Department of Education Devices Support to Some Children Including BAME and Traveller Children

Department of Education and Education Authority  loan laptop scheme for some pupils including BAME and Traveller families experiencing difficulties in accessing digital devices.

The Education Authority has provided an update on the laptop loan scheme.

It is the school which activates the loan request  and who must access the Scheme through the school’s IT system (C2K Exchange).

If a pupil is in one of the target groups and in one of the Year Groups, then they are eligible for a device loan and the school can fill in an application on-line on their behalf.

The Education Authority  stated on January 7^th, 2021:

 “Priority will be given to children currently in year groups 11, 13, 6 & 3 in this order; and categories: free school meals, special educational needs,

Newcomer target groups (including Asylum Seeker, Refugee & Roma children), Looked after Children and children considered vulnerable”.

This latest information follows the Minister for Education’s statement of May 21^st 2020 :

“I am committed to doing all I can to support those who will, in the incoming year, be studying for GCSEs, A Levels and those children going into P7. Therefore, priority will be given to pupils in these circumstances and also those who are considered vulnerable and in disadvantaged groups including those entitled to a free school meal and newcomer children.”

See the Department of Education website for more detail under “Devices Scheme by following the link below:

Minister outlines plans to provide digital devices to disadvantaged children | Department of Education (education-ni.gov.uk)