Devices (laptops and tablets) delivered or dispatched to LAs or directly to LA-maintained schools since the start of the winter scheme (29 October 2021). This does not include devices delivered to academy trusts which are listed in the trust data.
Laptops and tablets data
View latest data: April 2022This is not the latest data
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Introduction
Get laptops, tablets and connectivity support for vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people who cannot attend school due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
The government is providing an additional 600,000 devices in AY2021/22 to schools, colleges, academy trusts (trusts) and local authorities (LAs) via our Get Help With Technology programme. This is following the successful delivery of over 1.3 million laptops and tablets in AY19/20 and AY20/21 to help schools, colleges and LAs throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Department for Education (DfE) has provided laptops, tablets and connectivity support to schools, colleges, other FE institutions, trusts and LAs to help children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Devices and connectivity support have been offered to:
- disadvantaged children in years 3 to 11 and young people in 16 to 19 education whose face-to-face education is disrupted
- disadvantaged children in any year group who have been advised to shield (opens in a new tab) because they (or someone they live with) are clinically extremely vulnerable
- disadvantaged children in any year group attending a hospital school
- disadvantaged 14 to 16-year-olds enrolled for Key Stage 4 at sixth-form colleges and whose face-to-face education is disrupted
- care leavers
- disadvantaged young people supported by a social worker
The number of devices available in AY2021/22 for schools, colleges and other FE institutions to order through the Get help with technology service (opens in a new tab) is based on estimates of need made by DfE. These estimates are based on free school meals data/free meal data and the number of devices each setting may have received in AY2019/20 and AY2020/21. If a school, college, other FE institution, trust or LA requires additional devices, they can request them from DfE. These devices are in addition to those DfE provided during the 2020 summer term (opens in a new tab) and the 2020/2021 academic year.
The DfE does not hold information on the onward distribution to families, children and young people. DfE has advised that devices and routers are to be used to support disadvantaged children and young people who are otherwise unable to access remote education or essential social care services.
Examples of this include disadvantaged children and young people:
- with no digital devices in their household
- whose only available device is a smartphone
- with a single device in their household that is being shared with more than one other family member
- who have no broadband, including where those families access the internet through mobile data.
For information about how many devices and 4G wireless routers were delivered to LAs and trusts in the 2020/21 academic year, summer 2020 term, and other publications up to 13th July 2021 please see our previous publications here.
Headline facts and figures - 2022
Devices: A device is a laptop or tablet, which may have been provided with a protective sleeve and software/operating licences.
4G wireless routers: This refers to a unit which provides mobile internet access through a secure SIM.
From the January 2022 release, there has been a methodological change to the way the number of routers is calculated. Previously, the total number of routers included all routers ordered with a valid dispatch date. This method also captured returned routers. The method of calculating dispatched routers has now been changed to explicitly exclude returns.
Delivered or dispatched means the device has been dispatched from the storage facility or is in transit awaiting delivery on a date specified by the recipient. Shipments are running on a next business day delivery basis and two redelivery attempts are made before the delivery is returned.
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LA
Trust data
Devices (laptops and tablets) delivered or dispatched to academy trusts or directly to schools within a trust since the start of the winter scheme (29 October 2021).
Schools
Devices (laptops and tablets) delivered or dispatched to schools that are not part of a trust since the start of the winter scheme (29 October 2021).
FE colleges and other institutions
Devices (laptops and tablets) delivered or dispatched to FE colleges and other institutions since the start of the winter scheme (29 October 2021).
For full FE data please see associated files.
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Methodology
Find out how and why we collect, process and publish these statistics.
Official statistics
These are Official Statistics and have been produced in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
This can be broadly interpreted to mean that these statistics are:
- managed impartially and objectively in the public interest
- meet identified user needs
- produced according to sound methods
- well explained and readily accessible
Find out more about the standards we follow to produce these statistics through our Standards for official statistics published by DfE guidance.
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).
OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.
You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.
Contact us
If you have a specific enquiry about Laptops and tablets data statistics and data:
Get help with technology
Email: annalise.halsall@education.gov.ukContact name: Annalise Halsall
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