The silent crisis hitting local kids

As we enter the start of the school holidays, more than half of low-income families in the UK are bracing for a summer of digital exclusion, as new research reveals children will be cut off from learning when schools close.

The survey of 2,000 parents and 600 teachers has found that 57% of low-income families say their child struggles to access devices or reliable internet outside school, severely impacting their education.

The research by education tech provider RM Technology and the Digital Poverty Alliance reveals that nearly one in eight children (12%) rely on smartphones to complete schoolwork – devices unsuited for learning – while 15% must share a single device with siblings or parents. Worryingly, 11% have little or no internet access at home, making remote learning near-impossible.

Aston spoke to Elizabeth Anderson, chief executive officer of Digital Poverty Alliance.

Photo by Glenn Carstens Peter on Unsplash