Cash provided for school laptops and tablets by councillors

Shrewsbury town councillors Kevin Pardy and Becky Wall have utilised their councillor grants to provide support to Shrewsbury Academy in Sundorne.

Shrewsbury Town Council has also helped with finance towards the project with a £500 grant from its Coronavirus Fund.

Julie Johnson, Head at Shrewsbury Academy, said: “The devices will also enable our children to access the relevant apps that develop and support mental health and wellbeing.

“It is vital that we support our families during this time, and this will have such a positive impact on their daily lives, especially in relation to crucial online support sessions.”

Once lockdown is over, the devices will be returned to the school, quarantined, wiped clear and will then be made available for Special Educational Needs students.

Sundorne councillor Mr Pardy, chairman of the Recreation and Leisure Committee, said: “We need to support those vulnerable families in our local community both in terms of the education of our young people as well as supporting families when access to online lessons is limited.”

Mrs Wall, councillor for Battlefield, added: “Whilst there has been some provision of devices for children at Shrewsbury Academy, there is a need to provide more families with similar access to online sessions. I know my grant will help to provide visual contact between teacher and child, which is essential when schools are closed.

“The children will also be able to contact one another and this will help to reduce any isolation that they may be feeling during lockdown.”