More online devices ordered to help students learn from home

Almost 300 laptops and internet devices have been ordered or donated to schools to help students, who do not have access to devices, with their home learning.

An extra 240 devices have been ordered by the Department of Children Young People Education and Skills and more than 20 internet devices have been donated through a social media scheme.

Since COVID-19 pandemic, the Department has been working with telecom providers and Digital Jersey to provide free broadband to the homes of school children and care leavers without access.

Last week Cameron’s builders donated ten iPads to the children at St Mary's School to supplement the school's existing supply so that the Year 6 children will each have an iPad to work on when they return this week. 

 
The children currently in school use iPads to upload their learning to the virtual learning platform, which is then marked and given feedback by the teacher online. 

St Mary’s Headteacher, Maria Stegenwalner, said: “This is a really great way of managing the learning so that the teachers are not handling paper and books from each child, and it's how children have sent in their learning from home as well.  It has been so successful that we wanted to continue this when the Year 6 children come back to school. Cameron's kindly volunteered to supply the iPads we needed to make a class set, and we're really grateful.”

Twin brothers Harrison and Leighton Le Sech (Year 6 pupils) received the iPads from Archie of Cameron’s builders on behalf of the school.  

They said: “We really like using the iPads for sending Mrs Smith our work, and she sends back feedback either by a voice message, or a written note, and uploading the learning so that the teacher can see it is really easy.  We're looking forward to using these in class.”