Before New Year the Government announced a delay of the return for all secondary schools in January, and for some primary schools in the south and east. Bedford Borough's primary schools were not included despite some areas with similar or lower number of cases being on the list, including nearby Milton Keynes which is also in our NHS Clinical Commissioning Group area.
Mayor Dave Hodgson still has not had a response from the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson MP, regarding schools closures.
Sadly the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson MP, has not yet responded to my email regarding schools closures.
Following the Secretary of State of Education's u-turn on primary school openings in London. Mayor Dave Hodgson has called for the decision for Bedford Borough to reviewed urgently and allow our primary schools to remain closed for the time being, with the exception for children of key workers and those that need to attend school, for the safety of pupils, teachers and support staff.
I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year, we can but hope it will be better than 2020.
At this evening's meeting of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board I raised the issue of vaccinations in Bedford Borough and school reopenings. You can watch the meeting here.