Coronavirus Updates

Wednesday 31st March, 10:00

Message for Students:

First of all, we hope you are enjoying your Easter break!

We want to thank all of our students and apprentices for their responsible & professional behaviour which allowed us to re-open College safely for face-to-face delivery on the 8th March.

We are happy to say that you will be returning to your normal timetable when you come back to College after Easter (from w/c Monday 12th April).

Please can you all make sure you carry out your home test prior to returning to College.

- Suffolk New College


Wednesday 17th March, 10:10

Information for Students:

If you have not already been given a pack of home tests you will be able to collect one from the Learning Curve at both Ipswich and Suffolk Rural next week (starting 22nd March). Please try your best to avoid peak times as test packs will be available throughout the week.

Friday 12th March, 11:35

Home COVID Testing for Students

We are now over halfway through the mass testing of our returning students. The plan, as previously shared, is to now move students onto home testing from next week onwards. We received our first delivery of student home testing kits today, containing 3 tests in each. We do not, at this stage, have enough stocks to give students two boxes i.e. 6 tests. The 3 initial tests we are giving them should last the majority of students three weeks, as they will be testing once a week. This is due to the current pattern of students being in around one day a week, or multiple days but close together. You only test twice in one week if there should be three days between tests. This will take them up to Easter and the first week back. As soon as we get more delivered we will increase the amount given out.

We have determined that the best way is to distribute the home test kits is to deliver them to each group, in their workshop/classroom at both Rural and Ipswich. Leiston, Halesworth, and Needham Market will be distributed separately. This will start from Monday 15th March.

Any student who has not previously consented to testing will need to complete a consent form before they can take their home test kits – these will be provided. If a student has previously consented at any stage for COVID testing (electronic or at the test center) they do not need to do this again.

Students will only be able to take one pack. In their pack, they have a letter explaining when to test, a guide with instructions on how to test, and the test kit. Any students who are absent that day can collect their kit from the Learning Curves at Ipswich and Rural during the week commencing 22nd March. We will have a record of who to expect from the registers.

We are putting in separate arrangements for our Supported Learning students to get their packs to them in a different way, which involves their parents and/or carers.

Going forward, we will be closing down the large-scale testing centers at both locations and encouraging staff and students to use their home tests. There will be a procedure for anyone who falls out of this and we will share more information on that over the next couple of days.

Daisy Lanyards for those exempt from wearing masks

Now that we have returned to face-to-face delivery and the guidance has been tightened up by the Government with regard to mask-wearing, we have reviewed our approach to exemptions.

Over the past couple of weeks, Student Support has been in touch with any students who were previously exempt from wearing a mask, to check that the exemption still applies and to switch them over from a sticker (this is the system we previously used) to a daisy lanyard. The benefit of a daisy lanyard is that it is more widely known that people who are exempt from wearing a mask use them, and it is more obvious than a sticker.

We have asked our staff not to challenge anyone who is not wearing a mask but is wearing a daisy lanyard.

Tuesday 2nd March, 10:55

We have included some photos of our test sites below and links to our FAQs and the official self-testing video.

Students will be receiving more information via a letter in the post this week.

Thursday 25th February, 15:50

Email sent to student GAPPS accounts:

Dear Student

The government announced this week that colleges and schools will return to face-to-face learning from 8th March.

As you may be aware one of the measures being used to allow colleges to return to face-to-face learning is the use of a lateral flow test to identify anyone who is asymptomatic.

In order to comply with the government guidelines, we are required to offer all students free initial tests between three and five days apart. You will soon receive notification of the dates for your tests.

Before you can attend your first test we require those that are willing to be tested to complete a consent form using the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcUEQBWfYzGq_TqGA3qdc5uiFYQ4kQYP7F3tDoV6Q4AHGemQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

After the initial three tests onsite you will be familiar with how to conduct tests we will then be transitioning students to a home testing regime.

We would appreciate it if you complete the consent as soon as possible. However, we will have consent forms available on the day of the test.

Testing is voluntary but strongly encouraged as part of the programme to help break transmission links by identifying those that may be carrying the virus unknowingly.

With your permission, even if you decline on the day of the test then that right will be respected.

Kind regards

Executive Team


Wednesday 24th February, 13:20

Dear Students, Parents and Carers

We are sure you will have heard by now that the Government has announced that Colleges should resume face-to-face teaching from Monday 8th March 2021. This is great news for us to welcome the students back to continue their learning journeys.

Many of the finer details of reopening need to be worked out, much of which will be determined by the Lateral Flow Testing. The college will be able to offer these tests to all students before they return, but the volume of students and tests this amounts to means that we will be planning a phased return to face-to-face teaching during the week of Monday 8th March 2021. This will allow us to complete testing and ensure necessary protocols are in place according to Government guidelines.

We are currently working on plans and students will receive a letter before Thursday 4th March 2021 to give more details on expectations around attendance at face-to-face sessions, the requirement to wear masks in classrooms & workshops and participation in testing.

We know there may be some worry about students returning, but during the last term, the Suffolk New College community showed it was able to adhere to the new safety measures to allow a safe return for our young people and staff. We are sure we can do the same again.

All students should continue to engage with their online sessions and learning until they receive further information. Thank you for your patience whilst we make the necessary plans and we look forward to having students back with us soon.

If you want to get in touch with us directly, please contact your tutor, call us on 01473 382200 or email us at info@suffolk.ac.uk

If you need to access our student support services, please get in touch with us at support@suffolk.ac.uk

Government guidance on the rules under the lockdown is available here.

Tuesday 12th January, 09:07

We are happy to say that our lateral flow testing facilities are now operational at our Ipswich and Suffolk Rural campuses.

These facilities will allow our teams to regularly test students and staff who are on-site to help our College and community contain the virus.

Currently, the tests are only available to students and staff who are working on-site.


Tuesday 5th January, 19:20

Examinations:

In light of the serious COVID situation (and a change in the government’s stance which has only just been announced) we have taken the decision to postpone the January 2021 examinations (including BTEC exams) scheduled to take place.

We believe that it is the most sensible decision to safeguard our staff and students.

We know from enquiries that we have received today that this will be a relief for some, however, we also know it will cause some disappointment for others who have worked hard to prepare for these.

We will provide further information as soon as it becomes available on when these will be rescheduled to.

The College continues to operate and is delivering our teaching online. Whether you were due to take an exam or not during this period, it is important that you continue to engage with your learning even under these exceptional circumstances.

If you have any queries about the impact of this decision please liaise with your tutor or contact the college on 01473 382200 from 9am tomorrow, or email info@suffolk.ac.uk

Suffolk New College

Monday 4th January, 21:20

In light of this evening’s government update by the Prime Minister, we have revised our plans for the return of learners into our buildings and have outlined some additional updates:

Information for Tuesday 5th January:

Support for Learners:

  • Our student support team will be contactable through email support@suffolk.ac.uk learners also have access to a range of virtual resources on our virtual support hub http://www.suffolk.ac.uk/virtualsupport
  • If vulnerable learners are not able to access online learning then dedicated open access areas will be available at our Ipswich and Suffolk Rural campuses to provide access to this technology. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee that LSA support will be available.

Please continue to follow government guidance, stay home and stay safe.

Suffolk New College


Previous Updates:

Friday 1st January 2021

On the 30th December 2020, the education secretary set out the plans for learners returning to schools and colleges in a statement to the House of Commons.

As Suffolk remains in Tier 4 (along with 75% of England) we have outlined our plans below for our students, apprentices and adult learners.

Returning to College

Week commencing 4th January – We will maintain our existing arrangements for this week. This means a shift to online learning for all with some exceptions to include Supported Learning, ESOL and students who are either sitting an exam next week (or who have an external exam in January where revision sessions have been planned for next week).

Week commencing 11th January – We are extending the arrangements for w/c 4th January to w/c 11th January as well.

Week commencing 18th January – This is when we have planned return to face-to-face learning for all, these plans may develop and change over the coming weeks as we receive government guidance and updates.

Adult programmes - Any courses due to start at Suffolk Rural w/c 4th January will be postponed to w/c 18th January.

Apprenticeships - Apprentice off-the-job learning will now be online w/c 4th January and w/c 11th January.














Exams & Support

Exams - Students who have exams in January will be in College, either taking their exams or in revision sessions in preparation for these exams, which are still going ahead. The first one of these to take place will be the BTEC Information Technology exam on Tuesday 5th January.

Support & Resources for learners - Spaces will be made available for students to work from College where they are unable to work from home. This will include the Learning Curve on both sites with the DigiHubs in Ipswich and IT areas at Suffolk Rural.

English & maths sessions - These will be online from w/c 4th & 11th January for both students and apprentices

PD Sessions - Progress Tutors will run online PD sessions and make welfare calls to learners who are working from home for w/c 4th & 11th January

Student support - Our student support advisors will be available via phone and email, students and apprentices can also access our virtual support resources.

MySNC - Students and apprentices can continue to make use of the resources and online services (moodle, google classroom, webmail) within MySNC by visiting https://student.suffolk.ac.uk/

Please continue to follow government guidance to keep yourselves, your friends and your families safe.

Suffolk New College


We are asking all our students and staff to wear face coverings in College communal areas.

Code of Conduct & Risk Assessments

Please refer to the below documents.

Official Information

As the situation is complex and may evolve, we also recommend using the following resources to stay up-to-date with the latest advice:

Public Health England Advice on the coronavirus for places of education

For the latest information and guidance please see the official Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK government response

If you are unwell and not able to attend College please report your absence through the normal channels outlined here.