Disadvantaged children across England are set to receive laptops and tablets

[elsiegee40]

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

 

It is supposed to be done online, but the ordering process has been postponed until an unknown date.

[MYK-IT]

We were contacted via email by ComputaCenter UK Ltd yesterday to register for the scheme, by completing an Online Forecast.

 

We have outlined the steps you will need to complete before you receive your laptops and tablets:

 

Step 1 –Complete the Online Forecast (see link below)

 

Step 2 –You will be sent a link and asked to register to our Web-shop

 

Step 3 –Once registered, you can place your order

 

Step 4 –Your order will be shipped to the delivery address

 

[Protec]

What are devices are they offering I wonder? Tablets, Laptops? New or used?

[Wubbalubbadub]

We are a school of 600... I reckon about 65% of our students fall under disadvantaged.

 

We have been offered 14 laptops.. I wouldn't hope on getting many!

[DavidLong]

We have just over 1500 pupils and about 140 pupils in year 10 who are disadvantaged, not including those with a focused worker. We have been offered 57 devices. I have completed step one but not had any contact yet to register for step 2.

[mdrabble]

I’ve asked our SLT what is happening about this when it was first announced and I’m being kept out of the loop for some reason.

 

Don’t mind as long as they don’t expect me to support them!

[6Foot2]

I’ve asked our SLT what is happening about this when it was first announced and I’m being kept out of the loop for some reason.

 

Don’t mind as long as they don’t expect me to support them!

 

I asked our Head who was going to support them (if they were ever to arrive!) He said that he expected that ALL support would be done by an external agency not involving us or our network at all.

 

That is to include Internet access.

[Dos_Box]

I remember a scheme 20 years ago. The local authority purchased what the learners picked from a list of hardware options. Each order was at least £1k. A broadband deal was added. After a short period of time the LA farmed out all but purchasing to local private businesses.

I guess we just sit back and wait to see what we get.

I think our school will get a centrally built image ready to go. Run it like a lease scheme.

 

Ah yes, Laptops for Pupils. I was involved a little in Lancashires roll out back in about 2005-ish. It was interesting.

I'll post more when I'm back behind my desk on Monday, but I imagine now that a lot of the problems we faced back then are not really an issue now.

[Boredguy]

Ah yes, Laptops for Pupils. I was involved a little in Lancashires roll out back in about 2005-ish. It was interesting.

I'll post more when I'm back behind my desk on Monday, but I imagine now that a lot of the problems we faced back then are not really an issue now.

Please don't give me nightmares of the old Laptops for Teachers scheme with £700 Ergo laptops that were outspec'd by other £400 ones

[DrCheese]

Please don't give me nightmares of the old Laptops for Teachers scheme with £700 Ergo laptops that were outspec'd by other £400 ones

 

haha, a government scheme being abused by the private sector? Colour me shocked (See RM and everything involving BSF)

[Zammo]

Is anyone else still waiting for the email asking for them to register and complete the "Forecast Survey"?

We had the one from Computacenter informing us of our allocation as a MAT, but no follow up email yet

[DavidLong]

Our head (also head of our trust as we are stand alone) had it in Friday.

[the_quick]

I still haven't heard anything about from LA or my head. Just wonder if there is going to be some checks on costs etc.

 

For example we have in our school a kid, that for some reason other county is responsible for. And in the last few days they arrange a laptop for him, brand new, nothing fancy. I was contacted by the supplier and laptop arrived. For some reason I saw the invoice. I could buy the same laptop for £30 just googling it. So I wonder with that scheme, would there be any kind of control - in the end it is paid by the tax payers.

 

Will see..

[Zammo]

I still haven't heard anything about from LA or my head. Just wonder if there is going to be some checks on costs etc.

 

For example we have in our school a kid, that for some reason other county is responsible for. And in the last few days they arrange a laptop for him, brand new, nothing fancy. I was contacted by the supplier and laptop arrived. For some reason I saw the invoice. I could buy the same laptop for £30 just googling it. So I wonder with that scheme, would there be any kind of control - in the end it is paid by the tax payers.

 

Will see..

 

£30!! What have they given him..?

 

Something like this?

 

[timbo343]

Does anyone know the specs of these devices? I have been told that we have 3 options

 

1. a Chromebook

2. a Microsoft Device

3. a Tablet

[robyholmes]

Does anyone know the specs of these devices? I have been told that we have 3 options

 

1. a Chromebook

2. a Microsoft Device

3. a Tablet

 

I've got my money on the 'Tablet' being a sleeping pill to allow parents so pace and quite...

[the_quick]

£30!! What have they given him..?

 

Something like this?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]57773[/ATTACH]

 

Sorry, lost cheaper - it should read £30 cheaper. They gave him crappy lenovo with celeron CPU, for around £260 ex vat

[enjay]

The criteria for eligibility are confusing us, too. We have 2 children in care and 12 FSM-eligible Year 10s. We are entitled to 7 devices.

[DavidLong]

The criteria for eligibility are confusing us, too. We have 2 children in care and 12 FSM-eligible Year 10s. We are entitled to 7 devices.

 

They are estimating the number of students in those groups that won’t already have a device based on national statistics and then assigning you that number.

[enjay]

They are estimating the number of students in those groups that won’t already have a device based on national statistics and then assigning you that number.

 

Interesting. Can you cite where you're getting that from? Also, I think they've under-estimated. We have provided laptops to 12 Year 10 students and I suspect our demographic is above average for technology and Internet access at home. I suppose, our 12 does include families who don't have sufficient technology at home (e.g. 3 children and 1 laptop) whereas the Government stats are probably just those families with no technology at home.

 

Are we being notified about 4G adapters separately, or has the Government miscalculated that one too? We have four Year 10s without Internet at home, but haven't heard anything about Internet provision for students.

 

I wonder why the Government didn't just publish the full criteria list and say "how many students do you have?" rather than guessing. Does anyone know if there will be additional access if it turns out the 7 we've been allocated isn't sufficient?

[DavidLong]

I phoned the DfE COVID helpline to ask.

 

I also asked what would happen if the number allocated wasn’t enough and answer was we believe it is based on national picture and to prioritise!

 

I have heard nothing about the 4G access.

[mikeprice]

They are estimating the number of students in those groups that won’t already have a device based on national statistics and then assigning you that number.

 

If that is true then it is moronic

 

if a kid should be entitled to it then they should get it

using nationwide averages to determine the situation of a small group of kids is just too stupid for words

 

and also means that the hassle of dealing with which parents to annoy becomes the school's problem

 

I am just hoping this is false

[timbo343]

Sorry, lost cheaper - it should read £30 cheaper. They gave him crappy lenovo with celeron CPU, for around £260 ex vat

 

Don't suppose it's one of these >> https://www.ballicom.co.uk/lenovo-81mb0008uk-.p1476601.html is it?

 

Wonder what the Microsoft alternative is.

[the_quick]

Nope, this is the one: https://psref.lenovo.com/Detail/Lenovo%20Laptops/Lenovo_100e_Windows_2nd_Gen?M=81M8000LUK

 

It is Windows laptop. WIthout looking hard you can find it for around £200 ex vat. So it made me wonder, if any company going to be involved in a government project for these laptops and if yes, who is going to check the pricing is correct and proper.

Yes, I'm very suspicious guy.

[DrCheese]

Don't suppose anyone's figured out what

 

"Windows laptop"

"Windows tablet"

"Google Chrome laptop"

 

actually are yet?