Luton schools are 'ready' to reopen as soon as rules lifted, meeting told

Luton's schools are ready for the return of pupils to classrooms next month - regardless of whether a phased process is adopted or everyone comes back at once - a meeting heard.

Schools in the town have remained open throughout lockdown for vulnerable children and those of key workers.

"They've been taking the opportunity to bed in their testing," the borough council's director of public health Lucy Hubber told its health and wellbeing board.

"This has meant both testing of staff, and getting their systems and processes ready to test students," she explained.

"We're waiting to see the announcement about the full reopening of the schools, whether it will be phased or a big bang and all schools are back open on March 8th.

"We're in a good position in Luton to support the testing of secondary school pupils.

"We still have the rapid test centres and we'll be encouraging primary aged children to come and be tested.

"This is because there isn't currently testing (for pupils) within primary school settings, although there is for the staff."

A Cabinet Office field team returned to Luton for a two-day visit at the start of the month, according to the director of public health.

"They thought the schools outbreak management cell had been absolutely critical in the way we managed to control and suppress the virus right through Christmas, when the new variant overtook us," she said.

"They particularly noticed the huge work of our community in supporting themselves, including Discover Islam Luton, Age Concern, the town's foodbank and so on.

"They saw for themselves the way we've truly tried to engage with our community to produce our response."

A sixth vaccination centre is due to open in Luton, said the director of primary care for the Luton and BLMK CCGs Nicky Poulain.

"We've five sites, with the sixth coming on soon, the Inspire Luton Sports Village."

Conservative Icknield councillor Jeff Petts asked her whether a different vaccine could be used for each of the two injections.

"We're working with the national team." she replied. "There's research taking place.

"At present, we're being advised to use the same vaccine for the second as the first. But that may change.

"The system of second doses is fairly robust. We always keep a watchful eye. It's a learning exercise all the way through."

Luton GP and director of clinical transformation for the BLMK Clinical Commissioning Groups Dr Nina Pearson said the expectation is appointments 12 weeks apart.

"Everything is on schedule for that," she added. "We're told the vaccination is available. As and when it arrives, we'll vaccinate."

Labour Challney councillor Khtija Malik wondered whether the vaccine could be brought to communities to help persuade people hesitant about having it.

"I think in Bedford they went to the Gurdwaras," she explained. "I keep getting approached about it. Is there any plan to do that locally in Luton?"

The director of primary care said: "We're working with the communities. It's not possible to set up a separate site at the moment.

"We're looking at how we can adapt the sites. It's about working together to address the hesitancy and the concerns."