News

Dear Parents / Carers / Students

As young people return to College full-time, we have put in place a range of protective measures to reduce the risk of transmission. We will also be engaging fully with the NHS Test & Trace process and will work closely with the local Health Protection Team of Public Health England and the local authority to ensure that any confirmed cases are reported without delay.

Within this letter, you will find details of what to expect if the college is notified of a possible or confirmed case of coronavirus.

This information is constantly under review and therefore subject to change. Any updates will be shared with parents, carers and students as soon as it is received.

Where there is a possible case of coronavirus in college

If a child or member of staff develops symptoms of coronavirus, the individual concerned will be sent home and asked to self-isolate for 10 days. Siblings will also be sent home in these circumstances. They will be asked to arrange a test at the earliest convenience (either by visiting a test centre, or by requesting a home test kit) and to share the results with the college.

Where there is a confirmed case of coronavirus in college

If a student or member of staff tests positive for coronavirus, the individual concerned will be asked to self-isolate for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared.

If they have tested positive whilst not experiencing symptoms but develop symptoms during the isolation period, they should restart the 10 day isolation period from the day they develop symptoms.

Other members of their household or support bubble should self-isolate for 14 days from when the symptomatic person first had symptoms and should continue this period of isolation even if they too have been tested and have received a negative test result.

The College will work with the Department for Education and the Health Protection Team of Public Health England to carry out a risk assessment to determine who else, if anyone, also needs to isolate.

What you can do

If a student, a household member or a member of your support bubble develops any of the following symptoms, we would ask that you notify the College immediately and arrange a test by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by phoning 119.

• A high temperature
• A new and persistent cough
• A loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If they receive a negative test result, they should not return to College until they have been well for 48 hours.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. If you have any concerns or questions about the Test and Trace process, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that students should be regularly washing their hands and/or using hand sanitiser, be wearing a mask on public transport, and it is also recommended that a mask is worn in College where social distancing cannot be maintained, for instance in the corridor or refectory.

The Department of Education has recently announced the availability of funding to support students whose learning was disrupted as a result of the COVID pandemic. This 16-19 Tuition Fund is available to all 16 to 19 providers such as Hertford Regional College and is ring-fenced for 16 to 19 small group tuition only. The funding can be used to support small group tuition for 16 to 19 students in English, maths, and other courses where learning has been disrupted. The guidance indicates that the supported students must be on a 16 to 19 study programme and have not achieved grade 5 or above in GCSE maths and/or English by age 16. Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 19 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan will also be eligible for support via the 16 to 19 Tuition Fund.

Hertford Regional College commits to using the small group tuition funding that it has been given to provide maths and English and vocational support to mitigate against the impact of the pandemic on our study programme students. Sessions will be limited to three to five students per group and will be above and beyond normal timetabled hours. Students will be prioritised for small group tuition based on the guidance released by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The full guidance can be accessed here.

Maths and English catch-up support sessions will be prioritised for those students:

• who have not achieved a grade 4 in English and/or maths
• with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan
• with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), particularly where they have experienced additional disruption to learning as a result of their specific needs and disabilities
• who will benefit most from small group tuition

Vocational support sessions including study skills support will be prioritised for those students:

• where assessment has been deferred because of lockdown
• with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan
• on Entry, Level 1 and Level 2 study programmes
• who have not achieved a grade 4 in English and/or maths

If our funding allocation allows, support may also be provided for those students who have achieved a grade 4 in GCSE maths and/or English by age 16.