More digital support must be given for students at home, says MP

Pat McFadden MP said the only way the disruption to children's education could be minimised was to ensure pupils had laptops for home study.

The Wolverhampton South East MP has launched a scheme to recycle donated computer equipment and hand it out to local schools.

Since schools reopened last month, local authorities have yet to provide figures for the number of pupils who have had to isolate at home following a case.

But despite increased lateral flow testing, whole bubbles are still being forced to isolate for up to 10 days when a positive test emerges.

Shadow City Minister Mr McFadden, said: “It was obvious that there would be more outbreaks in schools once schools fully reopened earlier this month. The question is how should those outbreaks should be handled and what we can do to minimise harm to education.

“Pupils have already lost so much education over the past year and these renewed outbreaks are once again seeing whole pupil bubbles being sent home.

"This adds to the disruption of their education and shows the ongoing need for all pupils whatever their income levels to have the digital equipment necessary to study at home as well as at school.

"This is not a need that has gone away. It is here to stay. That’s why I launched the Wolves Tech Aid computer recycling initiative.

"If we don’t meet the need for digital equipment for all schoolchildren then this pattern of disruption is going to lead to more inequality and more damage to young people’s prospects in the future.”

Under Public Health England guidance pupils who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid should self-isolate.

It is understood that some schools have sent pupils home to isolate following a case in their bubble, but then asked them to return days later after the case was shown to be a 'false positive' after a PCR test.

Visit wolvestechaid.com for more details on the campaign.