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<p>Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England
only.</p><p>Schools are responsible for making decisions about what technology to
buy to meet their pupils’ needs, and how best to use it support their teaching.</p><p>The
government delivered over 1.95 million laptops and tablets to schools, trusts, local
authorities and further education (FE) providers for disadvantaged children and young
people as part of a £520 million government investment to support access to remote
education and online social care services. These laptops and tablets are now owned
by schools, trusts, local authorities or FE providers, who can lend them to children
and young people who need them the most. These laptops and tablets were an injection
of support on top of the estimated 2.9 million that were already owned by schools
before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>Building on its success in the pandemic,
Oak National Academy was established as an arm’s length body on 1 September 2022,
working independently of the government and collaboratively with the education sector.
Oak aims to support teachers to improve curriculum delivery, reduce workload and support
improved pupil outcomes, and continues to provide a remote education contingency.
Oak will work with teachers across the country, giving them and their pupils access
to free, optional, and adaptable high-quality digital curriculum resources.</p><p>The
government has provided over £2.6 billion of pupil premium funding in the 2022/23
financial year to support pupils from lower income families. Rates will increase by
5% for 2023/24, taking total pupil premium funding to £2.9 billion. As set out in
the menu of approaches, schools can use both pupil premium and recovery premium on
technology and other resources that support high quality teaching.</p><p>Social tariffs
offer low-cost landline and broadband services for those on certain means tested benefits.
The government is encouraging those providers who do not currently offer social tariff
packages, to do so. A range of affordable tariffs, designed specifically to support
low-income families, are now available to 99% of UK households. BT, Virgin Media O2,
Sky, Vodafone, and other providers offer broadband and mobile social tariffs for as
little as £10 per month, representing a significant saving for households in receipt
of Universal Credit and other means tested benefits.</p><p>In addition, the government
secured a range of commitments from the UK’s major broadband and mobile providers
to support families through the global rise in the cost of living. These commitments
include more manageable payment plans, switching to a cheaper package free of charge,
or taking a more affordable social tariff if the customer is eligible. The government
encourages people to contact their provider to see what support is available. Awareness
and take up of social tariffs need to improve. The Department for Culture, Media and
Sport is working with the sector to urge those providers who have yet to offer a social
tariff to do so, and for the industry to ensure that offers are publicised.</p><p>
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