Leeds MP Rachel Reeves demands answer from Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on laptops for disadvantaged pupils

A Yorkshire MP has written to the Education Secretary to ask why it has reduced the number of laptops it is sending schools cope with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West.Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West.
Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West.

Rachel Reeves, Labour MP for Leeds West, said the Department for Education has “slashed the allocation of Government-promised laptops for the poorest and most vulnerable children across the country by as much as 80 per cent”.

The computers are intended to help schools provide remote lessons to pupils unable to attend the classroom.

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The Government says that is has had to “align orders with the number of students schools typically have self-isolating

But Ms Reeves said: “The Government must clarify how it is allocating digital devices to schools, how schools are able to access these provisions and what the timescales are for delivery.

Only this Government could introduce a legal duty on schools to provide online learning for pupils isolating at home and then cut their allocation of laptops almost immediately afterwards.

“Ministers need to get a grip to make sure schools and pupils have the laptops they need and internet access to make sure that no child is left behind.”

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The Department for Education said that if a school is fully closing for a sustained period, their Regional Schools Commissioner will work with them to ensure they receive enough devices to meet the needs of all disadvantaged children in years three to 11 who do not already have one.

A spokesperson said: “The scale and speed at which the department has delivered laptops and tablets to children who need them over the past six months is unprecedented, with deliveries now set to total over half a million by Christmas.

“In the context of significant global demand, we have updated our allocation process to more accurately align orders with the number of students schools typically have self-isolating, ensuring as many children as possible benefit from receiving a device this term.

"We have already purchased an additional 96,000 devices and continue to work closely with our suppliers to ensure delivery despite the increased global demand.”

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The Government also highlighted that the devices programme, which procured, configured and delivered more than 200,000 digital devices in fewer than 80 days, had been praised by Tech UK associate director Henry Rex and Chris Rothwell, director of Education, Microsoft UK.