Four Northampton school students test positive for coronavirus as bubble isolates

Four students at CANTO Learning in Tonmead Road, Lumbertubs, have recieved a positive test result for COVID-19, the headteacher has confirmed to this newspaper today (Tuesday).

Staff at the college support students, aged 16 to 24, with additional support needs who are identified as being 'NEET' Not in Education, Employment or Training.

Charlotte Dear, headteacher at Canto Learning, manages 40 members of staff. She said: "We were informed of a positive test result on Friday and took immediate action.

"Following advice and guidance from Public Health England we have asked the staff and students in the relevant bubble to self-isolate for a period of 14 days."

While staff and students in the affected bubble are self-isolating during this time a further thorough clean of the building will take place.

She added: "As an organisation we want as little disruption as possible to students learning and therefore work hard to ensure that we safeguard both our students and staff and adhere to the social distancing measures in place."

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire County Council said: “Outbreaks continue to be a feature of the pandemic both in Northamptonshire and across the country. Every setting is supported in the event of an outbreak by Public Health England, local authority public health teams and subject matter experts from within Northamptonshire County Council, and provided with appropriate guidance and support.

“We are not able to provide specific details on individual cases, or those involving small numbers, as we are subject to information governance regulations in order to protect the privacy of individuals. We do however include some higher level data on the number of outbreaks and the types of settings, including schools, in which they occur in the weekly surveillance report."