TAMESIDE Adult Community Education (ACE) is set to reopen its doors to learners on 14 September 2020.
Based in Stamford Chambers, in the centre of Ashton-Under-Lyne, ACE has been closed since the UK went into COVID-19 lockdown in March.
ACE’s dedicated staff are eager to welcome learners once again and have been working hard to support residents while they remained at home.
During lockdown they made regular welfare calls to vulnerable learners to check on their well-being and have kept learners engaged with their courses during this period thanks to this regular contact. Those learners without access to IT were assisted using phone calls and regular posting of workbooks.
To support the safe reopening, ACE has invested in additional technology to support learning and reduce the need for physical resources in the classroom. This will also help to improve learners’ digital skills and support communication from tutors to learners and allow access to learning from home.
ACE will look a little different on its return. The centre has put in place a range of safety measures to ensure that learners can be welcomed back in a safe and supportive environment. Classrooms have been set out following guidance on social distancing and group sizes have been reduced.
Safety signage and markers have been added to corridors and shared spaces to assist learners moving around the building. By working closely with health and safety colleagues, it’s assured that Stamford Chambers are ready to safely welcome back learners.
Visitors are asked to not enter the building if they have Covid-19 symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with symptoms in the last 14 days.
Available courses such as Maths, English and IT allow learners great opportunities to develop their skills and confidence. Staff are experienced and committed to supporting learners to achieve their goals and prepare for next steps to further learning or employment.
Cllr Leanne Feeley, Tameside Council’s executive member for lifelong learning, said: “The ACE Centre has been delivering training opportunities for over 30 years and we are thrilled to be able to reopen following this challenging period. We’re looking forward to seeing our learners old and new once again.
“We want to reassure everyone about the extensive safety measures we’ve put in place to ensure the health and safety of staff and visitors while continuing to provide friendly and welcoming facilities.
“Joining Adult Learning is a great way to learn and develop whilst combatting social isolation and making new friends, so I would encourage anyone looking to learn new skills or to try something new to get in touch. It will be brilliant to welcome learners back to ACE to enrich their lives and support them to feel the excitement of learning something new.”
Contact ACE via email at infoACE@tameside.gov.uk for further information.