Help with home-schooling How children can get access to laptops

BRISTOL City Council has announced how it will be helping children affected by ‘digital poverty,’ as England enters a third national lockdown with pupils told to start learning from home.

On Monday it was announced schools will close with primary and secondary schools being told to move to remote learning for most pupils.

The rapid change of policy means parents are once again having to grapple with the prospect of home learning.

In March of last year the UK went into lockdown and pupils were told to access work online. But for those without access to technology like laptops, computers or tablets, learning from home is a near impossible task which can cause them to fall behind academically.

And according to Connecting Bristol, internet access at home is much lower in deprived areas.

On Monday, Bristol City Council announced it will be allocating £250,000 of Covid funding to cleanse and distribute recycled Council laptops to priority individuals. They will also be providing data and support, so that recipients can “improve their access to education”.

The move is part of Bristol City

Council’s Tackling Digital Poverty in Bristol project.

Council documents explain: “This project is being set up to address digital poverty in Bristol, exacerbated by Covid-19, which means that people without digital devices, data and basic skills face significant barriers to education, training and employment – as well as access to wider services and social connections, particularly for more vulnerable people who are isolated as a result of shielding.

“In Bristol’s most deprived areas, where many people may have a mobile phone, there is anecdotal evidence that many households lack a computer, laptop or tablet, access to broadband, as well as the confidence and skills to fully utilise these digital devices.”

If you are in need of a laptop, visit the Bristol Computer Reuse website at https://www.bristolcomputerreuse.org/ to fill in an application form.

Contact them by telephone on 0117 3706 375, email: info@bristolcomputerreuse.org.

People without digital devices, data and basic skills face significant barriers to education, training and employment Bristol City Council