To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional support they will make available during the period of school closures announced by the Prime Minister on 4 January to ensure that all children who are participating in remote learning have access to (1) laptops or tablets, (2) internet provision, and (3) online education platforms; and what steps they have taken to ensure that such children have access to such items without having to share access with siblings or working parents.
Answered on
19 January 2021
The government is investing over £400 million to support access to remote education and online social care services, including securing over 1.3 million laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children and young people. Over 750,000 laptops and tablets had been delivered to schools, academy trusts and local authorities by the end of last week, nearly 140,000 of which had been delivered this month.
Laptops and tablets are owned by schools, academy trusts or local authorities who can lend these to children and young people who need them most during the current COVID-19 restrictions. Where sole access to a device is required to support continued education or care, we would expect schools and social care teams to allocate laptops or tablets on that basis.
The department has also partnered with some of the UK’s leading mobile operators to provide free data to disadvantaged families, further supporting remote learning where it is needed. Where schools identify a child from a disadvantaged family without internet access at home, they can now request free, additional data through the department’s Get Help with Technology service. We are grateful to EE, O2, Sky Mobile, Smarty, Tesco Mobile, Three, Virgin Mobile, and Vodafone. We continue to invite a range of mobile network providers to support the offer.
The department has also provided over 54,000 4G wireless routers with free data for the academic year and we will continue to do so.
The government is funding expert technical support to help schools set up secure user accounts for Google and Microsoft’s education platforms. Schools can apply for government funded support through The Key for School Leaders to get set up on one of two free to use digital education platforms: G Suite for Education or Office 365 Education. Since April 2020, 2.4 million accounts have been set up. The Key also provides case studies to demonstrate how schools are making the most of these platforms.
The EdTech Demonstrator network is in place to promote effective use of devices, including ways they can be used to promote greater accessibility to the curriculum.
The department is also supporting sector led initiatives such as the Oak National Academy. This pioneering enterprise has been created by 40 teachers from schools across England. The department has made £4.84 million available for the Oak National Academy both for the summer term of 2019-20, and for the 2020-21 academic year, to provide video lessons for Reception up to year 11. Specialist content for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is also available. Oak National Academy will remain a free optional resource for the academic year 2020-21.
The BBC has also developed resources for families as part of a comprehensive education package, which is available on TV, BBC iPlayer and online at BBC Bitesize.
A number of mobile network providers are also working together to make access to educational resources, such as Oak Academy and BBC Bitesize, free of mobile data charges.