Updated 26/08/21 @ 15:00
We hope all our new and returning students had an enjoyable summer break and we can’t wait to welcome you to our campus! The UK Government has now entered a new phase in its response to the pandemic, moving away from stringent restrictions on everyone’s day to day lives, towards advising people on how to protect themselves and others, alongside targeted interventions to reduce risk. As Covid-19 becomes a virus that we learn to live with, the Department for Education (working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England) have informed all education leaders that the imperative now is to reduce further disruption to young people’s education and for our priority to be the delivery of face to face high quality education. Therefore we would like to update you on the safety measures that will be in place when you arrive to campus in September.
Asymptomatic testing of learners
Students should continue to test twice weekly at home until the end of September. An update on the future of testing will be shared with students in the next couple of weeks.
Wearing of face coverings and one-way systems
When you arrive on campus you will find that we continue to have numerous safety measures in place to keep our college community safe, such as one-way systems, extra cleaning, hand sanitising. If you’re using College-arranged transport, we ask you to wear a mask/face covering to be able to travel. We are asking students to continue to wear masks on campus in indoor communal spaces such as corridors and in catering outlets prior to taking a seat. You may also be asked to wear face coverings in some classroom environments at the discretion of our lecturing staff. We will review our safety measures again prior to Half Term in October.
Vaccinations
We are starting the year in changed times and part of that change is the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19. We recognise that having a COVID vaccination is a personal choice but we would encourage all students aged 16 and over to consider the vaccination option.
Updated 26/08/21 @ 15:00
How do you take your test?
Each testing kit will be issued with detailed step-by-step instructions to support the transition to home testing which can also be seen below in video, pdf leaflet , easy read leaflet and here on the gov.uk website – all students should read these instructions before taking their first test at home.
When do you take your test?
Students will need to test themselves twice a week on the evening before their first timetabled day in college. So, for example, if your first timetabled day in college is on Monday you would take your LFT on the Sunday night and then the next one three days later on Wednesday; if your first timetabled day is usually a Tuesday you would test Monday and Thursday and so on. Students aged 18 and over should self-test and report the result, with assistance if needed. Students under 17 should self-test and report with adult supervision. The adult may conduct the test if necessary.
How do you report your results?
Once you have taken the test you must report your result to NHS Test and Trace as soon as the test is completed either online or by telephone calling 119 following the instructions in the home test kit.
You will also need to report your result to college – your tutor will give you instructions on how and when to do this and we will also publish updated guidance on this page.
Students with a positive LFT test result will need to self-isolate in line with the stay-at-home guidance. They will also need to arrange a lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to confirm the result if the test was done at home.
Those with a negative LFT test result can continue to attend college in line with and using the protective measures already in place.
Need more information?
We are always here to answer any questions you may have about this next step in keeping our college community safe, get in touch with your tutor with any questions and we will be posting new updates on this webpage, so stay connected.
The Government have also recently published two blogs as additional resources which provide further information on testing for school staff, students and families:
Updated 26/08/21 @ 15:00
Should another lockdown come into place, Sparsholt College is ready and equipped to support our student community.
Should you need any points of clarification in relation to arrangements, if you are experiencing any difficulty in accessing technology to learn from home or if you feel that you need additional support, please can we ask you to contact your Progress Coach who will be pleased to assist or facilitate the specialist support according to your needs.
Click here to read our Remote Learning Pledge.
We understand that this can be a worrying time for some of you returning to your studies, there are a range of resources on Sparsholt Student Services page on Moodle which you may find helpful to support you at this time.
The Wellbeing team are continuing to work to support you and can be contacted on wellbeingteamsparsholt.@sparsholt.ac.uk.
Find out more about our Wellbeing support here.
Students who are facing financial difficulties can contact Student Services for information, advice and support. Please email studentfunding@sparsholt.ac.uk
The college has carried out a comprehensive risk assessment of which the current version is available by request from here.
Updated 26/08/21 @ 15:00
The main symptoms of COVID-19 have been identified as:
If you have any of these symptoms, we ask that you DO NOT come into College and arrange to take a test.
If you are using College or Public Transport and the driver believes you have any symptoms, they have the right not to bring you into College.
If you attend College with any of these symptoms or they develop whilst you are at College, you will need drive yourself home or be picked up by your next of kin and taken home. You will be provided with written instructions on booking a test and reporting the results to the College.
ANYONE with symptoms should then self-isolate until they have received a negative test result back. If anyone you live with has symptoms or test positive for Covid-19 you should NOT COME to College and self-isolate for 14 days or until that person receives a negative test result back.
Please contact the College if you are unable to attend. Call 01962 797311 or email absent@sparsholt.ac.uk before 11.00am each day. Please do not just contact your Progress Coach or anyone else as that will not be recorded as a notified absence.
If you become ill, you should:
Updated 06/09/21 @ 15:00
If you’re using College-arranged transport, we ask you to wear a mask/face covering to be able to travel. We are asking students to continue to wear masks on campus in indoor communal spaces such as corridors and in catering outlets prior to taking a seat. You may also be asked to wear face coverings in some classroom environments at the discretion of our lecturing staff. We will review our safety measures again prior to Half Term in October.
The Wellbeing team, based in Student Services, can help and support you remotely or in person. Studying at college in a subject that you’re passionate about is exciting, but it can be daunting too especially during the current situation. We know how important it is to stay focused on your studies but we recognise that life can get in the way sometimes. If you are finding things difficult, it is important to know that you are not alone.
At Home
For self-help information, video clips, links to websites and general support information, please see Sparsholt Student Services page on Moodle.
On Campus
For support with anything that is affecting your enjoyment at Sparsholt, please contact the team to arrange a meeting on wellbeingteamsparsholt@sparsholt.ac.uk. Alternatively you may pop into student services during our opening times to arrange an appointment directly.
If you would like to refer to our counselling service, please see the learner counselling section on Moodle. There is a short referral form to complete, then our counselling coordinator will contact you about arranging an appointment.
View the latest information from Ofqual here.
View the latest information on COVID-19 from the Government
View the latest information from the NHS