Coronavirus
Page last updated: 5 November 2020.
We confirm we are complying with the government's guidance on managing the risk of Covid-19. For more information click here. For FAQs see below.
Latest:
As the country enters the new lockdown, the college remains open to students. We ask that:
- students observe all our 'Hands Face Space' policies to keep everyone as safe as possible (see below)
- students make every effort to attend college, as the practical and classroom learning you are getting here is of great importance to your success this year.
Face coverings and exemptions
From Monday 2 November, exemption cards must be obtained by students who are exempt from wearing a face covering in college.
What do students need to do if they think they are exempt from wearing a face covering?
If exemption relates to a medical condition the student must contact the College Nurse who is based in N17or by emailing iwhite@nescot.ac.uk Students can ask their parent / carer to write or email the College Nurse or the student’s Personal Development Coach to let us know about this.
We have produced a card for exempt students to wear in their lanyard so that they are not asked to wear a face covering. The card must be carried on campus by exempt students from Monday 2 November.
Welcome message and FAQs
We are very pleased to be welcoming new and returning students to the college.
At Nescot we have been delighted to see our students start or resume studying at our campus. We recognise that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on how we all live and work and we have adapted college life to make studying here as safe as possible. Nescot has a very large campus, with lots of space and new facilities, so social distancing is easier for us to achieve than many schools and colleges. We have been working really hard to make sure that all young people, adult students and apprentices have a great start to the academic year.
It is compulsory to wear a face covering in all communal indoor areas of the College. (Unless you are exempt. Exemption cards must be carried). This includes corridors, waiting areas and canteens but does not apply within classrooms and workshops in your 'bubble'. You may need to wear a face covering in exams (see below). Please help protect your college community and respect this rule. Full information is available to the college community through Weblearn and Sharepoint.Please see FAQs below.
What are lessons like?
Staff have made sure that lessons are as Covid-safe as possible for students and apprentices. Our arrangements follow the latest government guidance about cleaning, hygiene and safe distancing between students in classrooms and workshops and students have started the year with full timetables.
Nescot uses Google Classroom as a digital platform for its teaching, learning and assessment. Google Classroom helps to make lessons and resources interactive and available to students at all times. At Nescot we believe that technology and digital skills play a vital part of learning, and this also means that if there were to be a lockdown in the future the College is more than ready to keep high-quality teaching and learning going. We will continue to ensure that young people will also get their full English and maths tuition if they need it alongside their main subject, work experience if it is part of their course, enrichment activities and tutorials.
We know face-to-face learning at our campus is an important part of the student experience. As we transition to new ways of working, we promise that all of our students and apprentices will be part of a supportive college community.
What happens if a student has symptoms or someone the student lives with has symptoms?
A student must not come to College if:
- they or someone they live with is showing one or more of the symptoms of COVID-19 which are a new, persistent cough, a loss of taste and/or smell and a high temperature. Parents / carers must inform the College immediately by contacting the Head of Department or Personal Development Coach;
- the student (or the person the student lives with) should book a COVID test as soon as possible. The student’s parent / carer must inform the College that a test has been booked;
- if the student (or someone the student lives with) has a positive result they must self-isolate for 10 to 14 days; (a negative test result means that the student can return to Nescot when the student feels well enough to do so. The student’s parent / carer must provide the College with the official notification confirming the result). SEE CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW.
- the student has travelled to a country where there is a mandatory 14-day period of quarantine on return to the UK.
Do students and staff have to wear face coverings in college?
In indoor communal areas of the College such as corridors and eating areas students, staff and visitors must now wear face coverings. Students and staff do not need to wear a face covering in a classroom (unless requested by the teacher). In outside areas students and staff do not need to wear face coverings but should comply with social distancing rules. Students can wear face coverings in classrooms. However, this must be discussed with the teacher.
When are students exempt from wearing a face covering?
There are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear a face covering. Students need to be mindful and respectful of this, the reasons for this may not be visible to others. There are number of reasons why some people cannot wear face coverings. Here are the main ones.
- Some people cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability.
- Some people have an underlying health issue which could be made worse by wearing a face covering, for example, asthmatics.
- A person who relies on lip reading and needs clear sound or facial expressions to communicate.
What do students need to do if they think they are exempt from wearing a face covering?
If it relates to a medical condition the student must contact the College Nurse who is based in N17or by emailing iwhite@nescot.ac.uk Students can ask their parent / carer to write or email the College Nurse or the student’s Personal Development Coach to let us know about this.
We are producing a card for exempt students to wear in their lanyard so that they are not asked to wear a face covering. The card must be carried on campus by exempt students from 2 November.
Face coverings in exams
Students would normally be expected to wear face coverings in non-practical examination rooms (where it is a written or online examination). Students who have a confirmed medical exemption will not have to wear face-coverings. In practical assessments or examinations such as those taking place in technical workshops students are exempt from wearing face coverings.
In instances where students wear glasses they may also be exempt from wearing face coverings during the examination. Social distancing will still apply in all examinations in line with government’s guidelines and requirements at the time of the examination.
Will things change during the term?
Of course the situation may change again. Nescot will keep you fully informed of any changes.
Will more information be available?
We will also provide regular information updates to students and parents, and on the College’s website, so please keep checking.
Every student will be given their timetable on day one of their course. Information about start days and inductions has been sent to each student and apprentice over the summer in advance of the start of term.
Contacting the College
What about other services at Nescot?
Qualifications at Nescot's Gas and Electrical Academy are running. Click here for more information.
Our Osteopathy clinic remains open - find out more about our on-site ICOM centre here.
Our hair and beauty salon, Innovation, and our sports facilities and gym are now closed until 2 December following government advice.
This page is updated when there are changes to guidance. Please check back here and follow us on social media to ensure you stay up-to-date.
The college switchboard is being staffed from 8am to 1pm, Monday to Friday for any enquiries. To reach the switchboard please contact 07976 263440. Outside of these hours please email reception@nescot.ac.uk.
Current students, or students joining the college in September, can contact the Advice and Guidance team with any questions. Please click here for the online contact form.
Nestots re-opened to a small group of children in June. Parents and guardians have been contacted directly, and they are asked to email nursery staff directly with any questions.
The safety and wellbeing of the children and staff is paramount, and Nescot staff are working hard to follow government guidelines carefully.
The World Health Organisation defines coronaviruses as a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to infections including SARS and MERS. Coronaviruses are transmitted between animals and humans, and a ‘novel Coronavirus’ is a strain which has not previously been identified in humans.
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms. Because it’s a new illness it is not yet known exactly how the virus is spread. However, similar viruses spread by droplets, such as when someone coughs or sneezes.
You can read more about social distancing online here, and more information about Covid-19 on the NHS website here.
