Elly Sample: Riseholme development central to Lincolnshire food and farming industries

NK Academy in North Hykeham is looking forward to welcome pupils back into school from Monday after the start of its coronavirus testing programme.

Only key worker and vulnerable children attended lessons in the latest national lockdown, whilst the remaining pupils moved to a remote learning provision.

With all students beginning their return to face-to-face teaching from March 8, The Lincolnite spoke with Jo Tunnicliffe, Headteacher at NK Academy, which has around 900 pupils.

All secondary school and college students will initially take three coronavirus tests. NK Academy is bringing in five year groups (8, 10, 11, 12, and 13) for testing on Thursday and Friday, 4 and 5.

Any who test negative will come back in on Monday and Tuesday for a second test. No more than 15 students at a time will wait in the allocated canopy area after being tested, before going straight to class if their test result is negative.

The Academy’s students in Year 7 and 9 will have a delayed start, returning on Wednesday, March 10 to be tested on that day. After the students have had their three tests, 3-5 days apart, they will have test kits to take home with them.

Staff and the 54 key worker and vulnerable children have been tested twice a week since January, with all results coming back negative. From March 8 staff will have test kits which they will use at home on Sundays and Wednesdays.

The main change on the return to school will be face coverings being mandatory in classrooms, to add to the already existing measures implemented by the academy such as year groups in zones, staggered break and lunchtimes, and sanitising stations.

Mrs Tunnicliffe told The Lincolnite: “I am feeling quite excited that they are going to be back in school. It will be really good for them and for the staff to start getting back into routine.

“I am also a bit apprehensive about the testing and the logistics of it, as it has not been done at this scale yet.

“I think we have done a brilliant job [during the pandemic]. We have taken the silver linings where we can and done lots of work with risk assessments and we’ve been praised by the Health and Safety Executive for how we’ve managed contact tracing.

“The zoning areas have also been successful and is something we will keep post pandemic. Remote learning was set up within a week of the announcement this time last year and showed how quickly we can move in a really innovative way.”

Mrs Tunnicliffe added that the school has put money into supporting the small number of students who have struggled to engage during lockdown.

The school has made connections with local teaching schools with graduate trainees coming to work with struggling students. In addition, the school is working with the National Tutoring Programme.

She added: “We’ve done a really good job of remote provision and monitoring who has been engaged and who hasn’t. We are trying to avoid the word catch up and negative vocabulary and we will assess and work out what any gaps are and teach them in the best possible way.

“I’m a big believer in learning and trying to make the best of a bad situation. Whilst the pandemic has been horrendous in terms of national and local impact, we have taken those bits of positive wherever we possibly can.

“It has been a fantastic opportunity to connect more with parents and improve links with the local community.”

NK Academy is also looking forward to reintroducing charity and community events in the future, including afternoon tea for local businesses.

ALSO READ: Teachers get tested ahead of Lincolnshire schools reopening next week

Each month in 2021, The Lincolnite and publishers Stonebow Media will offer our support to a local charity, with free advertising and promotion across our website and social media channels, to help them raise funds and awareness.

During the pandemic lockdown countywide charities have suffered with fewer donations and not being able to host valuable events that help them raise more money throughout the year.

We’re asking our readers to submit nominations for their favourite charities over the next few months.

Our first charity is StreetVet, a charity set-up to treat dogs belonging those who are street homeless, in emergency accommodation, or sofa surfing with no permanent address. Their clients are often vulnerable and anxious, having been let down by others in the past.

The Lincoln team has helped 17 canines since launching in 2019 and treated a variety of cases ranging from ear infections to the surgical removal of a mammary tumour. Most of their registered patients are older pets, so they often see cases of arthritis and dental disease too.

Miri Prior, who works at The Veterinary Hospital in Lincoln, first launched Lincoln StreetVet in 2019, having volunteered at the old Nomad emergency shelter and at HOME meal previously run by St Swithin’s church.

How to support Lincoln StreetVet

Buy essentials for the Lincoln branch from their Amazon wishlist here.

Make a donation to the StreetVet charity here.

She wanted to provide vet care for those in need and, after spotting a StreetVet stall at a veterinary conference, she contacted the charity about setting up in Lincoln.

StreetVet is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons registered practice delivering free care to the homeless and their pets on the streets of Lincoln, London, and many major cities across the UK.

StreetVet Lincoln go on outreach sessions alongside ECHO (East Coast Homeless Outreach) once a month, providing health checks, preventative treatments, food, toys and accessories for warmth and visibility, whilst their owners receive hot meals. It is hoped that this will become more regular once coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

They’re going out once a month around the city to see if there is anyone who would be in need of the charity’s help. Many cases are organised with the owners directly.

One of their most challenging visits was to a dog whose owners did not feel comfortable to be away from their pet or the tent where they were living.

The Lincoln team managed to take blood from the dog in the middle of a field and rush it back to a practice in time to go in the centrifuge within the 15 minute window required for the test needed.

To access the service please email [email protected].

The Lincoln team currently has 12 volunteers, including Laura Stone, who told The Lincolnite: “I feel so lucky to be part of the StreetVet community. I knew ever since I qualified as a Veterinary Nurse I wanted to be a part of this wonderful charity.

“For many of our service users their companions are their only family, and support, many of whom have passed up housing opportunities so not to be separated from their pets.

“Being able to provide care for, and ensure the health of these animals is the best gift we could give. StreetVet is such a unique and needed provider out in the community, and I feel really excited to be part of its growth and development, and being able to support the growing number of users and their pets.

“We would also like to thank our supporters Webbox, Lintbells and Ceva, and 4Paws feeding Lincoln.”

StreetVet Lincoln has the support of several local practices, most notably The Veterinary Hospital on Newport in Lincoln, where the charity stores some of its kit. It is also where several animal patients are booked in for urgent treatment.

It costs approximately £5,000 per location. However, day-to-day running costs can vary hugely depending on the number of patients and their requirements.

---

How to support Lincoln StreetVet

Buy essentials for the Lincoln branch from their Amazon wishlist here.

Make a donation to the StreetVet charity here.

StreetVet Lincoln are also recruiting for a fundraising coordinator, with anyone interested urged to email [email protected].

StreetVet is also launching a country-wide “accredited hostel scheme” which it hopes will prevent anyone from having to choose between their canine best friend and a roof for the night.

Lincolnshire County Council’s Business Recovery Fund has received applications for more than £3 million in just two days as the second round of funding prepares to open.

It is one of four grant funds that were made available for small businesses in Lincolnshire earlier this year to help the recovery from the impact of coronavirus. They’re coming from a £12 million support package from Lincolnshire County Council.

The Business Recovery Fund has now had over 400 applications, which are being processed before funding can be allocated.

Applications for the second round of funding will open at 9am on Thursday, March 4 to offer help to more businesses — those that have made a loss in the 2020 calendar year.

The application window will run until 12pm on Saturday, March 6 — see more information and the eligibility criteria here.

New businesses registered less than 12 months ago can select a fund of £2,500 or £5,000.

Established businesses registered for over a year can select a fund of £2,500, £5,000, £7,500 or £10,000.

Although the scheme is open to businesses with less than 50 employees, the council is particularly keen to receive applications from those with less than 10 employees. One application per business is allowed.

Councillor Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place, said: “We’re delighted that we have had so many applications already and it’s important that we are looking to help those businesses that have suffered with the largest losses first.

“We’re now able to extend the eligibility to small businesses that have made any loss, provided they meet the other criteria.

“And in the next few weeks we are also launching three further funding schemes to provide grants to help businesses improve their digital offer, expand and grow, and a specific grant for businesses and organisations in rural areas.

“These aim to give our local economy a much-needed boost, supporting businesses into the future.”

Find all the LCC grant options here