford School)

RE-OPENING BOARDING

UPDATE

We look forward to welcoming our boarding community back to us for the 2020-2021 academic year.

We are all excited about returning to School and being able to get back as

close as we can to normality. Of course, our priority is to ensure this is done as safely as possible, and I am delighted to be able to share the progress we have made so far.

It is important to note our plans and procedures are shaped by government advice, which is updated as circumstances change (please see the following link for further informaDon: h"ps://www.gov.uk/

coronavirus).

Summary of Information

We will be making the School and boarding environments are as risk-free as possible, and ensuring suitable faciliDes and supervision exists to manage any COVID-19related circumstances.

We require parents/carers to complete the QuaranDne Booking Form circulated to them or to email Chris Liston, Head of Boarding As a member of the Boarding Schools’ AssociaDon, Ashford School confirms that we will comply with all government rules and guidance and will meet the requirements set out in the BSA Covid-Safe Charter

Boarding will be opening two weeks before the start of the Michaelmas term to enable our boarders to undertake the necessary quaranDne period here at School.

As things stand, all those arriving in the UK are required to isolate themselves for 14 days in what is known as quaranDne. We are happy to offer a safe and secure place for our boarders to undertake this period of quaranDne. More details about this can be found below.

We will be able to accommodate boarders for the October half term break. We will conDnue with our pracDce of not having Exeat weekends.

Term starts on Tuesday 1 September, however we have insDgated the following re-opening plans to ensure the safety of all our students from Friday 14 August.

RE-OPENING BOARDING

Quarantine Provision In line with Government regulaDons, we are offering quaranDne provision in school accommodaDon for our boarding students from Friday 14 August 2020.

This provision will be available at a significantly reduced rate and added to the next invoice. If boarders wish to book into our quaranDne provision, please contact Chris Liston, Head of Boarding at listonc@ashfordschool.co.uk We do not need to know flight details at this stage, however early indicaDon of quaranDne booking will help us plan. The deadline for compleGon of this form is Tuesday 30 June 2020.

Ashford School’s Boarding Houses We are fortunate enough to have our four boarding houses all on our Senior School Campus on East Hill in Ashford.

We have plenty of green space around the campus, together with very comfortable bedrooms and common areas.

On Arrival Into the Country As things stand, this is the following guidance from the UK government (please check haps://www.gov.uk/uk-bordercontrol for further details): Passengers arriving in the UK by plane, ferry or train - including UK na:onals - will have to provide an address where they will remain for 14 days. There is a £100 penalty for anyone found to have not filled in this form. Surprise visits will be used to check they are following the rules. Those in England could be fined up to £1,000 if they fail to self-isolate. If they don't provide an address, the government will arrange accommoda:on.

Households/Boarding Families

All students arriving from abroad will be met by a named person at the airport, who will follow the appropriate social distancing guidance. Transport will be arranged to School and charged at cost.

We will be working with our usual trusted partners to transfer our boarders from airports to School; and can confirm all vehicles will be fiaed with suitable protecDve screens and all associated safety measures will be observed.

Each of our Boarding Houses will be divided into separate and disDnct boarding families within the wider residenDal se_ng. Each of these has been determined by the physical layout of our boarding houses, the number of bathrooms, common rooms and staffing arrangements.

The wearing of face masks has become normalised in the UK, and it will soon be compulsory for such coverings to be worn on public transport in England. Those returning to the UK will noDce this change in approach and should not be surprised by it. As explained below, we will conDnue to allow our pupils to wear PPE as they see fit.

RE-OPENING BOARDING

On Arrival at School Students will be introduced to their boarding family and all new safety arrangements will be explained, with a full inducDon for any students new to the School. Students will be encouraged to contact home shortly ader arrival.

Life in Boarding During Quarantine A programme of acDviDes will be available for our boarding students during their quaranDne period, specifically tailored to meet all required safety standards.

Depending on the level of social distancing that is required at the Dme, acDviDes may include: use of sports centre and fitness suite, use of tennis courts, TV, DVDs and video games.

Exeat Weekends We do not have Exeat weekends. Our boarders can stay with us for the enDrety of each half of term, and, as explained above, will also be able to stay with us through the October half term.

Staffing Each household will be staffed separately, operaDng a consistent staff rota to minimise the risk of transmission.

Meals

Laundry faciliDes will be available for use, as will other such normal ameniDes, all managed to ensure compliance with necessary safety standards.

Holroyd Howe, our caterers, will be providing meals for our students and these will be delivered to the common areas so that the students can eat within their boarding family.

October Half Term

Deep Cleaning & Hygiene

We imagine very few of our boarders will be in a posiDon to travel home at half term if the quaranDne arrangements do not change. As a consequence of this, we will be keeping boarding open for this period. Boarders will have the opDon of staying with us for half term (for which a reasonable charge will be levied), staying with guardians or a host family, or, if circumstances allow, travelling home. More details regarding this will follow early in the Michaelmas term.

We will conDnue to uphold the highest of standards in hygiene, health and safety in order to miDgate the risk of infecDon and to care for our students in a supporDve, comfortable environment.

Hand saniDsers will be available at key points in the house and around the campus.

Hand soap and disposable towels will be available in all washing areas.

RE-OPENING BOARDING Health Centre & Medical Provision The Health Centre will be available to boarders as normal throughout the quaranDne period.

We will be monitoring boarders’ health closely throughout this period, in accordance with guidelines. TesDng in the UK is readily available through the NHS, and anyone showing symptoms will be tested as soon as possible.

All houseparents and staff will have been fully trained under the new guidance and school procedures.

Isolation If any of our boarders display symptoms associated with COVID-19, we will be able to provide suitable accommodaDon. This accommodaDon will be appropriately separated from all other boarders, but sDll enable us to provide staff supervision.

This accommodaDon will be available for any boarders displaying such symptoms awaiDng a test, and for those who have test posiDve. PPE Students and staff will be allowed to wear PPE, such as face-masks, however it will not be compulsory. PPE will be worn by staff performing roles which require it.