Disadvantaged children across England are set to receive laptops and tablets

[Mr.Ben]

This page has been updated: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

, but is still light on the details. Has anyone else found any further information?

 

Kind regards, Ben

[DrCheese]

Nope - I have a feeling the DFE announced this without actually bothering to check with OEMS if they could supply these quick enough. (Answer: No!)

[keyboards]

Nope - I have a feeling the DFE announced this without actually bothering to check with OEMS if they could supply these quick enough. (Answer: No!)

 

I get a similar feeling....This was annouced as there wasn't actually much of a plan with it.

[Mr.Ben]

But surely it wouldn't be like our government to announce something without checking if it's possible or planning before they do so? [sarcasm] ;-)

[ITGuyNW]

I knew this would be a PR stunt. I thought this is going to cost so much money, there's no way it'll go ahead. Low and behold the article has been changed a few times over the last few days to broaden expectations.

 

I fully expect Schools to be back before this scheme becomes live. Maybe the rumour of May 11th is true!

[Ditto]

I have to ask - what's a Quigley based curriculum? I'll leave it to you to guess what the Q stands for in my username...

In the circumstances, I'm wary of replying, but hey-ho. Well, let me put on my governor hat, layman's hat and 'worked in education hat' all at the same time. Quigley is to some in SLT, what Twinkl is to some teaching staff. Hope that helps

[davipton]

Now why am I not surprised!

 

 

 

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/coronavirus-dfes-free-laptops-portal-launch-delayed/

Edited April 22, 2020 by elsiegee40

[Syman_a]

I have just been asked to look into supplying laptops for some of our kids. Not a problem, but does anyone have a letter/ agreement i could look at for an idea as to what i need to put in our agreements.

 

I am guessing it will only be 10 or so primary age kids.

[Ditto]

I have just been asked to look into supplying laptops for some of our kids. Not a problem, but does anyone have a letter/ agreement i could look at for an idea as to what i need to put in our agreements.

 

I am guessing it will only be 10 or so primary age kids.

Are you supplying these via the new funding scheme? I don't think it is intended for primary school age children.

[Syman_a]

Are you supplying these via the new funding scheme? I don't think it is intended for primary school age children.

This is going to be a school thing. Over and above any goverment initiative.

[keyboards]

When people are giving out laptops with things like

 

PP?

Looked after children fund etc?

 

Who are they classing the equipments as, the schools or the users

[enjay]

When closure was first announced, we made a few "spare" laptops available to vulnerable students in Years 10-13 (quickly pared back to just 10 and 12, of course) then extended this to other year groups, so started taking laptops out of classroom trolleys. Gradually more students came out of the woodwork who don't have suitable technology at home - either because they hadn't told us previously, or because families found sharing the "family laptop" to be too problematic. The laptops have all the standard school software on them already, and we've created local user accounts for each student, plus a secret admin user account which we'll disclose to the parents if needed. The laptops would likely be re-imaged in the summer holidays anyway, so no harm. Students are told to save into OneDrive/Google Drive. Parents/carers sign something saying they will take responsibility for ensuring appropriate, school-only use of the equipment; we decided against making them agree to liability for damage, as we didn't want to put them off using the laptops.

 

We have provided 4G dongles to some students, around £50 per dongle and £7/month for 3GB on our school mobile phone contract. We'll keep some of these after closure for various reasons, including being able to respond quickly if we learn of another student who doesn't have Internet access.

 

To date, we've issued around 50 laptops and 10 4G dongles. One silver lining to this is we have identified more students without learning-appropriate technology and/or Internet access than we thought, so are now providing them with the access they need.

 

For all the reasons people have already highlighted around support, access to software, etc. I think we'll steer clear of the Government scheme, or least carry on as we are until it is clear what the Government are offering, then we might consider swapping the devices we've given the Year 10s for the Government ones.

[mb2k01]

New update on the website now.

Although unhelpfully says that schools and Trust have been sent information on how to place orders... which I certainly haven't (yet!)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19?utm_source=e03bffe9-6a49-4214-934a-755149873bc1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

[enjay]

Although unhelpfully says that schools and Trust have been sent information on how to place orders... which I certainly haven't (yet!)

 

You've misread/misquoted it. It says:

Local authorities, trusts and other relevant organisations overseeing schools and social care can apply. These organisations have been sent information on how to order a device.

 

Local authorities should work with schools to identify care leavers, and children and young people with a social worker, who need devices and internet access.

 

Schools, parents and pupils will not be able to apply for internet access or digital devices themselves.

[mb2k01]

You've misread/misquoted it. It says:

 

Misquoted in terms of referencing schools ordering, apologies.

I was coming from the Trust perspective - i.e. it says we've been sent information on how to order a device, and as far as I or anyone else I've asked knows, we haven't!

[djm968]

Our Trust has received notification from the DfE that we qualify for some devices, Choice of a basic Windows laptops, Chromebooks or Windows tablets. Edited April 24, 2020 by djm968

[mb2k01]

Our Trust has received notification from the DfE the we qualify for some devices, Choice of a basic Windows laptops, Chromebooks or Windows tablets.

 

Did this come in to a generic mailbox, or to a named person?

[djm968]

Did this come in to a generic mailbox, or to a named person?

It was a specific person, the CEO of our Trust.

[Zammo]

Same here, we have been notified of our numbers (straight to the CEO)

[DavR]

Laptops and tablets will be provided for disadvantaged families, children and young people who do not currently have access to them. Eligible people are:

 

 

• care leavers
  
• children and young people aged 0 to 19 with a social worker
  
• disadvantaged year 10 pupils
  

Internet access will be provided through 4G hotspot devices for any of the following people who do not currently have it:

 

 

• care leavers
  
• young people aged 11 to 19 with a social worker
  
• disadvantaged year 10 pupils[/Quote]
  

 

Glad to see they've clarified who's entitled, a few of our primary aged kids might benefit. We'll see what comes down from the LA.

 

Not to be ungrateful, but how come only secondary aged kids get their Internet funded? A remote learning device is useless without an Internet connection!

[DavR]

Looks like there's also support available to help schools setup Google Classroom or Office 365 - https://schoolleaders.thekeysupport.com/news/digital-education-platform-scheme/

 

We decided against going that route as we didn't have time to train anyone and have our own system in place, but might be useful for those that need it.

[Zammo]

Does anyone have a definition for:

 

- Disadvantaged students

- Care Leavers

[Andycat]

This is the updated email sent today:

 

"Dear Colleague,

 

On Sunday 19 April, the Government announced support for vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people who do not have access to a digital device during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

 

Laptops and tablets will be supplied to support remote education and help children and young people stay in touch with social care services.

 

We have today written to Responsible Bodies (for example, local authorities and academy trusts) explaining who is eligible and how they can request a device and get it to those who need it.

 

Schools will not order devices directly and you should contact your Responsible Body for further information.

 

If you have moved Responsible Body since October 2019, you should contact your current and former Responsible Body to discuss who will allocate devices to eligible children who you are responsible for.

 

Who is eligible?

Laptops and tablets are available for the most disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are:

 

Care leavers

Children with a social worker (including pre-school children)

Children in Year 10, ahead of GCSEs next year

Responsible Bodies will be given a fixed number of laptops and tablets to support children and young people in these groups.

 

Care leavers and children with a social worker

Local authorities will be responsible for ordering devices for care leavers and children with a social worker who they are responsible for.

 

We have asked local authorities to work with schools to identify care leavers and children with a social worker who need devices.

 

All devices for care leavers and children with a social worker will be allocated and delivered to local authorities. Local authorities are responsible for managing distribution to children and young people, liaising with schools where appropriate.

 

Year 10 pupils

Academy trusts and local authorities are responsible for ordering devices for Year 10 pupils who do not have a social worker and do not have the means to access a laptop or tablet. We have asked them to work with you to identify these children.

 

These devices will be delivered directly to schools where you will be responsible for distributing these to identified families and children. You should liaise directly with your academy trust or local authority to manage this delivery.

 

Delivery, set up and distribution of devices

Laptops and tablets will have settings to make sure they are safe and secure online. You can also apply your own settings and software to match the education resources you use and to fit with your own policies.

 

Once the devices are set up and ready to go, you are responsible for getting the laptops or tablets to children, for example arranging for them to be collected by families from your school (with a social worker present where relevant) or organising for them to be sent to children’s and care leavers’ homes. This should be done in accordance with social distancing guidelines.

 

Find information about social distancing in education settings at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings

 

16-19 education

16 to 19-year-olds without a suitable device will be eligible for support via the 16-19 Bursary Fund.

 

If you are funded for 16-19 provision, including sixth form and further education provision, you should already have a 16-19 Bursary Fund allocation.

 

If your Bursary Fund is already committed and you need additional resources to support disadvantaged sixth form students to access education remotely, you will be able to put a business case to the Education and Skills Funding Agency. Equipment for students aged 16-19 should be purchased by the education provider directly.

 

Find more information about the 16-19 bursary fund at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-bursary-fund-guide-2019-to-2020-academic-year

 

What other support is available?

You can apply for Government-funded support to get set up on one of two free-to-use digital education platforms: G Suite for Education or Office 365 Education.

 

You can apply through The Key for School Leaders at https://covid19.thekeysupport.com/remote-learning/

 

The Key has provided information to help you choose an online education platform.

 

The Department has also published a list of education resources which include materials on wellbeing and on teaching children with special educational needs and disabilities. We will regularly update this list with further resources.

 

You can access this list of resources at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education

 

The Oak National Academy launched on Monday 20 April. It will provide 180 video lessons for free each week, across a broad range of subjects, for every year group from Reception through to Year 10. It will continue to offer new lessons and resources each week at least until schools are able to re-open.

 

You can visit the Oak National Academy site at:

https://www.thenational.academy

 

The BBC has also launched its own education package across TV and online to help children keep learning.

 

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] for more information.

 

Regards,

The Digital Infrastructure Team

Department for Education"

[elsiegee40]

DfE Guidance: Get technology support for children and schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)

[saggu]

Any maintained Primary school aware of how to contact the local authority regarding this?