Dear Students,

Whilst we are very glad to have returned, where appropriate, to face-to-face teaching, we recognise that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have not gone away. In particular, we recognise that there will continue to be students who may need to self-isolate from face-to-face learning, whether for their own health reasons, or for those of someone else in their household.

Until we have the necessary technology installed for hybrid delivery (i.e. classroom and Zoom working together), our experience is that attempting such delivery is problematic and ultimately unsatisfactory for all concerned. Whilst we recognise that it is currently ‘possible’ to bring in a participant via Zoom, and whilst some have found that this is ok/satisfactory, our sense is that the overall impact of managing access, participation, sound and vision has a detrimental effect on delivery.

Hence we would wish to offer the following guidance:

• Until we have the requisite technology in place (which we hope will soon be the case), we do not require / ask self-isolating students to join face-to-face sessions via Zoom; indeed, we ask them not to seek to do so.
• Instead, sessions can be recorded, Moodle resources made available and/or videos may be used so as to provide the sessional learning. 
• This will count as approved absence in terms of attendance.
• If you are having to self-isolate, please do be in touch with personal tutors and also with module tutors, so as to seek guidance on how best to access module/sessional material.  (And if you need additional support, our chaplain, Sister Bev, is of course also available to you – please be in contact with her).

If/as tutors need to self-isolate, we would seek another tutor to cover the session, or else default to Zoom delivery, depending on the module/persons involved.