How we work pre 082022

March 2022 update: The rules regarding Covid in the UK are changing and we too will be changing how we work so please keep an eye on this page to see how we will gradually change the way we work.

HOW WE WORK

Our goals and values are always the same and we always want our students to be happy studying and learning English at Elh.

Much has changed since Covid and we want to make sure that students and staff feel safe when they come to the school for face2face lessons. English Language House will always follow the government guidelines to ensure everyone at Elh can feel safe and can carry on learning. You can see our Covid Risk assessment and read below to see what we are doing now:

HOW WE REGISTER NEW STUDENTS:

We ask you to look at our English programmes and tell us which programme you want to join.
Then you must read our Student Terms and Conditions and
Complete the NEW Student Registration Form and the Level Test. (This will tell us what you want and help us to assess your English level.)
After this, we will email you to tell you if we can accept you and how much your course will cost.
If you decide to join you will need to pay the Registration fee and booking fee (these fees are non refundable).
After you pay we will email you an invoice for your full course fees minus the booking fee.

WHAT IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND LESSONS FACE2FACE?

DO YOU NEED TO SELF ISOLATE?
If you are ill with flu or you have any other Covid symptoms, please do not come to Face2Face lessons. You should WhatsApp or email us to tell us you need to self isolate and we will arrange for you to join your lesson/s live online.
ARE COVID REGULATIONS RESTRICTING YOUR TRAVEL PLANS TO THE UK?
Don't worry, you can start and continue your lessons live online until restrictions are lifted and you can travel to start lessons in person at English Language House.

HOW WE CONDUCT LIVE ONLINE LESSONS:

We use Zoom to teach live online lessons. These lessons may be One2One, Two2One, Three2One or Small group lessons for adults or children. We can also use Skype for One2One lessons if students are unable to use Zoom.

Students who join our live online lessons will get one of more of the following, where possible:

a personal Elh Gmail address
an Elh group WhatsApp with their name
access to the elh googledrive
access to digital learning material

HOW WE CONDUCT FACE2FACE LESSONS

Face2face lessons have started again in our ELH classrooms in Central Milton Keynes.
However, please bear in mind that if there is another rise in covid infections and there is another lockdown, or if students and staff do not feel safe, we can change from face2face to fully online or hybrid learning lessons.

The way we offer face2face lessons has changed since the first lockdown. Our timetable of lessons has changed, the days and times of lessons has changed and the number of students we can take in each classroom has changed. All this has happened so that we can follow government guidelines and make sure that all our students and staff feel safe when they come to study at Elh.

WHEN STUDENTS ARRIVE AT ELH:

updated August 2022

Students do not need to wear a face mask any more but it is important that everyone feels safe when they arrive to study in person at ELH.
Tables and chairs for students in classrooms will be placed in accordance to social distancing rules.
Teachers and Elh staff will maintain social distancing and will wear a mask and/or face shield visor when they speak to students and each other.
We will not use handouts or photocopies during lessons. Students will either be asked to buy their own coursebook for their course or will be sent worksheets and study material digitally ie by email, googledrive, padlet, slack etc
Study bubbles will be created so that students will study together in the same groups.
Students' arrival and departure time/s will be staggered to ensure students stay in their bubbles and to reduce contact between students from different study bubbles.
Students will use digital platforms and apps for group work, pair work, collaborative activities and homework.

WHAT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO EACH DAY:

Maintain social distancing at all times.
Arrive and leave your classroom at your allocated time.
Bring your own hand sanitiser with you and use this throughout the day.
Wear a mask when you arrive and leave and during your lesson if necessary.
Wear gloves if this is necessary.
Wash your hands after you use the public toilets in the building.
Bring a pack of sanitiser wipes with you and use these to wipe your desk and/or chair before and after you use it.
Bring a pack of tissues with you and use these where necessary ie if you need to sneeze, to push buttons in the lift, open doors using door handles etc
Do not share pens, paper, books, tissues etc with others.
Do not come to class if you have any covid symptoms eg a cold or a sniffle, a sore throat, a temperature etc, even if you do not think this is Covid.
Do not enter the ELH Office without an appointment.

NOTE THAT: There will be hand sanitisers in each room at ELH and throughout the building but it is best if you bring your own since then you are sure about what you are using and how safe this is for you.

HOW WE COMMUNICATE

For instant messaging we create a WhatsApp group account for each student. This WhatsApp group account contains:

the student's name and mobile number
Tatiana's name and mobile number
the Elh Office name and mobile number
the DOS at Elh mobile number

Students will use this WhatsApp group account to communicate with us if they need an immediate response.

For email communication, students email us on [email protected]

This is the email for the ELH Office which deals with all student enquiries, timetabling of lessons, changes, request etc.
Mihaela or Tatiana at the ELH office, will pick up and respond to students' emails when these are sent to
[email protected] and there will be no delay in responding and dealing with an enquiry.

Other email addresses may be used from time to time but these are for internal use only and emails sent there may not be picked up by Mihaela at the ELH office so there may often be a delay in responding if students use these.

HOW WE ENSURE STUDENTS AND STAFF FEEL SAFE AT ELH:

Students and staff need to complete a location and health declaration form before they enter the building for the first time.

Students arriving into the UK from certain countries may need to self isolate before they can start their Face2Face lessons.
Covid rules are constantly changing and we suggest you look at the UK Government Website to check what you need to do before you make any travel plans.
Before you join our Face2Face lessons for the first time you will need to complete and sign a student location and health declaration form.

If you have symptoms you MUST NOT come to Elh and you should get tested. You can see what you need to do here.

While you are self-isolating or if you need to wait for your covid test results, you can join our live online lessons.

WHAT TEACHERS AND STAFF WILL DO EACH DAY:

Teachers will have their own room to use each day.
They will wear and a mask and/or a face shield visor when students arrive and leave the class.
They will maintain social distancing during lessons and may teach smaller groups of students in their class.
They will have their own hand sanitiser and sanitiser sprays for use in each classroom as required.
They will share resources and material for lessons digitally with students; they not hand out books, photocopies, worksheets etc to students during the lesson.
Teachers will be part of the study bubbles we create.

Government actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
Updated 29th November 2021

www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

Details
This guidance applies to all schools in England, including:

primary schools
secondary schools (including sixth forms)
special schools, special post-16 providers and alternative provision
16 to 19 academies
infant, junior, middle, upper schools
boarding schools

Control measures
Schools should:
1. Ensure good hygiene for everyone.
2. Maintain appropriate cleaning regimes.
3. Keep occupied spaces well ventilated.
4. Follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19.