COLLEGE SUPPORTS STUDENTS IN NEED DURING CORONAVIRUS CLOSURE

Image caption: NWSLC Logo in Green

Following advice from the UK Government concerning measures to combat the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), NWSLC closed its campuses on Friday 20 March to the majority of students and staff.

The college will remain partially open at its Nuneaton and Wigston Campuses to support the children of keyworkers, those with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), students in local authority care, and other students that are known to be vulnerable. All four academies of the Midland Academies Trust (MAT) are relocating their ongoing provision for children of key workers and those with EHCPs to a dedicated area within the college’s Nuneaton Campus.  Here staff from the individual schools will provide ongoing study and support in a safe and well managed environment.

Students who continue to attend college will become part of the NWSLC engagement project where they will be enabled to progress with their studies in accordance with social distancing measures. Additional activities including sport and exercise will be organised for these students.

Students who are not attending college, including adults studying for qualifications, have been provided with study packs and their tutors will keep in touch to check progress and provide support where required. Every effort will be made to help these students complete their courses and achieve their qualifications by the end of the summer term.

All prospective students who have applied to start a college course in September 2020 have been assured that they will have a place at the college. NWSLC remains very keen to hear from students still wishing to apply for college places for next year. In addition, staff at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College and the MAT are working on plans to collate and distribute care hampers and food vouchers for vulnerable students during the period of its closure.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said, “The health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We will continue to actively monitor the situation and are committed to act in accordance with the advice of the UK government and Public Health England. We are especially mindful at this time of those students who depend on the college for support and we are allocating resources to ensure that they have access to essential items including food during the period of our closure.

“The college will make every effort to support our local communities to help keep the UK moving during this time of national crisis and our Nuneaton and Wigston Campuses will remain open to the children of keyworkers, those with an Education Health and Care Plan, students in local authority care, and other students that are known to be vulnerable including those who normally attend MAT schools.”