Council enhances laptops for vulnerable young people
Following the Government’s announcement in April to provide technology to support children and schools learning, the Council has now received 502 laptop and tablet devices for vulnerable young people in social care aged up to 19.
The Council has then enhanced these with additional educational software, including Microsoft Office, online learning packages such as BBC Bitesize and extra measures to boost children’s online safety at home.
Telford’s Library app, “Libby”, will also be available for young people to download, this allows the young people to use their laptop to borrow and read ebooks from their local public libraries all for free.
The devices have been assigned to young people who do not have access to suitable devices at home to support their online learning during the current partial school closures.
78 4G routers have also been allocated for those who do not have an internet connection at home.
The scheme also provides a further 26 laptops for young people in Year 10 eligible for free school meals who attend maintained schools. Schools have assisted with identifying these young people.
Academy Trusts have been allocated devices directly by the government for academies for young people in Year 10.
The laptops devices will be delivered to schools across the borough this week.
Councillor Shirley Reynolds Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education & Lifelong Learning said: “The government scheme has taken a long time to deliver on their offer but now we have these devices we’ve ensuring they are fit for purpose with extra measures to help keep children safe online and access to more learning resources.
“This is scheme will allow children who are yet to return to school to continue learning from home which is so important for all young people.”
