Last night the Prime Minister set out a roadmap for the gradual easing of national coronavirus restrictions in England, including within education settings. This is how the changes will apply to our university community and how it will enable the further return of students for in-person teaching.

Further resumption of in-person teaching

While education continues to be a government priority and there is limited evidence of virus transmission in teaching environments, mass movements of people remain a concern for the government, especially while new variants of the virus continue to emerge.

The Department for Education has therefore updated its plan for a phased return to in-person teaching in addition to courses that were allowed to resume in-person teaching in January, including those in Medicine, Education and Veterinary Science.

From Monday 8 March, undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying practical or practice-based subjects and require specialist equipment and facilities can return to campus to resume in-person teaching.

By the end of the Easter holidays, the government will review the options for timing the return of remaining students. This review will take account of the latest data and will be a key part of the wider roadmap steps. Students will be given at least one week’s notice ahead of any further return.

Students who are approved for Remote Study for the remainder of this academic year are expected to remain in their current location, and not to return to campus unless their circumstances change and they wish to do so. We will be in contact with you shortly to let you know whether or not you are able to complete your course remotely.

Minimising your travel

Government advice remains that students should stay where they are currently until shortly before their specified start date, unless they meet the exceptional circumstances listed in Department for Education guidance.

The circumstances that permit earlier returns to campus include where you are unable to study from home, need to sit in-person exams, do not have alternative accommodation, or for mental or physical health reasons.

To limit transmission risks, the guidelines also make clear that students who return to Nottingham should expect to remain at the university and only travel home where they have a legally permitted reason to do so.

The university is already planning a number of activities and offers to support you over the Easter holiday and we will let you know more about these nearer the time.

What to do next

Students who are studying practical or practice-based subjects (Monday 8 March)

Please wait for your school or department to contact you to confirm whether the Monday 8 March resumption date applies to your course and, if so, the date that your in-person teaching will resume. You will receive this via your university email account by Friday 26 February.

You can then make travel arrangements to return to campus before this date, but please continue to follow all relevant restrictions to travel safely.

All other students

All other students will be contacted by their school or department following the next government review scheduled by the end of the Easter holidays. We fully understand that the wait to return to campus for in-person teaching or to access campus facilities may be frustrating. All of us at Nottingham want to resume the fullest university experience as soon as possible, and we look forward to welcoming you, but in the meantime we must play our part in keeping everyone safe and following the national guidance.

We will continue to use your feedback from last semester to ensure our teaching methods best support your learning and will do everything we can to support you while you wait for your return date.

Regular Covid-19 testing

Once you are invited to return, you should book a Covid-19 test from the university Testing Service to confirm whether or not you are carrying the virus to keep our community and those around us safe.

After your initial test, you should take our asymptomatic Covid-19 test at least once a week. These tests are highly accurate and can tell if you are in the early stages of infection, whether or not you are showing symptoms.

We have Covid-19 testing venues across our campuses and for those living out in the community we have a testing hub at Thomas Helwys Church Hall, in Church Street, Lenton.

Testing each week protects you and everyone around you - leading to quick identification of cases and support with self-isolation to minimise transmission. It also helps to identify anyone who has come into contact with people who are infected, so they can take action to protect themselves and others.

Evidence our community takes part in regular testing shows our campuses and facilities are Covid-secure and enables them to be kept open.

Campus facilities

Your libraries, study spaces, retail and campus catering outlets remain open for you, albeit with different ways of working and some revised opening hours to remain in line with national restrictions.

Other facilities, for example sports and social activities, will resume just as soon as the latest national restrictions permit them to do so. In the meantime, do get involved in the wide range of online activities available through UoN Sport, the Students’ Union and the Careers Service.

Don’t forget that our Staying In, Saving Lives campaign gives you a suite of online events, arts performances, takeaway discounts as well as details of our mental health, counselling, libraries and careers support.

University accommodation charges

To date the university has been able to offer a package of financial support for students who are not studying on a programme that has resumed in-person teaching AND who are not using their room in university-owned, -leased or -managed accommodation.

We are working through what the latest national guidelines mean for those in university accommodation and will write shortly to contract holders to confirm the position on accommodation charges. The university will continue to liaise with private and third-party accommodation providers to encourage them to provide support packages.

For students experiencing financial difficulties resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the university may be able to offer interest-free loans or non-repayable grants. For further information, please visit Support Funds or email financialsupport@nottingham.ac.uk.

Welfare

We remain concerned for every student’s health and mental wellbeing. If you need any sort of support or advice, please do ask for help from your personal tutor or hall warden in the first instance. They can direct you to more specialist services if required.

You can access support and find full details online for our mental health and wellbeing services or via our Covid-19 Support Centre on 0044 (0)115 748 7700 between 10am and 8pm Monday to Friday, 12 noon and 4pm Saturday and Sunday (all times are GMT).

House parties

The government has introduced a new £800 fine for those attending house parties, including in halls of residence, which will double for each repeat offence to a maximum level of £6,400. This is in addition to university disciplinary processes. Please ensure you follow the rules and help to keep everyone safe.

Additional measures

We have taken significant steps to provide a Covid-secure environment on our campuses and the wellbeing of our community remains our priority.

Please remember to Isolate, Notify, Test if you do start to experience coronavirus symptoms and let the university know, even if you are not in Nottingham.

Within our university the number of active cases of Covid-19 remains low. Our measures are most effective when we work together and follow the rules to keep everyone safe.