Scores of children in Tower Hamlets have been given free laptops and broadband to stop them falling behind at school during the pandemic.
The £100,000 programme began after research found more than half of pupils at many of the borough’s schools do not have access to a computer at home.
Now 200 pupils have been given devices and set up with high-speed internet connections.
The programme was started by academy school managers the LETTA Trust with help from housing association Poplar HARCA, the East End Community Foundation, Community Fibre and the local authority.
It aims to help 10,000 families over the next year.
Stacee Fema, a mother-of-three, had a broadband connection installed and received a laptop for her daughter Shyla, through the programme.
She said: “It’s been such a struggle. I was having to get internet through my phone and my son and daughter, who both have school work to do, were having to take turns. They’ve not been able to do a lot and they were falling behind. Having a proper broadband connection has made a big difference.
“Shyla adores school and wants to be a teacher herself one day, so it’s great for her to take part properly again. She is in a high-risk group as she suffers from asthma, so I’m having to keep her at home for longer. We really needed this.”
