Dear Families,
We hope that you are all keeping safe and are getting used to the new arrangements. Our Academies are providing a comprehensive timetable of online learning with a mix of both live lessons, video lessons and online resources so that you children get the best education we can provide during these difficult circumstances.
As you may have heard in the news the Department for Education (DfE) have increased their support to families and we are receiving a number of laptop devices to loan out to children who require them. As soon as we can we will distribute these devices according to the DfE criteria, your school will be in touch.
More recently, the DfE have also released support to families who require data connections to access online learning. This is in the form of an increased data allowance on Pay as you Go or Pay Monthly mobile contracts.
This is open to students and families who meet the following criteria:
Do not have fixed broadband at home.
Cannot afford additional data for their devices.
Are experiencing disruption to their face-to-face education.
At the current time, 08/01/2021, the DfE have come to an arrangement with 6 network operators, details of which are below this letter.
To take advantage of this offer please complete this form.
We understand that more operators are in talks with the DfE so we advise all those who are interested, regardless of their operator, to complete the form.
Networks are limiting the number of applicants so we are requesting you complete the form before Friday 22 January after which we will submit the data to the DfE.
Since personal data is being shared please see the Privacy Notice at the bottom of the page to explain how your data will be used.
It is not an easy time but we are incredibly proud of the way our staff and students have adapted to these challenges once again. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions. We are always here to help and support you.
Sir Mark Grundy
CEO of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust
Networks:
Be aware that until the end of January, it may take EE some time to process requests.
- The recipient will get 20GB of additional data per month until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay Monthly and Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- EE will process no more than 60,000 requests across all schools. If they reach this limit, they will not accept further requests.
Be aware that until the end of January, it may take O2 some time to process requests.
- The recipient will get 40GB of additional data per month until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- The recipient will get 100GB of additional data.
- The offer is only available to Pay Monthly customers identified as needing this support. It’s not available to Pay-as-you-go customers.
- Sky Mobile customers will be able to see the data uplift in their piggybank.
- Sky Mobile will aim to process the request within 14 days.
- Sky Mobile will process no more than 1800 requests across all schools. If they reach this limit, they will not accept further requests.
- The recipient will get unlimited data until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay Monthly and Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- Smarty will aim to process the request within 14 days.
- The recipient will get 20GB of additional data per month until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is only available to Pay Monthly customers identified as needing this support. It’s not available to Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- Tesco Mobile will aim to process the request within 14 days.
- Tesco Mobile will process no more than 1,000 requests across all schools. If they reach this limit, they will not accept further requests.
- The recipient will get unlimited data until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is available to both Pay Monthly and Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- Three will aim to process the request within 14 days.
- The recipient will get 20GB of additional data per month until 31 July 2021.
- The offer is only available to Pay Monthly customers identified as needing this support. It’s not available to Pay-as-you-go customers.
- A text message will be sent to the nominated device once the additional data has been added to the account.
- Virgin Mobile will aim to process the request within 14 days.
- Virgin Mobile will process no more than 1750 requests across all schools. If they reach this limit, they will not accept further requests.
- Wi-Fi hotspots are open to all existing customers, including those on Pay-as-you-go. Customers on Pay-as-you-go will need to have a minimum of £5 credit. Instructions to download the app and find their nearest hotspot can be found by going to www.virginmedia.com/wifiapp.
Privacy notice
1. For the purposes of data protection, I need to let you know that the Department for Education (DfE) is running the Mobile Network Offer through schools and their trusts or local authorities.
2. If the offer is taken up by an adult account holder, the school or social care team will share the account holder’s name and mobile phone details with the DfE, who will share these with the relevant mobile network operator.
3. The mobile network operator will use that information to increase the data available for the account holder’s mobile device, as long as they qualify for the offer.
4. The adult account holder’s personal data is only shared with their mobile network operator for the purposes of the offer. No names of children or other adults, other than adult account holder, are shared with the DfE or the mobile network operator.
5. No personal information will be shared with the DfE if you do not want to take up the offer.
6. If you want to know more about how your personal information will be used before you take up the offer, we can send that to you first.
7. If you decide to take up the offer, you’ll get a text message from the Department for Education with more information about your data protection rights.
