Published 05 Dec 2021

Dear Students, Colleagues, and Stakeholders,

I am writing to update you following the Government announcement asking educational settings to take several precautionary measures for the new Covid variant Omricon which is being tracked and assessed. Face coverings must now be worn in all communal settings (including classrooms) unless exempt. There are isolation requirements for confirmed and suspected cases of the Omricon variant and their contacts to reduce the risk of serious illness from the spread of the virus. This advice remains subject to change as the situation develops. We expect to continue teaching in the current format without restrictions to face-to-face teaching. We have revised our risk assessment accordingly which is available on our website Docklands Academy London Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Docklands Academy London.

We will do everything we can to keep you safe during your time at the Academy, continue to follow operational guidance from Public Health England and put into effect necessary measures to prevent spread of the virus.

Our staff and students are encouraged to continue taking Rapid Lateral Flow Tests twice a week and record the results. If you test positive, you must inform the Academy at info@docklandsacademy.co.uk and self-isolate immediately. The current guidance on contact tracing and isolation remains in place and additionally, any suspected or confirmed close contact of Omricon variant will be asked to self-isolate for 10 days regardless of their vaccine status or age.

In order to prevent the spread of the virus, we must all continue to Catch it, Bin it, Kill it by covering our mouth and nose with a tissue (not the hands), dispose of the tissue immediately and continue to use hand sanitisers and wash hands regularly.

Although staying in groups/bubbles are not compulsory, it is recommended to be cautious when being present in crowded settings during your time at the Academy.

You are welcome to reach us at info@docklandsacademy.co.uk if you would like to access our welfare services or a mental health first aider for advice and guidance. You may find the following links useful to have detailed information and guidance about Coronavirus:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Order coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The following links may provide you tips, advice and guidance to support your mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Young Minds
• Anna Freud
• Mind 
• World Health Organisation 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy and safe festive season.

Canan E. Celik

Return to Face to Face Learning at Docklands Academy London

Published 12 May 2021

Dear Students,

Following the Government’s announcement regarding the re-opening of Schools and Colleges, I am pleased to inform you that our building will re-open for face-to-face education as at 7^th June 2021. However, we will follow a blended-learning programme as detailed below:

Weekday Groups   > Mondays (on-site) / Tuesdays (online)

Weekend Groups   > Saturdays (on-site) / Sundays (online)

I would like to draw your attention to the following precautionary measures that must be followed by all our students and staff for returning to the building:

The Lateral Flow Testing (LFT):

• All students and staff are strongly encouraged to do Lateral Flow Testing (LFT)which will help all of us to protect each other. Although the government regulations are easing down the restrictions, all of us muststill be alert and extremely cautious not to contribute to the spread of the Covid-19. The test takes only 5 minutes to do and will definitely protect especially our vulnerable peers and colleagues against the virus.

• As it can be understood from the details given below, the tests are quite easy to obtain, apply and get the results in just 30 mins.

All the staff                >        every 3-4 days

All of the students    >       Weekday Groups (every Sunday & Tuesday evenings)

                                             Weekend Groups (every Friday & Sunday evenings)

How to obtain the Test:

Tests can be either (free of charge):

• ordered at //www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests,
• ordered by phone > 119 (calls are free)
• collected from or got at a test site by using the link //maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/

How to apply the Test:

• Help and support is available (//www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-self-test-help), including instructions in different languages on how to test and report the results and a video showing you how to take the test.
• Please watch the video instructions for easy application steps at //www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9XR8RZxKNo

How to Register the Test Result:

1. First, report the test resulton the day you take the test at //www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result
2. Then, you will receive an NHS COVID-19 Notification result as a text message to your mobile phone.
3. Finally, register your result to our Testing Result Log at docklandsacademy.net/eforms/nhs-test-result-log/13/

• Anybody who has not taken the test and registered their results to our Testing Result Log at net/nhstestresultlog in the frequency mentioned below will be directed to a specifically designated class where they will study the lesson contents of that day separately. Unfortunately, they will not be allowed to make use of the facilities such as the canteen and library. Their lecturers will guide them in terms of what to do till the end of the related session.

In the Case of Carrying Symptoms or Positive Results:

• If you are feeling unwell and/or display any symptoms of Covid-19, please do not attend the Academy and contact us at info@docklandsacademy.co.ukto report your absence.
• You must stay at home to self-isolate and book a PCR test (you can do this online or by calling 119) and follow national guidelines.
• Please stay at home until you get your PCR test result – if it is taken within 2 days of your Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) and comes back negative, you can return to the Academy and both you and your contacts can stop self-isolating.
• For those who cannot attend the classes physically due to medical reasons(carrying symptoms, positive test result etc.), online lessons will be provided. So, those students should access all lessons online throughout this period as long as they are well enough to do so. Your lecturers will provide you with the details on how to access them whilst you are self-isolating as appropriate.
• Those students will be regarded as Authorised Absentduring the self-isolation period.

Welfare and wellbeing:

• You are welcome to reach us at info@docklandsacademy.co.ukif you would like to access our welfare services or a mental health first aider for advice and guidance.
• Additionally, the following links may provide you tips, advice and guidance to support your mental health and wellbeingduring the COVID-19 pandemic:
• Young Minds
• Anna Freud
• Mind 
• World Health Organisation 

Other control measures:

• Face Coverings
  • Unless medically exempt, it is mandatory to wear masks everywhere in the Academy premises including the classrooms and communal areas.
  • Any student who refuses to wear a face mask will not be allowed to enter the actual classes, butwill be directed to a specifically designated class where they will study the lesson contents of that day separately. Their lecturers will guide them in terms of what to do till the end of the related session.
  • However, only the students and staff medically exempt from wearing a face mask, will be allowed to wear a face visor as an alternative. Otherwise, face visors or shields alone are not allowed as they are not effective in reducing aerosol transmission without an additional face covering.
  • Please report to the reception if you need a face covering and we will provide you with one on your arrival.

• Hand sanitisersare available throughout the Academy.  Please use the hand sanitiser stations and wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water, particularly on arrival to the building, and when moving from one space to another.
• Catch it, bin it, kill it: Always carry tissues and use them to catch your cough and sneeze.
• The classrooms and communal areas will be well ventilated throughout the day.
• Enhanced cleaningwill be maintained in particular on frequently touched surfaces throughout the building.
• COVID-19 Risk Assessment: Please follow the guidance to mitigate risks of COVID-19 displayed across the building and take time to read our current COVID-19 Risk Assessment //docklandsacademy.co.uk/covid-19.
• Social Distancing
  • A scattered entrance, exit and break times timetable will be applied for on-site lessons.

• Classes will be divided into bubbles where applicable.

• Programme Area Bubbles

The Academy has been divided into specific programme area bubbles. This means that at lunch time or any other break time, all students should use their specific designated area. The designated areas for break times and the class bubbles for lessons are outlined below:

Canteen and Library Usage

There will be a rotation basis in our canteen and library. Students are not allowed to use the canteen outside their break times. The maximum number of students that will be allowed at a time are: for Canteen > 14 / for Library à 18

We are very excited to have you back on campus in a month’s time following such a challenging year and I have no doubt that you will commit to wearing your mask, keeping your distance and do your LFT which will allow us to stay together.

Kind Regards,

Canan E. Celik

CEO

Docklands Academy London

Published on 13 March 2020

We recognise that the current health situation regarding COVID-19 is a main cause of worry. We would like to assure you that the health and wellbeing of our students, colleagues and visitors is the top priority for DAL. Therefore, we are monitoring the situation closely and following guidance provided by the following Authorities:

World Health Organisation

UK Government Guidance for Educational Settings

Public Health England

NHS guidance

Key points on our plans and actions will be updated and communicated on our webpage, following guidance from above authorities. More information about the Government’s overall action plan to manage COVID-19 in the UK can be found in this link.

Key Points and Health Actions for All Students, Colleagues and Visitors of DAL:

Our building and facilities:There will be some changes in our operating arrangements such as increased remote working for members of staff, however, our building will be open at certain intervals for the time being which we will communicate the details with you.

If you have any concerns or queries, please contact us immediately on info@docklandsacademy.co.uk

If you have travelled from an affected area in the past 14 days, please ensure that you follow the step by step guidance provided by the NHS.

If you are feeling unwell with flu like symptoms, contact 111 immediately.

Students: If you have been given guidance to self-isolate please inform us immediately on info@docklandsacademy.co.uk and provide as much detail as possible so that we can monitor your condition and provide academic support and advice. You should also contact your lecturer/s to discuss the impact of any absence as a result of COVID-19 on your studies. We will put arrangements in place to continue your studies remotely during the period you are required to self-isolate or stay at home to care for others. Students are required to attend or submit for assessment in the usual way, unless they are unwell or isolating on medical advice – in which case, mitigating circumstances policy would apply. You will not be penalised for non-attendance.

Our Academy is moving to online teaching and assessment from Monday 23 March 2020 for Higher Education Provision. This decision has been taken to allow students to continue their studies remotely. Please click Online Learning Arrangements to find out more.

Our English School will resume face to face classes on 8th March 2021. We will ensure all the safety measures are in place to comply with the latest Government advice on COVID-19 at all times.

Staff: If you have been given guidance to self-isolate please email canan.ejder@docklandsacademy.co.uk immediately and provide as much detail as possible so that we can monitor your condition and provide HR support and advise handling the information as confidential sensitive personal data. We will put arrangements in place so that you can continue with your work as appropriately during the period you are required to self-isolate or stay at home to care for others.

If you have been advised to self-isolate, you should not travel in the public or come to the Academy. Please follow the Advice for home isolation guidance on GOV.UK.

If you are planning to travel abroad, please follow Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidance

We continue to monitor the situation carefully for planned trips in our social calendar. They are currently on hold.

If you need advice on how my visa or immigration status might be affected by these issues, you may find it helpful to refer to the immigration guidance on GOV.UK

Our Academy does not have any activities scheduled that require travel outside of the UK. Therefore, none of the Academy colleagues or students should feel obliged to travel internationally for Academy-related reasons.

You can reduce the risk of passing and receiving infections by practising good personal hygiene to protect against infection:

Wash your hands regularly: The NHS advice remains for everyone to wash their hands thoroughly and often, to always carry tissues and to discard these immediately after use. Please wash your hands as soon as you enter the Academy building.

Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the most effective means of keeping hands clean. As long as hands are washed correctly, then either paper towels or hand driers can be used to dry hands. Avoid touching your face.

Hand sanitiser has been provided at points of entry to our buildings.

You might also find it helpful to watch this BBC video on how to wash your hands.

Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of any used tissues in the bin and wash your hands afterwards.

Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

All students, colleagues and visitors are advised to follow official guidance from Public Health England.

If a member of Docklands Academy London community tests positive for COVID-19

DAL will be contacted by Public Health England (PHE) if a student or colleague has a confirmed diagnosis of Coronavirus. In conjunction with DAL, PHE would identify people who have been in contact with the person and advise on any actions or precautions that should be taken.

A risk assessment of each setting will be undertaken in conjunction with PHE, who would lead on any advice to be provided to DAL community and public.

PHE would also be in contact with the person directly to advise on isolation and identifying other contacts and will be in touch with any contacts of the person to provide them with appropriate advice.

We will issue a statement on our webpage to colleagues, students and other members of DAL community. The identity of the person affected will not be released.

If you have a question about actions required for specific situations, please direct these as follows:

Student Related Issues: info@docklandsacademy.co.uk

All other issues: canan.ejder@docklandsacademy.co.uk

Many thanks for your help, support and co-operation at this difficult period for DAL community.

Kind Regards,

Canan E. Celik

Principal / CEO
Docklands Academy London

CEO / Principal

DAL COVID19 Risk Assessment V5 Dec21