Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust has allocated £90,000 to the town's primary schools in response to the lack of available technology for children’s education at home during the pandemic.

A survey of Sutton Coldfield schools  identified that while many have had an allocation of funding for devices from the government, this was not initially supplied in full, and even now, falls very short of the needs of each school. 

In particular, infant schools do not receive a government allocation for home learning IT at all.

This means that when school children are sent home due to their “bubble” or staffing levels being affected by the virus, they may not have the necessary equipment to access on-line learning activities. 

There have been reports where several children in a household are without the required equipment, or parents working from home are attempting to share their laptop with a child.

Tina Swani (pictured), chief executive of the Charitable Trust, said: "We were deeply concerned that in some households there are more than three or four individuals, of all ages, trying to learn and work with only one or two devices between them. 

"The Trust prides itself on being an agile organisation that has been able to respond swiftly to a crisis that put’s children’s development at risk.”

Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust's trustees have agreed to allocate an emergency grant from their charitable income. 

"The Trust wrote out to all primary schools, with a simple form to complete to apply for up to £5,000 per school. 

Almost all primary schools in Sutton Coldfield made an application. 

While this meant stretching the funding further, every school that applied was awarded some funding to buy much needed devices.

Tina Swani added: "Trustees wanted this to be a swift response to support the schools’ parents and pupils in having access to effective education.  I am deeply proud of our Trustees and staff team for making this happen."

The initiative has already received a glowing response from headteachers and senior education figures.

Alison Walklett, headteacher at New Oscott Primary, said: "That's amazing news! Thank you so much to Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust for this most generous donation. It will make a real difference to our pupils."

Carl Glasgow, headteacher at Boldmere Infant and Junior School, said: "I cannot thank you enough for letting us know that both Boldmere Schools have been successful with their applications of the much-needed Home Learning Grant that will allow for the additional purchasing of home learning devices that will make a real difference to the children that need them in our schools."