We’ve made our college campuses as safe as possible since we reopened to many of our students. Thanks to the success of the NHS vaccine programme rollout and lockdown measures so far, the Government has relaxed some Covid-19 restrictions as of 17 May. You can find our latest campus rules and safety measures below.

Face coverings

You may have seen in the news that face coverings are no longer required in the classroom or communal areas, however, the Department for Education has said that face coverings should be used in response to localised outbreaks or new variants of the virus. Given the infection rates in Yorkshire are currently twice as high as the national average, we are taking a cautious approach to face coverings on our sites.

In corridors and communal spaces, face coverings must still be worn by staff and students, unless they have an exemption. 

In most classrooms face coverings can be removed, but when working closely with others, some people may prefer to wear one. We must all take responsibility and must respect each other’s preferences.

We will review our face covering position regularly and if local infection rates reduce we will update our approach.

Other safety measures on campus

Studying in college is important for the quality of our students’ learning and wellbeing. We will continue to take safety measures seriously to keep our students and staff safe. 

This includes:

• Home testing for staff and students twice a week – see below
• the continuation of 2m social distancing measures
• wearing face coverings in all corridors and communal areas
• the ‘bubble’ grouping system
• increased hand sanitiser stations on campus

If you haven’t already, please speak to your tutor before you return to college. 

We know you may have concerns about being at college during the pandemic, but the safety measures we’ve had in place have proved a real success at controlling the spread of Covid-19. We want to reassure you that we are teaching in a Covid-19 safe environment and we will continue to implement extensive measures to ensure student and staff safety. The safety of students and staff is at the forefront of all our plans for on-site learning.

Testing

To keep everyone even safer on campus, it is expected that all students who attend campus will take a Covid-19 test twice weekly. You can ask for Covid-19 tests at your local pharmacy or you can order these via the Gov.uk website.

Our campuses have had successful safety measures in place and these tests are an additional precaution. Testing is really important because Covid-19 cases can show no symptoms, allowing it to spread without the host realising.

This process may be different if you are an apprentice, higher education or adult learner, so please speak with your tutor to confirm your approach to testing.

For any students who are self-isolating, remote education will continue. If you are a student and have any questions, please speak with your tutor.

How to take a test

Taking a test is quick and easy. Watch this video from Public Health England to see how it’s done. You can also read the guides below.

How to take your tests (with a helper)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WGuBzkndBqbjsX4IxYDO_gk-bYsXKt30/view?usp=sharing

How to do a rapid Covid-19 self-test

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pelamroxJaBwcuSJrRI9lFHMuaw0ZQ0b/view?usp=sharing

Vaccine information

If you’re offered the vaccine, please take this opportunity as it is proving effective against Covid-19. You can find more information about the vaccine here.

Organised by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week is taking place from 10 to 16 May.

Founded in 1949, the Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s leading charity for mental health.

Throughout the pandemic, millions of people across the UK have experienced a mental health problem. This week helps us to understand more about mental health, how it affects us, the different conditions and support available.

Nature

This year’s focus is on nature, as many of us have found the outdoors to be helpful in improving our wellbeing during the pandemic. 

Over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in people gardening, going on walks and exploring the outdoors – all of which have been essential for our mental health. 

Research from the Mental Health Foundation showed that going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies, with 45% of us reporting how being in green spaces had been vital for our mental health.

During lockdowns, people have not only spent more time in nature, but have learnt to appreciate and notice it more; highlighting a fundamental need to connect with our outdoor environment.

Benefits

Bringing nature into your everyday life can have positive effects on your personal wellbeing. It can:

• Enhance your mood
• Reduce feelings of stress and anger
• Help you take a break and feel relaxed
• Improve your physical health
• Build your confidence
• Encourage you to be more active
• Helps you make new connections 

Getting involved 

Support the Mental Health Foundation by taking part in half an hour of outdoor exercise each day in May. This can include anything from walking, running, jogging and skipping – and remember to appreciate the nature surrounding you.

You are also encouraged to share your experiences by taking a photo or video and joining the discussion on how you’re connecting with nature by using the hashtags #ConnectWithNature #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.

To discover the best walks in the local Keighley area, have a read of these articles on Keighley News and Telegraph and Argus.

College activities

At Keighley College, we’ll also be celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week through a series of events. 

From 10 May, the college will have an information display in the atrium with local walks to reconnect with nature and general wellbeing support.  

Local support group, It’s Worth Talking About, will be coming into college from Monday 10 to Thursday 13 May from 11am to 2pm to offer local support and guidance.

Our college attendance and progress mentor, Alison Robinson, will be available over lunch periods to provide wellbeing support.

Student Relationships Officer, Tracey Turner, will be working with our Student Officer, Lara Duggan, to produce a student flower photo frame, so students can take selfies showing them reconnecting with nature. 

Celebrated in April each year, this month aims to provide an insight into autism and how it affects not only those living with it, but the people around them too.

Organised by the National Autistic Society, the month runs alongside World Autism Awareness Week (29 March – 4 April) and World Autism Awareness Day (2 April).

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder which impacts a person’s ability to interact and communicate.  Symptoms of autism often appear in early childhood and are identified when children don’t reach developmental milestones at the same time as their peers.

There are 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK, which is more than 1 in 100. When you also include their families, autism is a part of daily life for 2.8 million people across the country.

Having autism affects everyday life for individuals and it’s important that we understand some of the common symptoms:

• Not understanding the feelings and thoughts of others.
• Struggling to explain their feelings.
• Typically preferring their own company over making friends.
• Feeling upset if their routine changes.

Although autism does not present itself the same way in every person, many austistic people have common strengths. These include:

• Ability to remember information for long periods of time.
• Ability to learn things in greater detail.
• Strong visual and auditory learners.
• Excel in maths, science, music or art.

Insight on autism

We caught up with some students studying supported internships at Keighley College to hear their perspectives on living with autism.

What does having autism mean to you?

Student one: “It can be positive and negative. For example, I have a good memory with subjects that I’m interested in, such as history and football. However, people can sometimes discriminate against me.”

How does it affect you in everyday life?

Jim*: “I like to stick to a routine, so I get really upset when this is interrupted.”

Are there some tasks you find more difficult?

Jim: “Yes, such as mixing with other people and making friends.”

What are some of the challenges you face and how do you overcome them?

Jim: “I find it difficult to meet deadlines as I often need more time to complete work.”

Sally*: “It’s challenging when people don’t understand what it’s like to have autism.”

What support do you get to help with your autism?

Jim: “I get some great support from the job coaches at college.”

Sally: “College offers lots of support with my autism.”

What can others do to support you?

Jim: “I appreciate people helping me when some tasks are difficult for me to do.”

What do you enjoy most about your course?

Jim: “Talking to my friends and tutors.”

Sally: “The staff are very friendly; they help me learn skills and give me new opportunities. The students are also very kind and helpful.”

How does Keighley College help with your autism?

Sally: “The staff help a lot with my autism, they always make sure to understand and meet my needs.”

What are your ambitions for the future?

Jim: “I’d love to get a job in the future.”

Sally: “My ambition is to get a job in either the sports industry or a library.”

Support services

If you’d like to get support, there are many local services available.

National Autistic Society – Keighley and Bingley

A support group for local children and adults living on the autisitc spectrum.

Keighley Autism Hub

Free informal drop-in service funded by Bradford Council.

AWARE

Parent-run group supporting families with children and young adults on the autisitic spectrum. The group covers the Airedale, Wharfedale, Bradford and Craven areas.

*These are not the student’s real names as they wished to remain anonymous.