We would like to extend a warm welcome to all parents, carers and guardians of young people studying, or hoping to study, at Pembrokeshire College. For many young people, the College means making a new start, meeting new people and facing new challenges. As a College, we are committed to supporting our students throughout their time here, and we value our relationship with their parents, guardians and carers. For more information please have a look at our Parent and Carers Guide.
Important Information for Parents/ Guardians/ Carers Concerning the College’s Induction Day and arrangements for learners from the 1st September 2020
As we commence the academic year 2020/21 we are delighted that your son/daughter has accepted an offer to study at Pembrokeshire College.
They will already have received an email containing details about their start date; the six week assessment period; the measures that have been put in place for COVID-19; and what they will need to do if they are travelling on College transport.
We have included other key information in this document for your information.
The Refectory and the College shop will be open on a Grab & Go basis.
It is also important that learners arrive ready to study, with a notepad, pens and a laptop (if they have one).
What happens on Induction Day?
Learners should arrive at the College by 8:45am, College staff will be on hand to show them where they need to go.
On their Induction Day learners will get to meet their tutors, support staff and the other learners on their course. They will find out more about the course content as well as their timetable for term 1 and how their course will be assessed. Their timetables will be available on Moodle, please encourage your son/daughter to share their timetable with you.
Learners will also be shown how to access and use the College’s learning platforms including Moodle and Big Blue Button (BBB). As part of their learning programme learners will need to access these platforms from home for their working from home days indicated on their timetable.
Learners will be shown how to access their learner profile which will be kept up to date with their targets and progress. Please encourage them to share this with you so you can see how they are doing.
COVID-19
Due to COVID-19, social distancing restrictions will be in place. During Term 1, learners’ timetables will be a combination of face-to-face sessions in the College, and live online learning from home.
These sessions will be monitored for attendance in the same way as face-to-face sessions and non-attendance would affect any EMA/WGLG payments.
Depending on a learner’s course they will be expected to attend either one or two full days in the College. During their Induction Day they will find out which day(s) they will be in College. To accommodate all sessions the College day will now run from 9am-5pm. This will be reviewed by the College at October half term.
In order to maintain social distancing, each course group will be a ‘bubble’ and the learners will stay within that group throughout the day. When moving between classes learners will need to maintain a two-metre distance from other groups moving around the College and wear a face mask or covering (unless there is an evidenced medical reason not to do so).
If learners feel unwell, or if anyone in your household is showing COVID-19 symptoms, learners should not attend the College but report their absence by 9.30am by ringing the absence line on 01437 753 199; or emailing: absence@pembrokeshire.ac.uk or use the MyDay Student Hwb which they can download onto their phone.
If learners are unwell and are not able to attend an online session, absence should also be reported in this way.
Should a learner feel unwell whilst in college, then the College will contact a parent, carer or guardian to come and collect the learner from the College premises.
Please refer to the attached social distancing and key information document.
College transport
If learners are using College transport their bus pass will be produced during the first few weeks of term. During this time the drivers will allow learners on the bus without a bus pass.
From the 1st September 2020 the wearing of a face mask/covering will be mandatory on College transport. Please note that the bus drivers will refuse to take on board any learner not wearing a face mask.
Please click here for the bus timetable.
If there are any queries about special transport please email Emma Jones, Learning Support and Equality Manager on e.jones@pembrokeshire.ac.uk
Disciplinary Policy
The College has a Disciplinary Policy which is available on the College website under policies.
All College learners enrolling at the College are confirming on enrolment that they agree to abide by this Policy. Parents, Carers or Guardians of under 18-year-old learners will be informed of any matters concerning their son/daughter which are being dealt with under this Policy.
Please contact the Safeguarding Team on 07813 546 695 or email safe@pembrokeshire.ac.uk if you have any queries or questions.
Safeguarding, Health Care Plans and Health Survey
The College takes very seriously its safeguarding responsibilities. The College’s Designated Senior Safeguarding Lead is Maxine Thomas. The team can be contacted via: safe@pembrokeshire.ac.uk or via the safeguarding mobile: 07813 546 695.
The College is an Operation Encompass College and as such does receive notifications of domestic abuse.
The College Nurse will be in contact with parents, carers or guardians where a learner has disclosed that they may need a Health Care Plan. If a learner is contacted by the College Nurse to complete a Health Care Plan this must be done immediately and returned to the College via the safe@pembrokeshire.ac.uk email within 48 hours of receipt.
All learners entering the College will need to complete a Health Survey. Please contact the Safeguarding Team on 07813 546 695 or email: safe@pembrokeshire.ac.uk if you have any queries or questions.
Additional Learning Needs
If you have any queries about your son or daughter’s additional learning needs then please email Sian Thompson Head of Inclusion at s.thompson@pembrokeshire.ac.uk
Financial Support
There are several funding options available depending on your circumstances. All information and application forms are available to download from the College website: www.pembrokeshire.ac.uk/finance6
For further help or advice, please contact our Student Finance Support team at: s.finance@pembrokeshire.ac.uk or telephone 01437 753 134. The Student Finance office is located on the Haverfordwest Main Campus Room G5.1 and will be open during College opening hours.
Any other questions
If you have any questions or queries about your son or daughter’s attending college then please do not hesitate to contact admissions@pembrokeshire.ac.uk
An individual letter with more detailed information will be sent directly to you at the end of the enrolment and induction period.
Thank you
Admissions
28 August 2020
All new students receive an admissions interview, which parents are welcome to attend. Details of past achievements and future aims will be recorded at the interview and is available for the tutor and student at the start of term. During the first week at College, all first year students attend a comprehensive induction programme that will help them become successful learners and make the most of their life at College. The induction programme includes details of the tutorial system, timetable, the College rules and discipline, the library and resource centre, computer facilities, course content and how it is assessed, careers information and routes, the UCAS (university) entrance process and student support.
Students have two tutors: a class tutor and a personal tutor. Each student regularly meets their personal tutor on a one-to-one basis. These meetings monitor attendance and progress, and set targets. A copy of the agreed outcomes are held by both tutor and student and act as a steering and monitoring device prior to the following meeting.
The College is a disciplined environment where staff and students adhere to an agreed code of conduct. The College fosters an atmosphere of continuous personal and professional development. We expect all our staff and students to be treated with respect. All students are aware that discipline is an essential priority and a pre-requisite for high standards of work, behaviour and results. Students are engaged in the process of developing behavioural standards. There is a clear disciplinary procedure with an ultimate sanction of exclusion if this is contravened.
Proof that this policy works can be seen by the absence of graffiti or damage to College property. Staff and students are proud of the College’s modern, clean, well-lit, spacious environment. Students wear appropriate clothing according to the course they are on, and while the College does not enforce a uniform, students are encouraged to develop a mature attitude to their appearance.
We believe parents have a vital part to play in ensuring their children do well at the College. We ask parents to support their children by ensuring that their children remain punctual; regularly discuss College life and work; stay in touch with their tutors and highlight anything they think might be affecting their children’s studies.
We aim to keep the parents of our students as well informed as we can about their progress through parents evenings, letters and regular reports. We are always happy to answer parents’ queries and concerns and parents are welcome to contact their tutors to discuss any concerns at any time. We recognise and welcome the contribution parents can make to their children’s success. We constantly monitor student progress, attendance, motivation and general wellbeing. Based on this monitoring, we periodically produce a detailed report for each subject studied and send it directly to the parent or guardian, not the student. In addition, once a year we organise a Parents’ Evening where parents have the opportunity to speak to tutors. Students over 18 receive their reports directly.
Click here to pay Workshop & Admin fees securely online with credit/debit card.
All full time Further Education students will be charged an annual admin fee of £30. This to register the student as a learner at Pembrokeshire College. This fee includes a £9 print allowance for the academic year, and entitles the student admission onto the College campus, FREE access to all Microsoft packages, internet access and a personal email account as well as use of College learning resources and the refectory.
A workshop fee is applied to courses where materials and consumables are necessary to assist students’ learning. The cost is course dependant.
If you think you may be eligible for financial assistance to help with covering the cost of the workshop fee please complete a Financial Contingency Fund application form and return to the Student Finance office, please call 01437 753 134 if you have any queries. (Please note FCF will not cover any Admin Fee Costs)
We aim to keep the parents of our students as well informed as we can about their progress through parents evenings, letters and regular reports. We are always happy to answer parents’ queries and concerns and parents are welcome to contact their tutors to discuss any concerns at any time. We recognise and welcome the contribution parents can make to their children’s success. We constantly monitor student progress, attendance, motivation and general wellbeing. Based on this monitoring, we periodically produce a detailed report for each subject studied and send it directly to the parent or guardian, not the student. In addition, once a year we organise a Parents’ Evening where parents have the opportunity to speak to tutors. Students over 18 receive their reports directly.
“I feel I know all my daughter’s tutors and have been offered the opportunity to discuss her progress with them regularly. The level of support offered to students is exemplary, which means that issues never become problems and students feel secure in their learning and development.”
Fiona Phillips, mother of a former A-Level student.