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Home-school: Can you get a free laptop or cheaper

broadband?
By Jane Wakefield
Technology reporter

1 day ago

Coronavirus pandemic

GETTY IMAGES

The pressures of home-schooling are multiplied when families don't have devices or broadband

Home-schooling can be impossible for families who do not have internet devices, or a reliable
broadband connection, especially when multiple people need to be online at the same time.

So what help is available?

How many laptops has the government provided?

As of 17 January, the government has delivered 801,524 laptops as part of its bid to get more
than a million devices to schools and colleges during the Covid-19 crisis.

Its calculations are based on the number of children entitled to free school meals. Schools
requiring devices for their pupils have to place orders via the Get Help with Technology scheme.

Devices are being made available to:

Disadvantaged children in years 3 to 11 whose face-to-face education is disrupted

Disadvantaged children in any year group who have been advised to shield because they (or
someone they live with) are clinically extremely vulnerable

Disadvantaged 16-18 year olds at sixth-form colleges whose education is disrupted

According to Ofcom, between 1.1 million and 1.8 million children do not have access to a laptop,
desktop or tablet at home, which suggests the government scheme may not be enough.

GETTY/RICHARD DRURY

Some private firms and charities are hoping to fill this gap. The London Grid for Learning (LGFL)
has a scheme called Bridge the Divide, which is leading a nationwide procurement scheme for two
million cheap Chromebooks and WinBooks.

In some cases though, demand for devices is outstripping the supply. One academy in Norwich
ordered 60 iPads in the summer but has not yet received any.

The difficulties of living on the digital divide

What are mobile providers doing to help?

More than 880,000 children live in a household with only a mobile internet connection, according
 y g
to the regulator Ofcom, and many of these connections include a limited monthly data allowance.

During the first lockdown, the Child Poverty Action Group reported that many parents were
burning though their mobile allowance to support their children's learning.

GETTY IMAGES

Learning on a phone is not ideal and is can burn through data allowances

This time, mobile operators have promised to zero-rate certain educational sites.

So far EE, BT Mobile, Plusnet Mobile, Virgin Mobile, O2, Three and Vodafone have said the online
materials provided by the Oak National Academy educational website will be free to access until
schools reopen, although only BT has confirmed a start date - the end of January.

The concession only applies to content published on the Oak National Academy website itself.
Some of its videos are also available on YouTube, but firms cannot offer free access to those
without zero-rating all of YouTube, which would seriously damage their business models.

Mobile networks to make Oak lessons site data-free

BT offers BBC Bitesize for free

BT, Plusnet and EE are also offering free access to BBC Bitesize resources. BT has asked the
Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations to each suggest one additional online resource
for children in its regions, which it will zero-rate as well.

But Vodafone has said that it does not think it is feasible to ring-fence BBC Bitesize content, and
has expressed scepticism that other companies will be able to do it.

There are also strict rules - known as net neutrality - which state that providers should treat all
internet traffic equally, although Ofcom is expected to waive this requirement given the
circumstances.

Hundreds of other educational apps and online resources will continue to cost money to access,
so the Department for Education has also agreed with mobile operators that schools and local
authorities can request free mobile data increases for some of its families.

Meanwhile, Vodafone is giving 350,000 free data Sim cards to disadvantaged children.
Meanwhile, Vodafone is giving 350,000 free data Sim cards to disadvantaged children.

How to be the school of Mum and Dad (again)

What are the BBC's lockdown lessons?

Can people get other help with broadband costs?

According to the Office of National Statistics, only 51% of households earning £6,000-£10,000
have home internet access compared to 99% of households with an income of more than £40,000.

As part of its wider Lockdown Learning programme, BT is offering a £10 monthly fixed broadband
tariff for low-income families called BT Basic.

GETTY IMAGES

More devices puts pressure on broadband networks as people struggle to work and learn from home

Meanwhile, superfast provider Hyperoptic - which operates in cities such as London, Leeds and
Newcastle - is offering full fibre broadband (50mbps) for free for the rest of the school year to
households that are able to get its network.

It hopes to connect at least 2,500 families, and says there will be no obligation to keep the service
once the free contract expires.

Virgin is giving more than a million customers who pay for speeds under 100MBps a free boost to
higher speeds during lockdown.

Can I donate a laptop?

A number of charities and groups are collecting unwanted laptops and tablets for schoolchildren
to use at home.

Many schools are accepting equipment directly, but local BBC radio stations are also helping to
coordinate donations by liaising with organisations across the UK.
Find more information on the BBC Local Radio Make a Difference website.

Appeal is launched for home learning computers

Related Topics

Homeschooling Coronavirus lockdown measures Coronavirus pandemic E-learning

More on this story

Covid-19: The challenges of home-schooling

11 January

Home-schooling: How to help your childʼs online learning

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