Covid-19 update: Phase 4 return to Macbeth centre

Adult Learning and Skills Service

Dear Students

Welcome back to the new academic year 2021-22. I hope you have all managed to have a good summer break and have been keeping safe and well.

We are all looking forward to our new academic year 2021-22 and a phased return of more face to face classes at our Hammersmith & Fulham Adult Learning Centres. The Autumn term (Sept - Dec 2021) begins next Monday 13th September 2021 for some classes, and for many others on Monday 20th September. Where appropriate we will continue to offer some online classes as part of a blended learning approach.  

Over the Summer period our Adult Learning & Skills team, with support from H&F Council’s C19 Technical Assistance Group (TAG), have been very busy preparing for a Phase 4 return to our Macbeth centre for face to face courses. We have had regular meetings and site visits with the Council’s C19 TAG team in preparation for the Phase 4 return. The TAG team looks at every aspect of health and safety to ensure that any return is Government compliant and meets current national and Local Authority C19 guidelines. Any return to face to face classes must continue to follow a manageable phased approach. The main priority is to ensure that all of our staff and students are kept safe and properly protected.

At the Council’s C19 Recovery Board meeting on Monday 6th September, it was decided that our H&F Adult Learning Service can follow a phased 4 return again to our Macbeth Centre with more face to face classes this term (Sept -Dec 2021). Phase 4 of the return will begin as planned at our Macbeth Centre next Monday 13th September. Our Adult Learning centres at 239a Uxbridge Road and at Normand Croft Community School will also open on 20th September.

• From 13th September 2021 more classes will be delivered face to face, but where appropriate we will also continue to offer some online remote classes (or through course work)
• Students will need to enrol online or over the phone, if you haven’t already done so
• All enquiries must be made over the phone or via email
• The Macbeth Centre, Uxbridge Road centre and Normand Croft Community Centre will only be open to registered staff and students. These centres will not be open to the general public
• There will be restricted use of these buildings for a limited number of selected ALSS staff and students attending the face to face classes starting from the week beginning Monday 13th September 2021.
• There will be no café at Macbeth until later this term or the beginning of next term.
• All staff and students will need to complete an Individual Risk Assessment which will be sent out by email a.s.a.p.
• C19 Home Testing Lateral Flow Kits will be available at the centres and staff and students must ensure that they carry out a test the night before, or in the morning before attending class. If the test is positive you must inform us via phone a.s.a.p. and refrain from attending the centres     
• All staff and students will be registered in the building and can be tracked and traced in the event of an outbreak
• All staff and students will be encouraged to wear PPE e.g. face masks or visors and gloves etc. where appropriate
• PPE will be supplied to staff by our adult learning centres, but those students attending face to face classes must bring their own face masks etc.
• Reception and all areas of the building will continue to be clearly marked to encourage social distancing and rotational movement in and around the buildings etc.
• Class times will be staggered to ensure reduced contact between staff and students from different classes
• All Adult Learning centres, classrooms and workshops have undergone a C19 H&S Risk Assessment to ensure that they meet all requirements for health and safety and TAG
• Rigorous and heightened cleaning and sanitisation of equipment will continue to be a requirement for everyone
• All staff and students will complete a full induction covering all aspects of the C19 H&S regulations, which are  Local Authority compliant and meet industry guidelines for C19
• There will be limited numbers of staff and students in classes and around the building to ensure social distancing rules are still adhered to as much as possible
• Face to face evening classes will begin again on Monday 13th September at our Macbeth centre. Please check with Admin if your specific course is going ahead
• Saturday face to face classes will begin again on Saturday 25th September. Please check with Admin if your specific course is going ahead 
• The C19 H&S TAG team will regularly monitor and review progress.

The above Phase 4 return is dependent on no further spikes of C19. However, should there be any further outbreaks, our ALSS service has a robust Outbreak Response Plan, which will be implemented if necessary. 

The decision by the Local Authority Recovery Board and C19 TAG team for a continued phased return of adult education classes has been carefully considered. The health and safety of all our staff and students is of paramount importance to the Local Authority and our ALSS service. The pandemic is still ongoing, so government, DFE and our H&F Local Authority guidelines are subject to frequent changes. However, we will continue to meet regularly with the C19 H&S team and keep you all up to date with progress.

If you have already enrolled for a class and are unsure about the mode of delivery please check to see whether it will be offered as a face to face class, or as an online class. Please check our ALSS website for updates, email alssinfo@lbhf.gov.uk or phone 020 8753 3600 for further information.

I am sure, like me, you are glad that we are able to return to our centres with more face to face classes for the beginning of the new academic year. I hope you all enjoy your adult education classes and we look forward to meeting some of you again in person at some point during the term. 

Thank you all for your ongoing support and commitment.

Kind regards,

Eamon Scanlon

Head of Adult Learning & Skills