Free laptops and 4G routers to support learning

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announces that vulnerable and disadvantaged young people across the country will receive free laptops.

Disadvantaged children across England are set to receive laptops and tablets via their schools as part of a push to make remote education accessible for pupils staying at home during the coronavirus outbreak.

Devices will be ordered for children in the most vital stages of their education, those who receive support from a social worker and care leavers.

The government will also provide 4G routers to make sure disadvantaged secondary school pupils and care leavers can access the internet – where those families do not already have mobile or broadband internet in the household.

The country’s major telecommunications providers will make it easier for families to access selected educational resources by temporarily exempting these sites from data charges.

In addition, to support the work of schools in delivering remote education, the Oak National Academy is due to launch today (20.04.20). This brand-new enterprise has been created by 40 teachers from some of the leading schools across England, backed by government grant funding. It will provide 180 video lessons each week, across a broad range of subjects from maths to art to languages, for every year group from Reception through to Year 10.

Schools and colleges will be able to keep their laptops and tablets once they have reopened.