Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Logan and Nick Gibb

Monday 12th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Karl MᶜCartney (Lincoln) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure children who are self-isolating during the covid-19 outbreak receive high-quality online education.

[The Minister for School Standards (Nick Gibb)]

Although the vast majority of children are back in the classroom, we have made 250,000 laptops and tablets available in the event that face-to-face education is disrupted, building on more than 220,000 already delivered to those most in need. We have also made resources available to schools to deliver high-quality online education, alongside the Government-funded Oak National Academy, which is providing video lessons across a broad range of subjects.

[Mark Logan]

What measures are this Government putting in place to ensure that disadvantaged children right across Bolton have extra online support to get them through the winter of covid and put a spring in their step in 2021?

[Nick Gibb]

It is vital that students have a spring in their step and that they have access to high-quality remote education, so we have invested more than £160 million in connectivity, devices and support—including more than 980 laptops and tablets to Bolton Council—alongside additional devices delivered to academy trusts. We are now making available 250,000 more devices nationwide in the event of further disruption. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that Bolton schools and academies have already received more than £1 million in their first catch-up premium payment.