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Stoke-on-Trent based ICT Service Provider, SecureCloud+ has donated iPad kits, including keyboards and chargers to three primary schools in the constituency.
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The firm based at Festival Park in Hanley, approached local MP Jo Gideon, requesting support to identify the local schools that would benefit from the donation.
Local firm SecureCloud+ has donated iPads, keyboards and chargers to support remote learning for pupils of Grove Academy, Hanley St Luke’s and Maple Court Academy.
Since the 6th of January, primary and secondary schools across England have moved to remote learning. This donation will support remote schooling for some of the most disadvantaged pupils in the constituency.
The government has invested more than £400 million to support remote schooling, and to date as delivered 560,000 devices to councils in England, including 253 devices to students in Stoke-on-Trent.
In tackling the barriers to remote learning for the country’s most vulnerable students from low-income households, over 54,000 4G routers to have also been delivered to schools and colleges in England, ensuring every child has internet access.
Commenting, Stoke-on-Trent Central MP, Jo Gideon praised the firm:
“While nothing can ever replace the benefits of learning in a classroom for our children and young people, it is fantastic to see local businesses like SecureCloud+ contributing to the national effort, as we continue to do everything we can to make sure pupils across Stoke-on-Trent Central have access to a high-quality remote education so that they receive the world class education that they deserve”.
Grove Academy Principal Shirley Carrigan said:
"Children who are now able to get online with the iPads are so excited and it really will make a massive difference to their learning. We recently started our live Zoom calls and children are so excited to see their friends and have that connection with them. The whole school is really grateful for the donation and the support that SecureCloud+ and Jo Gideon have given us."
SecureCloud+ office administrator, Vicky Ball, said:
"The company had these 24 iPads that were used for another project and were just sitting in a box in our office. Our CEO Peter Williamson was keen to put them to good use and donate them to local schools, so we got in touch with Jo Gideon who picked three local schools to benefit. We just hope that children are able to get online, enjoy their lessons and see their friends."
More information on remote learning:
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The Conservative government has provided a million laptops and tablets to our most disadvantaged children and young people, enabling them to access high quality remote education. (DfE, Press Release, 20 December 2020, link; DfE, Oral statement to Parliament, 6 January 2021, link).
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Eliminating any barriers to remote learning for our poorest students by working with the country’s leading mobile operators to deliver free internet access. (DfE, Press Release, 20 December 2020, link; DfE, Devices and 4G Wireless Routers Data as of December, accessed 6 January 2021, link).
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We have invested more than £300 million to support remote education throughout the course of the pandemic. (DfE, Press Release, 20 December 2020, link; DfE, Press Release, 1 October 2020, link).