COVID-19

We are pleased to announce that there are now NO Covid-related travel restrictions to entering the UK! However, we will continue to observe best practise and exercise precautions once our students have arrived. In particular, we will continue to seek to isolate Covid positive students to mitigate the spread of the virus. 

DOWNLOAD: United States and Canada COVID Entry Requirements

Ireland Passenger Locator Form & PCR Instructions

PLUS COVID-19 POLICY

Due to the current ongoing global pandemic there are certain measures that will be in place to prevent the spread of covid-19 and keep our students and staff as safe as possible. PLUS will operate in accordance with ongoing and changeable government guidelines throughout all our campuses. It is also worth noting we will be working in accordance with campus’s guidelines too. Some campuses may have additional rules that must be adhered to and respected by students and staff alike.

PRE-ARRIVAL

Before arriving, it is crucial that students and Group Leaders adhere to the following:

• Check the entry requirements for your destined country:
• Do you need to complete a pre departure PCR test?
• Do you need to be vaccinated? (In some countries under 18s qualify as fully vaccinated)
• Do you need to complete a test on arrival in your destined country and do you need to quarantine until you get these results?
• Group Leaders must send digital proof of GL’s and student’s negative PCR tests (if applicable to your destined country).
• Group Leaders must have proof of GL vaccination and group’s PCR results to present on campus.

PROCEDURES IN PLACE DURING YOUR STAY WITH US

PLUS will be implementing a number of procedures to minimise the possibility of students and staff contracting covid-19. If requested by the campus, students and staff may have to undergo testing on site, the Group Leader must supervise any testing of their students. PLUS has analysed certain locations that students and staff will be in during their stay with us and how to minimise risk of covid-19 contamination in said locations. Please see specific details below:

Minimising Risks In Accommodation.

• Students will only be in close contact with (i.e. spend long periods of time with no masks on) students whom they share accommodation. This is to minimise the need for whole group isolation if a student is to test positive.

• Subject to availability, we will be placing students in accommodation where they have their own bathrooms and kitchens, minimising interaction with other students.
• Where studio accommodation is not available, we will begin allocating students in ensuite rooms in separate flats to minimise chance of infection.
• Students will be designated with a specific bathroom if they are in shared accommodation.
• Frequency of cleaning throughout accommodation will be increased.
• Hand sanitiser stations will be placed within accommodation and monitored.

• Students are not to switch rooms amongst themselves.

• Windows will be kept open when possible, to encourage constant ventilation.

• Students are not to enter accommodation that isn’t their own (for example visiting friends in different accommodation that they are not roomed with).

• If staff enter a student’s accommodation, (for safeguarding or maintenance purposes only), they will always wear a mask.

In Class

• Masks will be worn by students and teachers at all times during class time.
• Extra masks will be available in each classroom in case a student’s own masks break suddenly.
• All staff and students will have their temperature checked at least twice a day. This will happen upon entering classrooms, or before breakfast and dinner time on days with no lessons.
• Throughout the classrooms, social distancing and hygiene will be reinforced with clear signage.
• All classrooms will have floor markings which will provide clear guidance on social distancing measures.
• Hand sanitizer will be available for all staff and students in classrooms.
• The classroom layout (i.e desks) will be socially distanced.
• Any staff that enter classrooms in which students are present must wear a mask.
• Classroom windows will be kept open when possible, to encourage constant ventilation.
• All classrooms will be cleaned daily.
• Class sizes will be kept as small as possible, to allow for social distancing.
• Student timetables will be staggered to allow for different arrival times and social distancing.
• Students are required to bring their own writing materials and notebooks and not to exchange amongst each other.
• Any shared class stationary provided by PLUS (i.e., scissors) will be kept assigned to classrooms and sterilised at the beginning and end of each class by the teacher.
• Teachers will sterilise desks and chairs at the beginning and end of every lesson with disinfectant spray.
• All students do not have to isolate if someone in their class tests positive for covid 19 due to obligatory mask wearing in class. However, close contacts of positive students will need testing. To aid in this, strict seating plans will be maintained throughout student’s stay with us.

Indoor Areas Around Campus

• Masks will be always worn by students and staff when in an indoor setting on campus.
• Masks may be removed for eating when students and staff are seated in the dining area. If students and staff are moving around, they must keep their masks on.
• Floor markings will be in place which will provide clear guidance on social distancing measures.
• Students and staff should practise social distancing whilst moving around inside campus.
• Frequency of cleaning throughout indoor areas will be increased.
• Hand sanitiser stations will be placed within indoor areas and monitored.
• Windows will be kept open when possible, to encourage constant ventilation.

Sports and Other Outdoor Activities

• Masks may be removed when students are taking part in sports and other outdoor activities, however, when using changing rooms students must remember to keep their mask on.
• Students and staff should still practise social distancing whilst moving around outside campus.
• Hand sanitizer will be available for all staff and students at the beginning and end of activities.
• PLUS will have their own designated activities/ sports equipment that will be disinfected by Activity Leaders at the beginning and end of each sports session.
• Contact sports will be kept to as minimum as possible.
• Outside sports venues will be used as much as is permitted by the campus.
• Indoor sports venue windows will be kept open when possible, to encourage constant ventilation.
• If bibs are used, they will not be swapped and will be washed daily by Activity Leaders.
• If swimming takes place, cleaning times and cleaning frequencies of the pool will be obtained for our information.
• If swimming takes place, lanes will be used and lane ropes, if possible, to encourage social distancing.
• Personal sports equipment e.g., swimming caps, swimming goggles, shin pads will not be shared amongst students or loaned out.

On Excursion & Coaches

• Whilst on a coach and public transport on excursion, masks must be worn at all times by students and staff alike.
• Students should try and sit with the same people they share accommodation with if possible.
• Extra masks will be carried by Activity Leaders in case a student’s own masks break suddenly.
• Frequency of cleaning on coaches will be increased and cleaning procedures of coach companies will be shared with PLUS.
• Windows on coaches will be open as much as possible to encourage ventilation.
• Student do not have to isolate if someone sat next to them on the coach tests positive for covid 19 due to obligatory mask wearing.

PROCEDURES IF A STUDENT SHOWS SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

If a student is suspected of having covid-19, the following procedure must be adhered to:

• The Group Leader/ Activity Leader must check the student is okay whilst still maintaining physical distance. 
• The Group Leader must immediately alert the Campus Manager that their student is feeling unwell.
• The Group Leader must accompany the student to the nearest test centre as per the PLUS app. There, the student will do a PCR/ lateral flow/ antigen test (some of our centres have on site test centres).
• The student must be escorted to accommodation. They must isolate in their room until they obtain a negative result.
• If the student leaves their room to use the bathroom, they must keep a mask on. Other students sharing accommodation with the potentially positive student must keep their masks on whilst inside their accommodation until the student receives a negative result.
• The Group Leader must maintain virtual contact with the student to check on their wellbeing.
• The student will be brought any food and necessary medicine to outside of their room by their Group Leader. The Campus Manager will help organise this.
• If a student feels unwell with symptoms of covid-19 before an excursion, they must not go on excursion. An Activity Leader must accompany the student to the nearest test centre. The student must be escorted to accommodation. They must isolate in their room until they obtain a negative result.
• If a student mentions that they feel unwell on a trip, the Group Leader can take the student to a nearby test centre which will be detailed on the PLUS app. An Activity Leader will contact Head Office to find the nearest location at the time. Also, an Activity Leader will be assigned responsibility of the Group Leader’s students while the student is being tested.

PROCEDURES IF A STUDENT TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID 19

If a student tests positive for covid-19, the following procedure must be adhered to:

• The Group Leader/ Activity Leader must check the student is okay whilst still maintaining physical distance.
• Inform the Campus Manager that the student has tested positive immediately who can inform the University bursar. 
• The student must always keep a mask on unless they are alone in their own bedroom.
• The student may be moved to a separate isolation room to minimise contamination with people who they share accommodation with. An isolation room is dependent on each individual campus.
• The student must isolate in a designated accommodation room for ten days.
• The Group Leader must maintain virtual contact with the student to check on their wellbeing.
• The student will be brought any food and necessary medicine to outside of their room by their Group Leader. The Campus Manager will help organise this.
• If the student leaves their room to use the bathroom, they must keep a mask on. Other students sharing accommodation with the positive student must keep their masks on whilst inside their accommodation until the student receives a negative result.
• The positive student should not share a bedroom with another student. If the positive student is still sharing a flat with others, the children with whom the student shares accommodation with must also keep masks on whilst inside their own accommodation.
• All close contacts of the student with must also carry out testing on the first day of the confirmed case and the fifth day. The Group Leader must accompany the students to the nearest test centre as per stated on the PLUS app. There, the student will do a PCR/ lateral flow/ antigen test (some of our centres have on site test centres).
• If students are sharing accommodation with someone who is showing symptoms of covid-19, they must be extra vigilant with mask wearing, social distancing, ventilating accommodation and hand washing.
• If a student is still isolating on the departure date from campus, the Group Leader must stay with the sick student. The other students will be accompanied to the airport by a member of PLUS. If an assigned adult is needed to accompany the students on their flight PLUS will help organise this. The cost of this will depend on the situation and will involve a collaboration between Head Office and the Group Leader’s agency.

PROCEDURES IF A MEMBER OF STAFF OR GROUP LEADER SHOWS SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19.

If a member of staff is suspected of having covid-19, the following procedure must be adhered to:

• The member of staff must inform the Activity Manager and Campus Manager they are experiencing symptoms of covid-19.
• Stay distanced from children and other members of staff and always wear a mask.
• The member of staff must locate the nearest covid-19 test centre, the AM & CM will help them with this but it will also be displayed on the app (some campuses have testing centres on site).
• The member of staff must Isolate in their room in accommodation until they have received a negative covid-19 result.
• If the member of staff leaves their room to use the bathroom, they must keep a mask on. Other staff sharing accommodation with the potentially positive staff member must keep their masks on whilst inside their accommodation until the student receives a negative result.
• The member of staff will be brought any food and necessary medicine to outside of their room by other members of staff. The Campus Manager will help organise this.
• The member of staff must inform the Activity Manager & Campus Manager of the covid test results.
• An Activity Leader will be assigned responsibility of any Group Leader’s group whilst they are awaiting test results.

PROCEDURES IF A MEMBER OF STAFF OR GROUP LEADER TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID 19

If a staff member of Group Leader tests positive for covid-19, the following procedure must be adhered to:

• The Campus Manager must check the staff member or Group Leader is okay whilst still maintaining physical distance.
• The member of staff must inform the Campus Manager that they have tested positive immediately so the Campus Manager can inform the campus.
• The member of staff must always keep a mask on unless they are alone in their own bedroom.
• The member of staff may be moved to a separate isolation room to minimise contamination with people whom they share accommodation with. An isolation room is subject to each individual campus.
• The member of staff must isolate in a designated accommodation room for ten days.
• The Campus Manager must maintain virtual contact with the staff/ Group Leader to check on their wellbeing.
• The member of staff will be brought any food and necessary medicine to outside of their room by other members of staff. The Campus Manager will help organise this.
• If the member of staff leaves their room to use the bathroom, they must keep a mask on. Other members of staff sharing accommodation with the positive member of staff must keep their masks on whilst inside their accommodation until they receive a negative result.
• If the member of staff is not moved to a separate isolation room, the other staff/ students with whom the students share accommodation with must also keep masks on whilst inside their own accommodation.
• If the member of staff is not moved to a separate isolation room, the other staff/ students with whom the member of staff shares accommodation, must also carry out testing on the first day of the confirmed case and the fifth day after.

• Staff are not required to self-isolate if they are staying in the same accommodation as someone with COVID-19 if they are fully vaccinated or below the age of 18. However, the other staff/ students who share accommodation with must be extra vigilant with mask wearing, social distancing, ventilating accommodation and hand washing.
• PLUS reserves the right to insist on a substitute Group Leader from the agency in the case of a Group Leader being unable to carry out their duties.

IF A STUDENT/ GROUP LEADER/ MEMBER OF STAFF DECLINES TO TAKE A TEST

In the event of a student, group leader or member of staff declining to take a test when they have displayed covid-19 symptoms, isolation in accommodation will be mandatory for ten days.

(Symptoms: Most common symptoms of Covid-19 are fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.)