Category

• Promising Local Practice

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Poverty impact

• Prevention
• Mitigation

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Poverty driver

• Reduce cost of living
• Provide benefit in-kind (material)
• Non-driver - improving quality of life

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Keywords

• Education
• Digital and Technology
• Literacy
• Family Support
• Stigma

Aim

The aim of Equipped for Learning is to provide each Midlothian pupil with the digital skills they require for life, learning, and work.

Summary

Equipped for Learning has provided digital devices for learning for all pupils and classrooms in Midlothian. Key to this project is the support that goes alongside this provision. This includes the installation of assistive software and literacy support on each device, safeguarding technology, and assistance for teachers, pupils, and families to help them use their devices effectively. The project also involves improving Wi-Fi in classrooms and homes that lack connectivity, ensuring devices are healthy and kept safe, and providing literacy support technology to help pupils with their learning.

What difference does it make?

Equipped for Learning has transformed learning in Midlothian by ensuring equitable access to digital devices and assistive technology for learning. It has mitigated educational inequalities as each young person and school is provided with digital devices and Wi-Fi regardless of their financial situation. It has also greatly improved education for those with additional support needs. This is due to the installation of a literacy support toolbar on all devices. TextHelp’s Read and Write toolbar has reduced referrals for assistive technology by 90.6%. Equipped for Learning goes beyond just device provision by providing holistic learning support to pupils, schools, and families in Midlothian.

Key take-aways

• Providing equitable access to digital devices and software for learning can mitigate inequalities in education.
• Supporting pupils beyond just the provision of devices is key to ensuring they have the digital skills necessary for life, learning, and work.
• Both those with additional support needs and those without benefit from assistive learning technology.

 

Organisations

Midlothian Council (partnerships with Google (provision of Chromebooks and Education Plus Google Workspace), TextHelp (provision of accessibility and literacy support tools, such as Read and Write), Apple (iPads), SMART (Smartboards))

Location

Midlothian (throughout)

Ongoing until 2025 when the funding for the project will be exhausted

Contact