4th January 2021
Update Covid-19 and new Lockdown Arrangements: Advice to all students, parents & carers –Monday 4th January 2021
(for Higher Education (UCSD) students arrangements in the separate email from Alastair Wilson from the University email account sent on 31st December 2020 will apply with further communication to follow Tuesday 5th January 2021)
Dear students, parents, and carers
Further to my last communication to you on 31st December 2020, I would like to update you on our position following the Prime Minister’s announcements at 8pm 4th January 2021.
England moves in to National Lockdown: Stay at Home
The Prime Minister announced on 4th January 2021 that all of England has now moved to National Lockdown: Stay at Home as Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly across the country. Further information about can be found here: National lockdown: Stay at Home – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
COVID-19 National Testing Programme for Schools & Colleges
We do not yet know whether there will be any arrangements for Lateral Flow testing during Lockdown and will provide any necessary information once further guidance and updates are received from the Department for Education.
Teaching and Learning for all students from Tuesday 5th January to Friday 8th January 2021 inclusive
Arrangements for this week will be as advised in my communication 31st December 2020.
All lessons for students will be online or via set work for supported home learning from Tuesday 5thJanuary 2021 to Friday 8th January 2021 inclusive. For the majority, this will be full-time remote education, as close as possible to that which students would receive in class.
Some students will still be asked to attend College as normal from the start of the new term on Tuesday 5thJanuary 2021 where this is in their best interests. These will include our vulnerable learners or those students with exams or formal assessments this week. We will communicate any further changes should we receive additional guidance from the Department for Education and Awarding Bodies.
Tutors will already have made contact with students, parents, and carers directly on Monday 4th January 2021 to confirm individual arrangements for this week. If you have not heard from your tutor please contact them directly to ensure you know the arrangements which apply.
Changes to Teaching, learning and exams for all students from 11th January
Arrangements from 11th January 2021 will be reviewed and updated with further communication to be issued by 6pm Tuesday 5th January 2021.
Higher Education (UCSD) Students
For Higher Education (UCSD) students a separate email and communication will come from Alastair Wilson from the University email account by 6pm on Tuesday 5th January 2021.
I hope you will understand that we are still waiting further detailed guidance from the Government and Department for Education but will keep you fully informed and update you as soon as we can as required. Please do keep an eye on the South Devon College website news feed and social media channels for further updates.
Reporting positive Covid test results
Please remember to complete the ‘out of hours Notification of a POSITIVE COVID-19 test result’ form to alert us if you, a member of your household or other close contact identified through Track & Trace, receive a positive test result whilst the College is closed. This online form is available via our main website www.southdevon.ac.uk
I would like to remind and reassure students, parents, and carers that each time we are alerted to a positive, or presumed positive case, we undertake a forensic risk assessment process.
Continued communication
As promised, we will continue to issue a weekly update of the number of confirmed cases within the College when we return in the new year. The next update of this academic year will be provided at 2pm on Friday 8th January 2021.
Thank you very much for your continuing support and understanding of the rapidly changing and last minute information we are having to provide you with.
Yours sincerely,
Laurence Frewin
Principal and CEO
South Devon College
