1,939 laptops have now been distributed to disadvantaged students in Milton Keynes – and more are on the way, much to the delight of local MP Ben Everitt.
Schools with the highest proportion of disadvantaged pupils are being prioritised first as part of a £400 million investment in supporting schools and young people for years to come.
This includes partnering with the UK’s leading mobile network operators to provide free data to disadvantaged families, alongside a further £300 million being invested in tutoring programme building on the existing £1 billion Covid Catch Up Fund.
To further strengthen remote education provision, the government has also provided more than 54,000 4G routers to schools and colleges across England, ensuring no child is prohibited from receiving a quality education due to a lack of internet access.
To further bolster the quality of remote education for all students, the Government has also strengthened the minimum standards for remote learning provision.
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said: “Every child, no matter where they learn or whatever their background, should be able to receive the great education they deserve and this extra investment in laptops and 4G routers will help ensure that.
“I know there is no better place for students to be that in the classroom and it’s important we get them back as soon as it is safe to do so, but these 1,939 laptops in MK will be vital to the most disadvantaged students.”
Iain Stewart MP, the MP for Milton Keynes South, said: “No child should miss out as a result of the disruption caused by this pandemic. That is why it has been our priority to equip those children most in need with the resources they need to succeed.
“I very much welcome that young people across Milton Keynes are continuing to benefit from the raft of measures the Government has put in place to help schools deliver high-quality learning, and the 1,939 devices we now have received will ensure no child’s education is hindered, regardless of their background or circumstance.”
