Free laptops to be given to school children from low-income homes so they can study online during coronavirus lockdown
SCHOOL children from disadvantaged backgrounds will be given free laptops and tablets to help them study online during the coronavirus lockdown.
Low-income families will also receive 4G routers to ensure pupils can access the internet if they don't already have mobile or broadband internet.
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The moves are part of a push to make remote education accessible for all children while schools are closed.
The devices will be ordered for pupils "in the most vital stages of their education", the Department for Education (DfE) said.
Kids will be eligible for the devices if they don't already have one and either have a social worker or are care leavers, or are disadvantaged children in year 10 preparing for exams next year.
They'll be given out to local authorities and organisations overseeing schools, who'll judge which children need them the most.
Some schools will also be able to apply directly to the DfE for the devices.
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The DfE hasn't clarified when the emergency measure will launch, but said the devices will be available as soon as possible.
Schools and colleges will be able to keep the laptops and tablets once they reopen.
The government department has also launched a national online classroom, where pupils will be able to take virtual lessons from the country's top teachers.
Launching today, the video lessons have been created by around 40 primary and secondary school specialists for early years to age 15 — focusing on the likes of maths, art and languages.
It comes as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday said that no date had been set for re-opening schools in England.
He apologised to pupils for the interruption to their studies and said there are no plans to open schools in England over the summer holidays.
Becca Lyon, Save the Children's head of child poverty, said: "Additional online support for all children to continue their learning will help many, but those without access to the internet will still be missing out.
"Extending router availability to the families of younger children in poverty will ensure children continue to learn at a critical point in their development."
A poll of teachers and parents by the Sutton Trust has found that over half of students in independent schools take part in online lessons every day, two and a half times as often as their state school peers.
It said the gap was largely explained by access to resources, as independent schools are more likely to have existing online platforms allowing them to broadcast classes online.
Sutton Trust founder and chairman, Peter Lampl, said: "The widening of the attainment gap over these next few months threatens to have negative implications for years to come.
"It is crucial we do all we can to address inequalities through high quality tuition and access to technology.";
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The scheme launched on March 31 - here's all you need to know about getting the vouchers.