Staying safe

It is important to us that we work to minimise the potential risk to our staff, students and community. If you think you or someone living in your household have any symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus, please read the latest government advice here:

COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

or refer to the NHS Coronavirus health information page.

Please find below new Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance from Somerset for parents and carers providing information about managing isolation and testing, together with a message for you from the Director of Children’s Services for Somerset and the Director of Public Health.

Message from Director of Children’s Services for Somerset and the Director of Public Health

Covid-19 Testing A Quick Guide

Isolating, what happens if someone in your household gets Covid-19

Returning to College from March 8 2021

Important Information for Spring Term – February 2021 until March 8 2021

Following the government announcement on Monday 4 January, the College is now closed to visitors, and classroom delivery has been moved online. Here you will find our Remote Learning Offer.

However, there are three groups who may be eligible to come into College to study safely and use College resources as required:

Group 1

Students who have been requested to attend by their tutors in order to complete tasks or assessments.  Students in this category will be contacted by their tutor and given instructions about:

• Time and duration you are expected to attend
• College Area / building of the College to attend
• Health and Safety requirements.

All students should monitor communications from the college and interact with tutors and course leaders as requested.

Group 2

Vulnerable young people This includes for example young people with an EHCP or Child in Need plan.

Group 3

Children of critical workers, for example, the children of NHS or food sector workers, and also those who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home (for example due to a lack of devices or quiet space to study).

We are currently reviewing the guidance as it becomes available. Please ensure you continue to check your emails and back here for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We appreciate during this unprecedented time that our staff, students, employer partners and other stakeholders may have questions. We would appreciate anyone with questions reading our FAQs before contacting the College. If you do not find the answer to your question, please email info@btc.ac.uk.

All students should monitor communications from the college and interact with tutors and course leaders as requested.

Is the College open?

Following the government announcement on Monday 4 January, the College is now closed to visitors, and classroom delivery has been moved online.

However, there are three groups who may be eligible to come into College to study safely and use College resources as required:

Group 1

Students who have been requested to attend by their tutors in order to complete tasks or assessments.  Students in this category will be contacted by their tutor and given instructions about:

• Time and duration you are expected to attend
• College Area / building of the College to attend
• Health and Safety requirements.

Please continue to monitor your emails to ensure you do not miss any important information.

Group 2

Vulnerable young people This includes for example young people with an EHCP or Child in Need plan.

Group 3

Children of critical workers, for example, the children of NHS or food sector workers, and also those who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home (for example due to a lack of devices or quiet space to study).

If you are believe you are in group 2 or 3 and would benefit from working in College, please let us know before 2pm on a weekday for attendance the following day. Please email or call the College (info@btc.ac.uk or 01278 455464), letting us know which campus and the reason for wishing to come in.

Should I come to College on 8 March

You should only attend College if your timetable is scheduled for you to be in College. Please ensure you are checking your emails for updates from your tutors.

Do I need to get a Covid test before coming into College?

For information regarding lateral flow testing please visit the page Lateral Flow Testing

I am an apprentice, when do I return?

All teaching will be remote from Tuesday 5 January. In relation to attending work, you should liaise with your employer and follow the guidance for your local tier.

I am an HE student at University Centre Somerset, when do I return?

All teaching will be remote from Tuesday 5 January. Further information will be provided week commencing 4 January onwards.

What happens if I am unwell and unable to attend my online lessons?

We understand sometimes, staff and students may feel unwell, for example with a sore throat or a headache and may need to stay off college. During term time, any students or staff who are unwell should report their absence in the usual way by informing their tutor or line manager and seek medical advice through their GP or pharmacist as usual.

If you believe you are unwell with Covid-19, please ensure ensure you arrange for a Covid-19 test and follow NHS advice. If you test positive, please contact your personal tutor as soon as possible in order for us to take the necessary steps.

You should get tested if:

1) you develop one or more of the main coronavirus symptoms: a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or the loss or change of your sense of taste or smell; or

2) you are recommended to get tested by a healthcare provider (e.g. GP or nurse).

If a student or staff member develops one or more of the main coronavirus symptoms described above, they should be tested. There is no need for the whole household to have a test, unless they also have symptoms.

All members of the household need to self-isolate whilst waiting for that test result, even if they were not tested.

Response to suspected or confirmed Covid-19 procedure

Covid-19 Testing, A Quick Guide

Isolating, what happens if someone in your household gets Covid-19

What advice are you giving to staff and students?

We are following guidance from Public Health England, which has detailed information for both personal steps to take and measures to have in place in an educational setting.  We have shared general advice to help prevent the spread of infection with staff and students and offered guidance on what to do if they feel unwell.

Please see the document for reporting any illness and the procedure below

Response to suspected or confirmed Covid-19 procedure

Who are you getting advice from about opening?

We are following all  Government and Public Health England guidance on maintaining educational provision.

Are apprentices expected to continue to go into their workplace?

Apprentices are advised to follow the guidance being given at their workplace and to speak to their line managers about workplace procedures. If they have any concerns, they should discuss them with their line manager or tutors. We are working closely with employers to address any specific concerns.

In the majority of cases College staff will visit apprentices and their employers via an online platform. 

What should I do if my teachers are off?

There may be times when your teacher is unavailable. Students should continue their courses through online resources, with project work and other course work issued through the numerous digital channels that students already access.

Is there any support in place to support me if I have been affected by Covid-19?

The government has made funding available to support disadvantaged students,. This is called the tuition fund.  It is a government initiative to provide one-off funding for the 2020 to 2021 academic year only. It is ring fenced funding for schools, colleges and all other 16 to 19 providers to mitigate the disruption to learning arising from coronavirus (COVID-19).  To find out more head to the learner support page on our website.

All students should monitor communications from the college and interact with tutors and course leaders as requested.

Additional Information

Below you will find a number of links to documents you might find useful:

Remote Learning Offer

Operating Procedures Covid-19

College Risk Assessment

Response to suspected or confirmed Covid-19 procedure

Covid-19 Testing A Quick Guide

How to do your test 

Isolating, what happens if someone in your household gets Covid-19

Tuition

COSHH Sheets

• Selden Hand Sanitiser
• Springfield Hand Sanitiser
• Terminex Disinfectant

Reviews and updates

Bridgwater & Taunton College continues to follow guidance based on advice set out by Public Health England (PHE) and the Department for Education (DfE). Our senior leadership team monitors and reviews guidance from the Government and PHE on an ongoing basis, and we will respond to recommendations and instructions accordingly. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, students and employers for their support during this unprecedented time.