We are delighted to recommence that start of the new academic year 2020-21. We will be doing this in the knowledge that some things will need to change as we adapt to the new normal and to enhance the Health and safety of students, staff and visitors.

The College campus is spread over 46 acres, the majority of which is a conservation area, so there is plenty of outdoor space to exercise and enjoy.

1. Physical Distancing. Students, staff and visitors will be advised to practice physical distancing by standing the recommended distance from each other i.e. at least 2 metres away from other groups of people while standing in queues, using lifts or moving around the halls and campus. Chatz dining tables and other physical layouts will be arranged to ensure appropriate distancing is adhered to.
2. Hand Sanitizer and Handwashing Hand sanitizer dispensers, will be placed at key student and staff entrances and contact areas such as Halls Office counter, dining entrances, meeting and entrances in Halls flats. All our staff will wash their hands with bacterial soap (for at least 20 seconds) at regular intervals while on duty and in addition they will use hand sanitizer each time they use shared cleaning products or cleaning equipment.
3. There will be health and hygiene reminders displayed throughout Halls including physical distancing floor markers in the Refectory Building .
4. Transparent screens will be in position at the Halls Office desk and Chatz dining room areas between staff and visitors.
5. COVID-19 Training. All employees will receive comprehensive training on COVID-19 safety and hygiene protocols including our team members working in Housekeeping and Catering departments. Cleaning is the act of removing debris and dirt from a surface. Sanitising kills bacteria on a surface. The general rule of thumb is to clean high-touch areas first and sanitise after.
6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Appropriate PPE will be worn by all Hospitality staff based on their role and responsibilities. Training on how to properly use and dispose of all PPE will be mandatory. Disposable gloves and aprons will be provided to housekeeping, catering staff and any other Hospitality staff in direct contact with students and staff. Disposable Masks will be provided for those staff who are not in a position to adopt social distancing rules.
7. Cleaning Products and Protocols. The College uses a hospital grade disinfectant to clean communal areas such as kitchens, toilets, showers, which ensures that all areas are fully disinfected. Hospitality staff who are doing this extra stringent cleaning tasks are provided with the correct PPE.
8. Public/Shared Area Cleaning. Dedicated staff will sanitize all public areas on a routine regular basis including Refectory and Halls lifts doors and call buttons, handrails, Refectory Building public toilets and entry & exit doors
9. Chatz dining room will operate with reduced seating capacities to allow for the current recommended distance between each table. Table capacities will be limited to a maximum to 4.
10. Chatz dining room will replace bulk condiments with individual products such as sugar sachets instead of open sugar bowls.
11. Cleaning the Housekeeping and Catering staff will use disinfectant products to disinfect counter surfaces in the Halls Office, post boxes and counters in Chatz dining room that are also used by or exposed to students and staff.
12. In CyberTub Housekeeping staff will clean and disinfect electronics such as keyboards, remote controls and the photocopier with care and the correct sanitising substances Monday to Friday. Cleaning product will be available for students to clean keyboards etc before and after use.
13. Also, in CyberTub the Housekeeping staff will clean and disinfect the laundry area including the washing machine and tumble dryer button controls with the correct sanitising substances.
14. Housekeeping staff will ensure the sanitisation and disinfection of accessible toilets in the Refectory Building.
15. We will be taking cashless payment only payment at till points and at the Halls Office reception.
16. The Catering team, who have achieved 5 star hygiene rating will continue their high standard of hygiene practices such as temperature recoding of the dishwashing machine, working in segregated areas such as raw and cooked preparation areas and use of disposable aprons and gloves at all times.
17. We will provide the updated UK government changes by displaying posters around halls, sending emails and displaying information on Chatz dining room screens.