1,000 new laptops for Peterborough children who cannot access remote learning

The purchases by the city council comes three months after it revealed that the Government had originally allocated the authority 962 laptops before slashing that figure to 381.

At the time, council service director for education Jonathan Lewis said: “We are trying to establish the rationale behind this change, especially in light of the high deprivation in Peterborough.”

Announcing the decision to buy the new laptops, the council said: “In Peterborough, a significant number of children do not have a computer, meaning they cannot access lessons and online resources, support from their teachers, or even interact with their classmates.

“Children who do not have access to a laptop at home are at serious risk of falling behind in their learning and development, so the need for access to a laptop is more important than ever.”

Cllr Lynne Ayres, cabinet member for children’s services, education, skills and the university, announced the purchases at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday,

She said: “Cabinet has discussed the pressing need for laptops for disadvantaged children in our local schools - particularly primary schools - where we know we need 2,000 more to ensure children can access remote learning. We consider this to be a council priority as our children’s education is a priority for us all.

“We are currently working with officers to establish funding for the purchase of these laptops and we hope to be able to announce the way forward very shortly. Our education team are already working very hard with local businesses to support this initiative, and I am very grateful to them.

“We are also working to see how we can bring used laptops into this scheme and will soon be asking the public to assist by donating them to schools using a system we are setting up with a partner organisation. Our education team are preparing a separate briefing about this initiative.

“Cllr David Seaton, the cabinet member for finance, is working with our chief finance officer to enable this scheme to proceed as soon as possible.”