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<p>The department has already delivered over 220,000 laptops and tablets and over
50,000 4G wireless routers to local authorities and academy trusts for children who
would not otherwise have access, as part of over £100 million invested to support
remote education and access to online social care.</p><p>The department allocated
laptops, tablets and routers to local authorities and academy trusts based on its
estimates of the number of eligible children that did not have access to a device
through other means, such as a private device or through school. Local authorities
and academy trusts were responsible for distributing the devices, being best placed
to know which children and young people need access to one.</p><p>Where local authorities
and academy trusts identified a need greater than their initial allocation, they could
provide evidence and request more devices. No valid request for additional devices
was denied.</p><p>The department has published data on devices delivered through the
programme here: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-progress-data"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-progress-data</a>.</p><p>The
department are now supplementing this support by making an initial 150,000 additional
devices available in the event face-to-face schooling is disrupted as a result of
local COVID-19 restrictions. These devices will be owned by the school, academy trust
or local authority that receives them and can be loaned out to help children to access
education and catch up support.</p><p>Schools will be able to use these devices to
support disadvantaged pupils who would not otherwise be able to access remote education
in years 3 to 11. Schools will also be able to order devices for disadvantaged children
across all year groups who are shielding as a result of official advice, all year
groups who attend a hospital school that is required to close and those completing
their key stage 4 at a further education college that is required to close.</p><p>The
targeting of devices through this scheme will be continually reviewed to ensure support
is offered in the most effective way given the number of schools disrupted and the
number of devices available at the time.</p>
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