Keeping you Safe

We received Department for Education guidance recently to help us prepare for the new academic year and although COVID-19 restrictions are easing across the country, it goes without saying that learner and staff safety will continue to remain our top priority.

If you have COVID-19 self-testing kits readily available at home, we encourage you to take a test before you arrive for your first day of college. As it stands, the advice for anyone with COVID-19 symptoms remains unchanged, so you should NOT come to college and must inform us of your absence via the safeguarding email address, if you do have symptoms or receive a positive COVID-19 test.

Stamford College Safeguarding@stamford.ac.uk

From the start of term, on-site COVID-19 lateral flow testing (LFT) will be taking place. We have a ‘tried and tested’ programme already in place for testing onsite at Stamford College , in an effort to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. Whilst the decision to take a test remains optional, all learners and staff will be strongly encouraged to participate in testing to allow us to quickly identify any asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and ultimately, keep our college community as safe as possible. Tests will be self-administered and will be carried out with the support and supervision of fully trained staff.

New students: On-site testing will take place from Wednesday 1^st September, as part of your first week on campus. If you’re not sure when this is yet, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the college or curriculum team. You will be tested once in week one and once in week two .

Returning students: On-site testing will take place from Wednesday 1^st September. If you’re not sure when you are expected to return back to college please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your course tutor.

All students will be encouraged to continue with home testing using COVID-19 lateral flow tests (LFT). Home testing kits will be provided to all students during your second week, but there will also be some available to collect from the reception areas.

Please read the Keeping you Safe Guide that provides important information whilst studying with Inspire Education Group.

Hand sanitising stations are still located throughout both campuses, which we encourage you to use on entry to the College site, and regularly throughout the day. Our enhanced campus cleaning regime is still in place.

If you want to wear a face covering, this is optional, but not mandatory. We would encourage you to wear a face covering when in close proximity of others, for your own protection and for the protection of others. It’s your own personal choice but it is expected and recommended that these are worn when travelling on public or dedicated College transport.

If you’re aged 16 or over, you’re now eligible to receive your COVID-19 vaccine, which you can get a local walk-in clinic. Although the NHS will contact you when it's your turn to get the vaccine, there are walk-in clinics available for you to attend where you can get your vaccine there and then.

We strongly encourage all those who are eligible to have the vaccine to do so, so that you can enjoy the full-range of opportunities available at IEG without disruption to your studies. Ensuring our college community is as safe as possible is our top priority.

You can find your nearest drop-in clinic here.