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Covid 19 Updates

At SMB College Group we are committed to ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and visitors. Below you will find the latest updates regarding Covid 19, including any restrictions and precautions you need to be aware of. This page will be updated regularly so please stay informed and check back.

 

SMB College Group follows all Government guidance currently in place for controlling COVID-19.  Control measures are regularly reviewed and if changes are required, information will be provided to students via their course/campus Teams Channel, on the website, or via social media.  

 

CovidHotline

 

  • 29th September 23 Update

    Information for Staff and Students

    As we approach the winter months, it is important to confirm the College’s continuing approach to COVID 19.

    As individuals are no longer testing routinely if you contract COVID you will probably be aware as you will be suffering from symptoms in the same way as other respiratory illnesses.

    Therefore, you should follow the normal reporting absence procedure if you are too ill to work or attend lessons.

    Staff

    • If you do not feel well enough to attend work or carry out normal activities you must call the absence line (01664 855295) and also report your absence to your line manager. 
    • If you test positive for COVID-19, you should contact your line manager to inform them (as well as the absence line) and remain at home for 5 days from the date of your test or when your symptoms started (whichever is earliest). 

    Any working from home arrangements (if possible) for those that have tested positive for COVID but feel well enough to work must be approved by line managers and managed on a local basis and therefore you do not need to call the absence line, unless you become unfit to work from home, at which point the absence line should be called.

    There are simple things you can do that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, protecting yourself and those at highest risk of serious illness. Things you can choose to do are:

    • Ensure you have received all COVID-19/flu vaccinations available to you/your age group
    • Let fresh air in if meeting others indoors.
    • Practise good hygiene:
    • wash your hands
    • cover your coughs and sneezes
    • clean your surroundings frequently
    • Encourage students to do the same

    The SMB Group will continue to ensure buildings are clean and have good ventilation.  Hand sanitiser also remains available in main receptions.

    Although advice is different for children under 18 testing positive for COVID-19, the 5 day isolation requirement will also remain in place for all of our students regardless of their age, to avoid confusion.

    Any absence due to COVID-19 will form part of our absence trigger calculation and therefore, should you hit the trigger your Manager will conduct an absence meeting with you promptly and set for targets for attendance as appropriate.   As a reminder our absence trigger is if you have 4 absences and/or 10 days in the previous rolling 12 month period.

     This allows us to manage absence more closely, request GP notes/OHA appointments for repeated infections and of course offer support as required.

    Students

    Although advice is different for children under 18 testing positive for COVID-19, the 5 day isolation requirement will also remain in place for all of our students regardless of their age, to avoid confusion. Please call the absence line and report your illness as usual.

    If you have any further questions about COVID-19, please do not hesitate to contact the H&S team via Teams or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • 6th October 22 Update

    Information for Staff and Students

    We are moving into cold and flu season – something we’ve not seen for a while since social distancing, facemasks and isolation were introduced.  Added to that is a general increase nationally in COVID-19 infection rates so this is a good time to remind you all of what to do if you, team members or students test positive for COVID-19.

    Legal restrictions officially ended in April 2022 removing the legal requirement to self-isolate with COVID-19.  However, government advice remains that you should try and self-isolate for 5 days following a positive COVID-19 test. SMB College Group will continue to follow this advice for our staff and students so that we minimise any spread of COVID-19 within our operations and continue to look after each other.

    Staff:

    This means that if you test positive, you should:

    • Let your line manager know as soon as possible and be prepared to provide evidence of your positive test
    • Stay away from campus for 5 days following the positive test (count the day of your test as day zero);
    • Government research suggests adults are no longer infectious after 5 days so on day 6, you can return to campus regardless of whether you are testing positive or negative unless:
      • You have a high temperature/fever or
      • you feel generally unwell
    • Work from home if you are able or well enough to do so during your 5 days, or discuss options with your line manager
    • If you are off sick, you must ring the Staff Absence line (01664 855295) and let your line manager know – and don’t forget to ring the Absence Line to let HR know when you return to work.

    Students:

    Guidance for children is slightly different as research indicates they are infectious for a shorter period of time than adults but for consistency across our College community and to avoid confusion between those over 18 and those under 18, all students will also be expected to be away from campus for 5 days, follow the above bullet points and ensure they call the Student Absence line.

    Lateral flow tests are no longer available at each campus following the Department for Education instruction for educational settings to return all tests after free testing was withdrawn nationally.

    If you have any further questions about COVID-19, please do not hesitate to contact the H&S team via Teams or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • 20th June 22 Update

    Information for Staff and Students

    Although in many ways we have returned to normal, COVID-19 is still in circulation and staff and students are still testing positive.  SMB Group campuses follow government guidance and you must do the following if you test positive:

    Staff:

     

    1. Call the staff absence line so that HR are aware of your positive test.  If your work can be carried out from home and you feel well, you are expected to work – let HR know this so they can accurately record your absence.
    2. Let your line manager know.
    3. Stay at home for 5 days (the 5 days begins the day after your positive test).  This is not a legal requirement but is recommended by NHS/Government as appropriate action to avoid spreading the virus to others.
    4. Return to campus after 5 days as long as you feel well and do not have a high temperature.  There is no requirement to record a negative test before your return.

     

    Students – under 18:
    1. Call the student absence line so that Student Services are aware of your positive test.  Expect to join lessons remotely or complete work at home if you feel well.
    2. Let your Tutor know so that a plan can be agreed on work to be completed at home.
    3. Stay at home for 3 days (the 3 days begins the day after your positive test).  This is not a legal requirement but is recommended by NHS/Government as appropriate action to avoid spreading the virus to others.
    4. Return to campus after 3 days as long as you feel well and do not have a high temperature.  There is no requirement to record a negative test before your return.

     

    Students – over 18:
    1. Call the student absence line so that Student Services are aware of your positive test.  Expect to join lessons remotely or complete work at home if you feel well.
    2. Let your Tutor know so that a plan can be agreed on work to be completed at home.
    3. Stay at home for 5 days (the 5 days begins the day after your positive test).  This is not a legal requirement but is recommended by NHS/Government as appropriate action to avoid spreading the virus to others.
    4. Return to campus after 5 days as long as you feel well and do not have a high temperature.  There is no requirement to record a negative test before your return.

     

    Government guidance with more information around avoiding contact with others if you have tested positive for COVID-19 can be found in the following link;

    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

    If you have any further queries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • 24th Feb 22 Update

    Government management of COVID-19 is changing, effective today (24th February 2022). Please see the table below for the changes in guidance/legal requirements and our procedure.

    Government changes in guidance/legal requirements relating to COVID-19

     

    SMB College Group procedure

    The legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test will end from Thursday 24th February. Positive cases will not be legally required to isolate but are advised to stay at home for 5 days and test if they wish (this advice will remain until April).

    SMB College Group will still require any staff member or student who tests positive to stay at home for 5 days from the date of their positive test, returning to work and studies on campus after two consecutive negative tests on Day 5 and Day 6. This will be reviewed at Easter.

    Staff should ring the absence line (01664 855295) to report their positive case and contact their line manager to discuss arrangements. They will also be expected to provide evidence of the positive result to their line manager and HR.

    Students should continue to record their absence through the usual channels.

    From 24th February, routine contact tracing will end. Contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests.

    SMB College Group will follow government guidance. If you have been in close contact with a positive case you can still attend work and studies on campus but should regularly wash your hands, test if you develop symptoms and be considerate of others, particularly those that have clinical vulnerabilities.

    From 24th February, the requirement for un-vaccinated individuals in contact with a positive case to self-isolate will end.

    SMB College Group will follow government guidance. If you have been in close contact with a positive case you can still attend work and studies on campus but should regularly wash your hands, test if you develop symptoms and be considerate of others, particularly those that have clinical vulnerabilities.

    From 21st February, the guidance for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to undertake twice weekly asymptomatic testing will end.

    SMB College Group will follow government guidance.

    Lateral flow test kits are still available from each campus reception for staff and students personal use and issuing of kits will be monitored.

    From 1 April, the Government will no longer provide free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public in England.

    SMB College Group will continue to provide lateral flow test kits for as long as we have them available. Kits are available for staff and students personal use and issuing of kits will be monitored.

    The Health and Safety team will continue to monitor cases and review the effectiveness of procedures and control measures. The following control measures will remain in place at all campuses:

    • Hand sanitiser available at building entrances/reception desks – all encouraged to regularly wash or sanitise their hands
    • Ventilation of classrooms and offices encouraged by opening windows to provide fresh air
    • Cleaning products (viricidal cleaner and blue roll) available to clean down working areas

    COVID-19 is still in circulation and people can still be unwell with it. SMB College Group has been able to keep cases low and avoid significant disruption to learners by the hard work of everyone in following the control measures and being responsible. Please continue to be vigilant and follow the remaining control measures in place. 

    As ever, if you have any queries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

  • 1st Feb 22 Update

    Students and staff are requested to test twice a week at home with Lateral Flow tests which can be collected from any campus reception.

    If a student has a positive test result, they (or a parent/guardian) must report it to the COVID-19 hotline: 07500 050599. 

     

    For information regarding isolation requirements, please see the  pdf FAQ document (349 KB) .  For information on general COVID-19 control measures, see the  pdf SMB College Group risk assessments (353 KB) .  For any queries, please contact the Health and Safety team This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.