Free laptops for pupils
1,300 VULNERABLE SCHOOLCHILDREN WILL RECEIVE THE COMPUTERS
HUNDREDS of vulnerable schoolchildren across Kirklees have received free computers to help with their education.
Around 1,300 youngsters expected to get the equipment.
And around 200 pupils will also receive 4G routers to help them get online when learning from home.
Kirklees Council’s initiative comes just a month after Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman said he wanted to find and fund thousands of computers for schoolchildren struggling to complete online work at home during the coronavirus lockdown.
Mr Sheerman suggested the project could be crowd-funded.
However, education chiefs on the council took advantage instead of a Government scheme to deliver the laptops.
They will go to eligible children and young people, including children with a social worker, young carers,
are children whose families receive certain benefits, care leavers and disadvantaged school pupils who are due to take GCSEs next year.
The aim is to make sure vulnerable children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are able to learn away from school and achieve better long-term outcomes despite the problems created by the pandemic.
The authority has worked with schools and other organisations to identify which children are eligible for the scheme and have the greatest need.
It says hundreds of devices have already been delivered, with many more to follow.
Clr Viv Kendrick, the council’s Cabinet member for Children, said the Covid-19 lockdown had shown digital inequality amongst homeworking youngsters was an issue.
She added: “Providing this equipment will be a great boost to disadvantaged learners and support them to aspire and achieve just like their peers.”