Council's £3m kitty to ensure Northamptonshire schools won't be left footing bill for being Covid safe

Northamptonshire's schools have been told they will not have to foot the bill for making classrooms Covid safe.

The County Council has pledged to provide all schools with a chunk of cash from its £43million warchest of government grants earmarked to help fight the pandemic.

Although schools were closed to most students from March to September last year and again at the start of the current term in January, doors are still kept open for children of key workers.

And many spent thousands to bring buildings up to scratch to make them safe for staff and students for when in-person classes resumed for all students.

Cllr Fiona Baker, cabinet member for children, families and education at Northamptonshire County Council, admitted: “This year has been incredibly difficult for everyone and our local schools must be commended for their dedication to making their learning environments as safe as possible so that the county's children can continue to access the best possible education.

"We'd like to thank them for their continued hard work, continuing to put the interests and well-being of pupils first during this extremely challenging period.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set March 8 as a target date for all students to begin their return to classrooms after two months learning at home during the latest lockdown.

Schools will get £24.90 per pupil adding up to £3m across the county to cover future costs or those already incurred from infection prevention and control measures on items not already covered by Whitehall funding.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper while doing your essential shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you