Free laptops and tablets to be supplied to disadvantaged

The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said the Department for Education will be ordering laptops to help disadvantaged young people who sit key exams next year.

Speaking at the press briefing at Downing Street, the education secretary also said that the DfE will also provide laptops and tablets for those children with social workers and care leavers to help them access the services they need.

Williamson also said that free 4G routers will be supplied to disadvantaged secondary school pupils and care leavers who are preparing for exams and who do not already have internet connections, so that they are connected while schools are closed.

The DfE is also working with major telecommunications providers to exempt certain educational resources from data charges, so that this does not add to household expenses that may already be very stretched at this moment.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "By providing young people with these laptops and tablets and enabling schools to access high quality support, we will enable all children to continue learning now and in the years to come. We hope this support will take some of the pressure off both parents and schools by providing more materials for them to use."

Schools and colleges will be able to keep their laptops and tablets once they have reopened. This means that they will play a crucial role in enabling children to learn while schools and colleges are closed, and will also continue helping children learn in the future.