Guidance on Teaching, ‘The 16 to 19 Tuition Fund 2021 to 2022 Academic Year’ and COVID-19 Update

Tracey Mace-Akroyd, the Deputy CEO/Principal is the senior leader with overarching responsibility for curriculum and quality and the delivery of education and training (Tracey.Mace-Akroyd@rnngroup.ac.uk).

Academic Year 2021/2022: September 2021 Update

We are delighted to have welcomed back students to our campuses. As we start the new academic year, we are all really keen to make this year a wonderful success for our students and staff.

The majority of our teaching, learning and assessment now takes place face to face in classrooms, practical workshop areas and real work environments. However, all students still study a small proportion of their programme remotely online, this is to ensure we continue to develop the digital skills you need to be successful in the future.

• Blended/online teaching and learning activity may include live streaming of practical demonstrations, discussions, presentations, videos, quizzes, games and group tasks (using online whiteboards and shared documents).
• Students are expected to access and participate in all of their normal timetabled sessions, including Maths and English if applicable. Tutors will record a registered mark of attendance for each session. Please note that a register of attendance mark will only be awarded where students have engaged and participated in a teaching and learning session. Just attending lessons or logging into an online session is not sufficient or acceptable.
• Students will also be required to complete independent study activities as part of their programme. Tutors will record a register of attendance mark for independent study activities once they have reviewed the work produced.
• If you need support to access your Google Account or Google Classroom, please email your tutor or the Library Service Team who will provide support.
• We have resumed on-site activity and work assessments for apprentices, where it is safe to do so.

Support for students without devices or connectivity for accessing remote online learning:

• Students who require a laptop or wi-fi to support remote learning should contact their Tutor or Progress Tutor to discuss their personal circumstances and requirements.
• Tutors will inform students of the date and time that they can collect equipment from their campus. Students must attend these appointments.
• Students who receive a College laptop must ensure that they bring the laptop to use in all timetabled lessons.
• Our Library/Learning Centres are open and if you require academic or research support for your studies, or wish to book a pc to work independently please see the following link for campus contact information. RNN Group Libraries

The 16 to 19 tuition fund 2021 to 2022 academic year

We are receiving additional funding this year to support students who have experienced disruption to their learning from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

We will use the funding to provide additional Maths, English and vocational tuition to support our students who have missed, lost or need to catch up on some learning following the pandemic.

Lessons will be in addition to a student’s normal timetabled sessions and will include:

• Small group tuition (maximum group sizes of 5 learners)
• One to one tuition.

We will also provide small group tuition for pastoral and academic courses such as science, specific safeguarding topics for vulnerable learners, academic study skills, customer service and the effective use of social media and communication.

• Students eligible for support will be identified by Tutors, Progress Tutors and Support staff during the enrolment process, Discovery days, WOW induction week and during one to one personal progress reviews.
• Students who require additional tuition to catch up on missed learning or recap previous learning should also contact their Tutor or Progress Tutor to discuss their personal circumstances and requirements.

COVID-19 Update

A key part of life at College is ensuring we consider the safety of our staff and students. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 virus has not gone away and currently, in Rotherham and the surrounding areas, the number of people catching the virus continues to rise, therefore we have to remain vigilant. To help us do so, we have summarised below the key priorities that we all will need to follow, now we are back in College:

• Hand hygiene: Frequent and thorough hand cleaning needs to continue. This can be done with soap and water or hand sanitiser (at each entrance).
• Respiratory hygiene: The ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ continues to be very important.
• Face covering: Although face covers are not mandatory, we strongly advise that they should continue to be worn in busy communal areas like corridors and spaces of congregation. Local Public Health authorities can insist that face coverings can be worn in other areas if local numbers begin to rise.
• Ventilation: Where possible/practical please ensure that all windows and doors are to be kept open.
• Enhanced cleaning regimes are in place. In addition, there will be sanitising wipes in classrooms to encourage staff and students to wipe down after each session.
• Risk Assessments: The College has up to date COVID risk assessments in place.