VIEWS & OPINION


We must take this moment to ensure all school children have


access to digital devices Comment by CHRIS ASHWORTH, Head of Public Benefit at Nominet


On the 20th March, schools closed their gates to the majority of students and our young people stayed at home – as they have done ever since. Teachers pivoted to online learning platforms and parents or carers were expected to home- school their children. This has come with significant and long-lasting repercussions, with the gap between disadvantaged and black and minority ethnic students growing by 46% compared to pupils from more advantaged backgrounds according to National Foundation for Educational Research.


It’s been a challenge for all of us – and we mustn’t forget the 1.9 million households in the UK that are not digitally connected. Estimates suggest that around 700,000 children missed out on learning due to a lack of digital access over the four months of school closures, with only 1 in 5 school children on pupil premium having access to a device during lockdown. The true impact of this may never be realised, but the return to school will start to reveal some of the educational gaps.


The crisis has shone a light on the UK’s digital divide and has – at last – forced action. Around one in ten people face ‘digital poverty’ and the long-term impact of this will devastate our society, our future workforce and our economy if not tackled now.


One of the biggest barriers to digital access is cost, both the price of the device and that of data or an internet connection. Digital Access Schemes are needed to change this, and the Government has a role to play in ensuring that every single household can access high-speed broadband.


There is also much that communities can do to support those in their local area. At Nominet, we became aware of this during our initiative DevicesDotNow. Many local groups contacted us for advice, and it has led to us launching REBOOT, an online platform to provide all the advice, resources and reassurances they need.


And this is about ‘rebooting’ and re-homing existing devices, rather than sourcing new ones. There are an estimated 11 to 40 million unused devices across the country. Community groups are collecting these, restoring them and distributing them safely to those in need locally, whether that be school children or vulnerable adults.


For the young people who get their hands-on rebooted devices, it will be transformative – and could safeguard their learning in the face of a second lockdown. It will also enable them to start becoming familiar and confident with using digital devices, alongside the benefit of them learning digital skills.


It’s vital we take this pandemic ‘pause’ as an opportunity to act collectively and transform the futures of the young people who risk being left behind in education due to their lack of digital access and connectivity.


We must work together, locally and nationally, to close the growing digital divide before it simply becomes too big to tackle – helping to get a device to every child is the first step towards achieving this.


September 2020


How privately-run education providers can finance their recovery


Comment by PHIL HERRIOTT, education specialist relationship manager at Lloyds Bank


The Covid-19 pandemic has caused considerable financial pressures across the world and throughout the UK. And those businesses operating in the education sector have not been immune to it.


With lockdown restrictions forcing the closure of local nurseries, schools, colleges and higher education facilities, the reopening from this September means many face a dual challenge. They need to create an environment that’s fit for purpose from a safety perspective for both staff and students, and remain profitable and resilient.


As part of our work to support businesses of all shapes and sizes – including by lending more than £9bn through the government-backed loan schemes – we’ve been working closely with education providers across the UK affected by the virus.


Seeking out the right kind of financial support can be the difference between success and failure. Education providers need to consider what their environment will look like as classrooms and lecture theatres continue to reopen this September. Whether they are analysing their current facilities from a health and safety perspective, or finding the best funding packages to support cashflow, firms must pre-empt the likelihood of future disruption and equip themselves to deal with it.


For some private education providers, finding partners that want to invest in facilities that can have dual uses can secure additional cash flow. For example, sports fields that aren’t in constant use could also be used by organisations that need outdoor space to host community events. The responsibility for an asset is therefore shared, reducing the impact on cashflow for both parties.


Lloyds Bank offers a number of flexible financial products that can ease immediate cash burdens. A recent example of a nursery that sought support from Lloyds Bank is the Early Learning Partnership in South Shields. It was forced to close the doors of its five nurseries in March following Government guidance. This meant the 650 children enrolled on either a private or government-backed plan were no longer attending nursery, causing the firm to face a significant fall in revenue and cashflow.


The business approached Lloyds Bank, securing a £200,000 loan through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. This allowed the Early Learning Partnership to top up the wages of staff that had been furloughed until the Government funding kicked in, while covering company overheads. This putt the business in a strong position to open again quickly as restrictions were lifted and pupils and staff returned to the nursery.


We’ve supported several independent schools to help alleviate the shortfall in fee income during the summer term. We have also provided the funds needed to improve facilities to both support and accelerate their recovery plans. What’s important now is that privately-run educators not only focus on recovery, but also prepare for future challenges. It’s a strange climate we’re all adjusting to, but we’ll continue to be by the side of businesses and working towards a positive end to 2020 and beyond.


www.education-today.co.uk 25


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