Welcome to our COVID-19 hub. This dedicated page contains all our latest COVID-19 updates and information, plus links to external information and support.
We encourage you to check this website regularly and also follow us on social media.
Update 20 October
Earlier today (20 October), we had a positive case of COVID-19 identified from the Engineering department, Neath College. As a precautionary measure, a small number of staff and students were asked to self-isolate until further advice was received from Public Health Wales. We have now been informed by TTP that no further action is required as all Covid precautions are in place.
As a result, the staff and students are able to return to college. All involved will receive email notification of this today. The College continues to follow Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidelines and safety measures are in place to try and prevent the spread of the virus.
Update 19 October
We have been informed that a second-year student attending Neath College has tested positive for COVID-19. The positive case was following an A Level programme and is known to have attended college last week.
All students and staff who may have been in contact with the infected case, are being asked to self-isolate until the track and trace process is completed and to allow deep cleaning to take place.
The decision has been taken to inform relevant staff and students to self-isolate and work from home until the track and trace process has been completed. During this period, in-depth contact tracing will be undertaken. Usually, the track and trace system will be complete within 24 hours but may take a little while longer. The College will provide regular updates to those who may have been in contact with the infected case as they may be required to self-isolate further.
The College continues to follow Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidelines and safety measures are in place to try and prevent the spread of the virus.
Please be advised; Neath College, along with all other sites, remains open as usual until closure on Friday 23 October, for two weeks.
Following the Welsh Government announcement (19 October) of a ‘firebreak’ lockdown across Wales, the College will close to all but essential staff on Friday 23 October for half-term and remain closed until Monday 9 November.
• All teaching is expected to be delivered online, with students studying at home during the week following half-term, with no practical sessions taking place.
• Apprenticeships will also be delivered remotely.
• There will be skeleton staff in the College as examinations, including GCSE re-sits are still going ahead as planned, along with University entrance exams.
• The JTL students will be in college both weeks at Afan College.
During this time:
• EMA will continue to be paid.
• Meal vouchers will be organised.
• Transport issues for those sitting exams will be arranged.
Further information and details can be found on the links below from the Welsh Government.
You can find the latest information and guidance about COVID-19 here:
Public Health Wales
GOV.UK
Guidance for educational settings
Guidance for Education
Read the latest update from Welsh Government about how to stay safe and stay learning.
Please see some useful links below:
Current guidance on further education
Current guidance on higher education
Current guidance on work-based learning and apprenticeships
Current guidance on Post-16 Learning and Skills
Staff or students should be in self-isolation and not attending College if:
- they have COVID-19
- they have COVID-19 symptoms, for example, a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste. You can also use the NHS Direct Wales symptom checker
- someone in their household has COVID-19 symptoms
- they’ve been told to self-isolate by a doctor or NHS 111
- they’ve been told to self-isolate by a Public Health Wales test, trace and protect service
- they have recently visited a country on the UK Foreign Office quarantine list
- they have had direct contact with a person who has had a positive test for Covid-19 (within 2 metres for 15 minutes or within 1 metre for a minute)
Those staff or students who are in self-isolation but are not sick can continue to work from home.
Service Buses and College Buses are running with reduced capacity. Please check the revised timetables before you travel. You must wear a face covering when using public transport.
We have employed a number of health & safety changes at all our college sites, in compliant with COVID-19 legislation and Welsh Government guidance.
- Hand sanitizer dispensers are available across college sites
- Screens have been installed at reception areas
- No gathering or sitting is permitted in communal areas
- One-way systems have been clearly marked out throughout college
- There is social distancing signage and signage about how to reduce the spread of COVID-19 across college sites
You can see our COVID-19 ‘Keep Safe’ videos for each college site here.
Further information is available to students via Moodle.
Face coverings are now mandatory in all communal areas in college. You can read more about face covering here.
There are exemptions that apply if you are unable to wear a face covering whilst either in College or travelling on College transport.
These exemptions include:
- Underlying chronic breathing conditions (demonstrate medical exemption)
- Physical or mental illness, disability or impairment
- Accompanying someone who relies on lip reading where they need to communicate.
Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.
You can read more about face coverings on the Welsh Government website or you can email studentsupport@nptcgroup.ac.uk.