Children handed 10,000 laptops to help in pandemic

MORE than 10,000 laptops and devices are being distributed to disadvantaged kids across Greater Manchester as a ‘vital lifeline’ during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It comes as part of a scheme funded by the Department of Education which agreed to provide technology and digital devices for families, children and young people who did not have access to them.

All of the region’s local authorities – except for Trafford council – have revealed how many laptops, tablets and routers they are handing out to their young residents.

The total is more than 11,000 across the nine boroughs.

The scheme, which launched in April, was designed to support pupils who couldn’t attend school during the coronavirus lockdown but didn’t have a computer at home, and for digital studying during the summer.

Manchester council has handed out around 3,500 laptops to vulnerable children across the city, the majority of which have come through the government scheme. Around 150 have come from the Greater Manchester combined authority, while academies have made their own separate applications for laptops to the government.

In Oldham, more than 1,200 devices have been distributed to schools to allocate to those most in need, with additional devices going directly to local academies.

Of the Oldham total, 1,036 were laptops which bosses say will also be crucial for upcoming GCSE students to use to study during the summer months.

John Cregg, headteacher of The Radclyffe School, said: “The laptops for year 10s scheme will provide vital support to our students, enabling them to push on with their studies even when they can’t be physically in the school building.”

Rochdale council has so far given out 949 laptops and is arranging for the delivery of another 195 machines.

Bolton council has allocated 849 laptops and 110 4G routers.

Chiefs are also handing out 137 laptops and 90 routers for disadvantaged year 10 pupils.

Salford council has distributed 1,260 devices, while Bury has handed out 700 laptops and iPads.

In Tameside, the council ordered 144 laptops for year 10 pupils, 300 tablets for children under the age of seven with social workers, and 664 laptops for children between seven and 19 with a social worker.

Wigan council says it is ‘in the process’ of delivering 709 laptops and iPads allocated by the DfE to its schools and is also waiting on another 195 devices. And 30 laptops and dongles have also been allocated from Greater Manchester for year 10s in the borough, with a further 20 from Barclays that are also on their way out for delivery.

In Stockport, 886 laptops have so far been provided by the government for students.

A council spokesman said: “The laptops for care leavers and children with a social worker are being provided to help children and young people stay in touch with social care services and provide access to remote education during the COVID-19 lockdown.”