Schools in Harborough are appealing to the public and businesses for more laptops to help homeschooling - can you help?

Primary schools in the Market Harborough area are appealing for laptops for pupils forced to learn at home in the new Covid lockdown.

The urgent plea for computers is being issued by Lubenham-based Learn Academies Trust, (Learn-AT), which has 11 member schools in South Leicestershire.

Appealing for more devices, the trust said: “The main challenge our schools have faced is sourcing enough laptops for those families who don’t have a suitable device at home for their child to use for online lessons.

“If any individuals or businesses have any unwanted old laptops that they would be willing to donate for this purpose we would gratefully accept any device that is in working order.

“Please contact [email protected]”

Management and staff at Learn A-T have been working to pinpoint their vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers as they will still be going in to school.

Every other child will have to be taught remotely at home – until the middle of February at the earliest.

The trust, which has four schools in Market Harborough with the remaining seven in nearby villages, reopened its classrooms yesterday (Wednesday) for vulnerable and key worker children.

“All Learn-AT schools will reopen for keyworkers’ children and children considered to be vulnerable from Wednesday January 6.

“All other children will engage with their lessons and work remotely from home,” said the organisation.

“Learn-AT schools have been preparing for remote teaching since last summer.

“All children have access to Microsoft Teams which teachers will use to set tasks and interact directly, online with their pupils.”

Stef Edwards, Learn-AT’s Trust Leader, said: “I know everyone must be feeling dismayed and frustrated.

“But I am immensely proud of our staff, of their calm resilience and their unflappable response to the changes and challenges they take in their stride.

“We are determined to do our best for children, to keep their learning going and to continue to play our part in helping them and their families through this very difficult time.”