Update 21^st Feb 2022

“In line with changes to government guidance for England, face coverings will no longer be required in communal areas from Thursday 27^th January 2022. That said and in line with the advice of the Director of Education and Director of Public Health for Peterborough and Cambridge, we encourage all staff and students to continue to wear face coverings when moving around the building as an additional way to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and limit further disruptions to learning. However, this is now an individual choice and it is no longer mandated or expected”

Update 14^th May 2021

Update 3^rd Mar 2021

Update 24^th Feb 2021

Update 17^th Feb 2021

Update 31^st January 2021 – return to APT in the new year

Dear Student,

I hope you are enjoying your break and are able to pick up this message over the holiday period.

Following the announcement by the Education secretary yesterday, you will be aware that the government has requested a staggered start to the spring term for all schools, colleges and training providers.  Therefore at APT we will have a phased start to classes over the next two weeks.  For w/c 4^th January the arrangements below will apply in the interest of safety for all staff and learners. For w/c 11^th and 18^th, I will send a further update next week, or your tutor will contact you directly.

The APT office will open as planned on Monday 4^th January.

Existing classes will switch to online for w/c 4^th January.  Your tutor will be in contact with you to provide joining details.  If you have not heard from them, please contact the APT office.

All exams booked will continue as scheduled and there will be no changes to exams and bookings.

Any new classes/groups planned to start on w/c 4^th January will be postponed for either one or two weeks, as we would prefer you to start in the classroom. We will contact all students due to start with us to inform them of the revised start date.

The testing scheme mentioned by the government is only currently available to colleges and schools and does not apply to APT, at this stage.

In the meantime, I would like to wish you all a happy and ‘safe’ new year.

Kind regards

Gill

2^nd November 2020

Dear Student,

As we continue to monitor the situation and developments regarding COVID-19, you will now be required to wear a face covering when you arrive at and move around the building at APT.  We are introducing this change with immediate effect and it will apply to all staff and students from Monday 2^nd November and until further notice.  This is so we can continue to ensure we protect everyone and we all remain safe throughout this difficult time.

At this stage, we are not making it compulsory for staff or students to wear face coverings in the classroom itself, although anyone who wishes to is welcome to do so.  We would still like to encourage everyone to continue adhering to the safety rules which were issued in the attached information sheet, and by following these simple steps:

• Use the hand sanitisers available and wash hands regularly
• Minimise your movements by staying at your desk
• Do not gather in corridors  or near vending machines
• Keep a safe distance from others.

Thank you for your co-operation and understanding.

Kind regards

Gill

LETTER TO STUDENTS

27th MAY 2020

Dear Student

You will be aware that following the Prime Minister’s statement and government updates since, that schools and colleges should plan to open from 1 June in a phased way.  In his message, the Prime Minister specified a range of year groups, including those in years 10 and 12, with a focus on those taking exams in the following academic year.

Anglia Professional Training has assessed all the government guidance, together with information from Public Health England and training provider specialists.  APT form part of a detailed Phased Reopening Framework, Risk Assessment and Action Plan, which have been implemented by Peterborough Regional College.  These will inform every aspect of reopening.

The key aspects of our reopening plans are:

• The health and safety of our students and staff is absolutely paramount. We will only reopen when we feel it is safe to do so
• Our preferred option is for students and staff to learn and work remotely wherever possible
• We are targeting Monday 15^th June as a potential reopening date, but only for a few students, in line with guidance from DfE
• We are planning for AAT exams to commence from Monday 29^th June following the announcement made by AAT this week.
• Some students will not need to return to APT this academic year, other than to take exams.
• We will reopen on a very small scale to start with, focusing on students who need to complete key assessments to achieve their qualifications and any vulnerable learners.
• We will strictly manage social distancing, hygiene and protective actions, minimising social contact and risk
• We will encourage students to walk, drive or cycle to APT where they can, or get a lift with family or friends from their own households
• We will have a member of the office team on site every day along with safeguarding support and first aid cover.
• We will consider using the PRC college campus for some students, where practicable.

Reopening arrangements

Because there is a lot of preparation needed to make our buildings safe, instigate social distancing measures and prioritise which students need our support to achieve this year, we will not invite any students into our offices until 15^th June at the earliest.  APT will contact you individually to let you know if you need to return before September, how this will work and what special arrangements will be in place.  

Please do not turn up at APT unless your tutor, learner coach or office staff have contacted you and explained in detail the specific arrangements we will have in place to keep you safe.

If a student or a member of their household has received a shielding letter then please inform us by emailing mail@apt4u.training

In the meantime, we hope that you are able to continue learning remotely and you are in regular contact with your tutors about next steps, whether that is continuation on your current course or progression to the next level.

Qualifications and Assessment Update

We will work with tutors and notify students about how assessments (exams) will be managed in each individual case, depending on your programme of study.  We can confirm, however, that we expect some assessments to be completed remotely and without the need for students to return to APT before summer.

Yesterday the government published the full guidance on ‘Exceptional arrangements for awarding vocational and technical qualifications in 2020’ – you can find a copy here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualifications-in-summer-2020.

The guidance confirms that some vocational and technical qualifications will follow a similar approach to A Levels/GCSEs, but those programmes which provide an industry-related ‘licence to practise’ and/or require practical assessments will need be our priority for reopening in June/July.    This week AAT announced that computer based exams can commence from Monday 29^th June.  We continue to monitor updates from AAT and other awarding bodies.

Wellbeing

It is important than you continue to look after your mental health and wellbeing, as well as your physical health. Therefore, please continue to keep yourselves safe and comply with the government restrictions. This continues to be a difficult and challenging time, but we can get through it by supporting each other and those in our communities who need it.

I will write to you all again prior to the 15^th June.

We will continue to update you via our website, emails and social media.

Best Wishes

Gill

LETTER TO STUDENTS

6 APRIL 2020

Dear Student (and Parent)

Firstly, I want to say a huge well done to all of you who are adapting so well to this new way of working and learning.  I appreciate that these are unprecedented and worrying times and we are working to continue to support all our students.

There may be some of you who are struggling and may be finding things difficult, missing your tutors and friends.  We are also aware that there will be those of you who will be finding the practicalities of online learning difficult. Some of you will be sharing IT devices, you may have internet issues and have difficulty logging onto Google Classroom. Some of you will be helping at home and have caring responsibilities of your own. We appreciate these difficult circumstances. What we ask is that you keep in contact with your tutors and let them know if you are struggling so we can help and support you.  Do your best to continue with your studies, this will serve you well in your future regardless of what happens in relation to exams in the coming weeks and months.  It is also good to keep active and engaged at this time.

Try to remember that this is just a temporary situation and we will get through this is as a country and a training provider. Most importantly, remember the government’s key advice.

• Stay at home
• Protect the NHS
• Save Lives

I thought it would also be helpful to update you on a few things and answer some of the questions that have been coming in.

Remote Learning

We are now in week three of remote learning and arrangements are working well.  If you require support, please contact your tutor as soon as possible, and they will find an alternative way of sending study material to you.

Easter Arrangements

As we are now in the Easter break, there will be no online live sessions during the Easter break (Monday 6 to Friday 17 April) for many of you.  Please note our Apprenticeship classes will be running as normal during the break.  For all other classes your tutor will have informed you if classes are taking place.  If you are unsure, please contact your tutor or Learner Coach for further advice.  Also please note Google Classroom resources will still be available, and all students are encouraged to use this time to complete any tasks and assignments they have been set that will contribute to their overall achievement and grade.

Examinations

I know this is an area of great concern for students.  Although all exams in the coming weeks and months have been cancelled, the exams regulator, Ofqual, will ensure that students and adult learners can move on as planned to the next stage of their lives – starting university, college or an apprenticeship, getting a job or progressing in work.

Since the Secretary of State announced that the 2020 exam series in England would be cancelled to help fight the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Ofqual has developed a process which will fairly recognise students’ work and make sure they get their grades in time to progress. Ofqual last week set out how GCSEs, AS and A levels will be awarded this summer and published further guidance for education staff, students, parents and carers.

Announcements on technical and vocational qualifications will be made after Easter, however Ofqual has released some early indications of their plans:

• Qualifications used mainly ‘for progression’ (e.g. grades for university entry or to progress within college courses) will involve a similar estimation process to academic qualifications
• Other qualifications will be adapted.  However, if there are safety-critical or ‘licence to practise’ aspects to the qualification or the role, achievement of the qualification may have to be delayed.

We understand that this is a stressful time for those who were expecting to sit exams over the next few months but rest assured as soon as APT receives further information from Ofqual and our examining boards we will inform all students.

Next Steps and Progression

For students progressing within APT, you can be assured that we will support you fully so that the changes to your normal studies don’t disadvantage you.  For your part, you need to continue to engage with your learning and take advantage of the support your tutors are providing remote learning e.g. Google classroom.

Your Wellbeing

Over the next few weeks, it will be more important than ever to look after your mental health and wellbeing, as well as your physical health. The Government website Gov.UK has lots of useful advice and guidance which you can access by clicking the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-public-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing

Finally, please continue to keep yourselves safe and comply with the government restrictions. This continues to be a difficult and challenging time, but we can get through it by supporting each other and those in our communities who need it.

We will continue to update you via our website, emails and social media. Please stay safe.

Best Wishes 

Balwinder Gill

Director of Business

CORONAVIRUS – COVID-19

LETTTER TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS

24th March 2020

Dear Student and Parent

As previously communicated we have worked tirelessly to ensure remote working and learning can take place. Clearly, this is easier for some courses than others. We will continue to do our utmost to ensure that our students make progress, and we ask for your patience over the coming weeks, as we embed recently developed systems and processes to enable this to happen on this scale. 

It is absolutely clear that every person that can stay at home should do so.

The restrictions that the Prime Minister announced on Monday further reinforces the seriousness of this situation. I want to take this opportunity to remind you of the following:

You should only leave your home for the following reasons:

• Shopping for basic necessities such as food and medicine. Shopping trips should be as infrequent as possible
• One form of exercise a day such as a run, walk or cycle. This should be done alone or only with people you live with
• Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person. This includes moving children under the age of 18 between their parents’ homes, where applicable
• Travelling to and from work, but only where work absolutely cannot be done from home

Even when following the above guidance, people should minimise the amount of time spent out of their homes and should keep two metres (6ft) away from people they do not live with

Office Closure

As a result of the above restrictions and the work we have undertaken to support our students, we are now in a position to be able to safely close the APT offices. All necessary support is in place for our students.

APT offices will be closed from 5pm Tuesday 24th March 2020. At this point we do not know when we will be able to re-open, as soon as it is safe to re-open we will.  You will be unable to contact us on the main office telephone numbers.

If you require any support you have a range of options:

1. Your teaching staff – via Google Classroom or by email
2. General enquiries – mail@apt4u.training
3. Safeguarding Concerns – Chris@apt4u.training

Finally, please keep yourselves safe and comply with the government restrictions. This is going to be a difficult and challenging time but we can get through it by supporting each other and those in our communities and by being patient and kind to one another.

Remember – Stay At Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives! 

Keep safe.

Best Wishes

Balwinder Gill

CORONAVIRUS – COVID-19

LETTER TO STUDENTS, PARENTS AND EMPLOYERS– CEASING FACE TO FACE TEACHING

18^th March 2020

Dear Student, Parent and Employer

I am writing to inform you that APT will cease all face-to-face teaching from close of play 20^th March 2020.  This is not a decision any educational setting takes lightly, however following the recent government advice regarding self-isolation and social distancing it is not practical or safe to continue to operate in our normal way.

We have been preparing for this scenario and from Monday 23^rd March learning will continue remotely. All staff are working hard to ensure normal life continues and working and learning can take place digitally.  Please bear with us as we introduce these changes over the coming days and weeks.

Students are encouraged to attend this week, if they feel safe to do so and do not fit into any of the vulnerable group categories as determined by the government, so they can work with staff and prepare for remote working and learning as well as ensuring we have up to date contact details.

We will continue to issue communication via our website and staff will instigate communications at course level.

I wish you all the best at this difficult and challenging time.

Yours sincerely

Balwinder Gill

Director of Business
Anglia Professional Training Ltd.
Endeavour House, Saville Road
Peterborough PE3 7PS