www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear membersThis week’s Covid-19 communication covers:
As ever the update is issued by BSA in conjunction with our partners BAISIS and ISC. BSA reminds all schools that it is not a medical, statutory or legal authority and any advice is given on that basis. This is the second of our summer briefings. The next will be published on August 17, 2020.A.1: What has changed Further changes to the list of countries exempt from having to self-isolate on arrival in the UK have been made to exclude both Spain and Luxembourg, because of high rates of infection there. The FCO also has a travel advisory not to travel to any part of Spain. A reminder also of the guidance on transit stops: Essentially if the stop was in a non-exempt country, the quarantine rules apply, even if the original point of embarkation was in a country on the list of exemptions. The full list is available here, and BSA advises checking regularly for amendments or updates. Those from the Common Travel Area (Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands) remain exempt, as do British Overseas Territories. As mentioned, the UK also reviewed travel advice for outgoing travellers, and the list is slightly different. The full list is available here and does include Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. A.2: Flights from China to the UK 1st Departure: 14th August (Friday) Capital Airlines JD431 Qingdao-London 16:00/20:30 £2,625/person economy class including airport tax 2nd Departure: 21st August (Friday) Capital Airlines JD431 Qingdao-London 16:00/20:30 £2,825/person economy class including airport tax 3rd Departure: 28th August (Friday) Capital Airlines JD431 Qingdao-London 16:00/20:30 £2,825/person economy class including airport tax Qingdao is equidistant from Shanghai and Beijing and easy to get to from both cities by car or train, which removes the problem of transfer flights. A booking form and payment details will go today to all schools who expressed an interest last week and these need to be completed by 1100 Friday 7th August latest. If your school did not express an interest but you would like to book, please contact our International Director Caroline Nixon on caroline.nixon@boarding.org.uk as soon as possible. Please note that bookings and payments must come from your school and not from individual students, guardians or agents. We are delighted to be able to help in this way as you will know that there are very few flights available from China to the UK for the foreseeable future. A.3: Entry to the UK BSA is seeking clarification on the safeguarding and mental health implications of the guidance for young people having to self-isolate in schools. What is clear, however, is that any children travelling together can self-isolate together. A.4: Guidance on the return to school in Scotland. While non-statutory for the independent sector, it is what all schools will be held to and followed by Education Scotland link inspectors, the Registrar and by the Care Inspectorate. As you will see, it has substantial additions in areas such as testing, transport, containment, CASN, face-coverings and distancing. The additional guidance for residential boarding facilities has also been updated. I think we can assume that there will be no reduction in quarantine measures - despite our requests - in the coming days, given recent news. A.5: Return to school: Wales and Northern Ireland The OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE and GUIDANCE ON LEARNING remain as previously published. In Northern Ireland schools will reopen for Primary 7 and Years 12 and 14 on August 24. The advice is available here. A.6: Back to school plans A.7: BSA Charter and Checklist A.8: BSA Covid supplier list · Active Sanitiser & Protection Tunnel: PTC XtraSAN · Branded Face Masks: Funky Face Mask and now also · NEW: Goldpro. Please see the BSA Supplier page for full details of Goldpro · Software: AssetPool Covid19 Safeguarding Compliance & Verification Softwarewho have now also set up a “back-to-school” blog on how to be safe with AssetPool · Testing: Chronomics · Testing and Tracking: Taylor Education: Covid-19 testing and tracking app · Thermal Temperature Camera System: Eclipse Strategic Security Ltd · Testing: COVID-19 Rapid Test: Fortress Diagnostics. For more detail on each of the suppliers, please visit the BSA COVID supplier page here. A.9: #BSAheroes B. Links to previous BSA advice
If you would like further advice from the BSA, please email bsa@boarding.org.uk. Best wishes
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