Ruth Cadbury MP writes to Education Secretary calling for urgent action over remote and home learning

Ruth Cadbury MP has written to the Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson to call for the Government to take urgent action to ensure that all students have access to the necessary IT supplies to allow for them to learn from home. According to Ofcom over 1 million students lack a device to enable them to learn from home, with many others either having to share or use unreliable devices and inadequate data.

Speaking in full Ruth said,

‘‘This is the third time I’ve written to the Government about the urgent need for action to ensure that that all students learning from home have access to both the devices and data that they need.

The Government have known for months that this is a major issue, however they’ve yet to step up and provide pupils with the support they need. This has meant that schools, charities, businesses, and community groups such as Hounslow Promise have had to fill the gap left by this Government.

I’m extremely worried that many students in Hounslow either lack access to a device or reliable connection, or are having to share kit among others in their family studying or working from home. This will hit the least well off families the hardest and could widen the attainment gap for pupils across the country.

I will keep raising this issue with the Government and calling for much needed action.’’