Senior Calderdale Labour politicians call on Government to speed up laptop rollout for disadvantaged pupils

Halifax’s Labour MP Holly Lynch, the Leader of Calderdale Council, Coun Tim Swift and Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, Coun Adam Wilkinson are frustrated after Calderdale schools have been told it could be weeks before they get the laptops and have written to Government urging equipment be sent as a matter of urgency.

With schools closed to most pupils, teachers have been submitting requests for laptops that have been offered by government, but many have received auto response emails to say that primary schools will be invited to apply for them “in the coming weeks,” said Coun Wilkinson.

He said a change of policy means that those children without access to an IT device can now attend school, but headteachers and unions have warned that this will leave schools in some areas overwhelmed, putting staff, pupils and their families at risk from coronavirus.

The three have written to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to demand all Calderdale pupils get the IT equipment and broadband they need to learn remotely.

Ms Lynch criticised what she referred to as a series of Government crises and U-turns arguing: “Their failure to get a grip of this pandemic has set pupils back many months in their learning, and they must act now to prevent disadvantaged pupils from falling further behind.”

Coun Wilkinson (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) said Calderdale had always feared that there would not be enough laptops to go around should schools close, which is one of the reasons we had been keen for schools to remain fully open if at all possible.

“But with the government now conceding that the virus is out of control we must minimise the number of staff and pupils in schools, and that means ensuring all pupils have the equipment and broadband they need to learn from home,” he said.

Coun Swift (Lab, Town) said schools had done a fantastic job throughout this pandemic in very challenging circumstances.

“As a council we will continue to do all we can to support them and ensure they have the resources that they need,” he said.