How are families on low incomes managing home education when they may not have a device?

[FortunesFave]

Are we going to see an even bigger gap between the people with the least and everyone else? I know there are families with no laptop or PC...few resources and sometimes no electricity.

How on earth are they coping? For those kids, school's a break...a place where there's always a snack and always a lunch.

@Bluesmartiesandpandapop

I'm happy they are putting it on tv. I hope that it doesn't see a spike in tv license prosecutions though because that would be a fucking kick in the teeth

Shouldn't really, they usually just give you a payment card nowadays instead of prosecuting. We used to buy stamps in the olden days.

They aren’t coping.

Felt so sorry for a little boy on dd’s teams today, sat in a dirty small room on a phone, had no printer or parent help or anything and he got so upset when the teacher was setting tasks.

On the other hand so many took up key worker and ‘vulnerable’ places (took the piss) that there are now only 9 out of the class. Dd got very upset when the teacher panned the camera around the class to get them to wave. I’d told them we’re all in it together...she very clearly sees now that we are not as the majority of her friends are carrying in as normal.

To be honest I was going to keep them off but don’t see why I should bother now.

If they suspended the curriculum at least it would feel like an even playing field. But as is happening now, most of the dc’s class are in anyway getting taught and there are so many of them in that the ‘live’ lessons are a complete farce.

10 minutes of the teacher telling the kids online to do a worksheet and then 50 minutes of looking at the side of her head or an empty seat as she sorts the rest of the class out.

We didn’t want to make it any riskier for the key worker children, but what difference will it make now as most are in anyway? It’s a huge struggle for us but I was feeling upbeat about managing this morning. After this I’m throwing in the towel.

Fuck it.

My DH works in a primary school in a disadvantaged area. During the first lockdown they were promised that some devices would be provided to help those in need. The number promised was first reduced by 90% then since they had delayed until June when more pupils were back in school none were every provided. The school were told, however, that they would be sent to them if and when distance learning was needed again. They've followed up this week and, despite Boris' promises about extra equipment, have been told that they will need to re-apply but that primary schools are not eligible to apply yet.

So for now, they have loads of families with either no device or just one phone/tablet between several children in different year groups. Some are coming in to school as 'vulnerable', others feel it's too big a risk (those with ECV parents etc). They spent yesterday copying and distributing paper workbooks to pupils and are trying to access more devices (school has 8 not in constant use in school- between at least 10x that number that desperately need them.

DDs friend only has access to her phone. She did an incredible job trying to keep up with online work in y6. School took paper and printed material etc. They offered her a place too but her mum turned it down. At high school she used to come here after school to do her homework and use our laptop and printer. In October when that wasn't allowed in to ours she started racking up detentions for not doing homework. There is poverty of equipment but also massive poverty in parental support and engagement. It's not just about equipment.

Let school know you don't have access to learning. Help isn't limited to those on benefits. The devices are on loan to parents and many schools are repurposing school computers to loan out or people are giving in older versions they no longer need.