THREAD - We're kicking off today's virtual meeting on the #DigitalDivide.

Exploring this issue are our panellists @Siobhain_Mc, @JavedKhanCEO and Jane Girt, headteacher at @CarltonBolling

@justinmadders starts by sharing figures on online access in schools https://twitter.com/suttontrust/status/1336333643040477187?s=20

'Whilst I wholeheartedly commend charitable efforts, why is it our ability educate children during lockdown was dependent on charitable giving?' - @Siobhain_Mc

@Siobhain_Mc mentions @TeachFirst's latest findings on access to devices https://twitter.com/TeachFirst/status/1332263087018283010?s=20

'The barriers to remote education was exposed by the #DigitalDivide across our country' - @Siobhain_Mc

'It is educationally useless if a device is provided without sufficient internet access' - @Siobhain_Mc

'The impact on children on the wrong side of the #DigitalDivide could be lifelong' - @Siobhain_Mc

I've been calling for every child eligible for FSM to have access to a device and internet through my Private Member's Bill, which backed by unions, charities, and I'm hoping to secure the support of @MarcusRashford - @Siobhain_Mc

No child's education should be dependent on their internet connection - @Siobhain_Mc

In the last few months @barnardos has supported 359,000 vulnerable young children and their families @JavedKhanCEO

'The children and young people we support are facing multiple issues at once. Social mobility was stagnating before Covid' - @JavedKhanCEO

1/3 of @barnardos staff are supporting young people who don't qualify for FSM but still require aid. Also, many families don't know how to access FSM, which is why we can't use it as the only indicator of disadvantage @JavedKhanCEO

Access to digital technology is a lifeline for young people, and those without it are facing severe consequence @JavedKhanCEO

Barnados provided 1100 laptops, tablets and mobiles and 10,000 food parcels to those in need - @JavedKhanCEO

We worked with @VodafoneUK on the Great British Tech Appeal to give disadvantaged children access to devices, helping children communicate with teachers, therapists, social workers and friends @JavedKhanCEO

Covid will have a generational effect, with many teachers telling me they've regressed by years from not being in school - @JavedKhanCEO

Covid has accelerated the trend to education and more moving online. We have to think longer-term, rather than wait for the problem to arrive and then tackle it @JavedKhanCEO

The government need to announce a plan to close the gap within a clear time frame, and investment in digital innovation is a must - @JavedKhanCEO

Digital poverty is one symptom of a much bigger problem. Piecemeal responses will not address the big challenge, we need early intervention to address the issues disadvantaged young people face - @JavedKhanCEO

'We can't expect families to provide devices due to the high levels of deprivation in our area' Jane Girt, headteacher at @CarltonBolling in Bradford

'Our Year 8s are 22 months behind their peers nationally in reading and writing' - Jane Girt

'The lack of digital access has impacted teaching during lockdown and now when staff and pupils are isolating' - Jane Girt

Lack of access means a two-tier system, the ability to actively engage in learning or not - Jane Girt

With access to devices, there is the possibility of interaction and feedback which is crucial to effective learning - Jane Girt

Pupils who didn't have access to devices were given paper-based work, but had no access to feedback - Jane Girt

Students struggled from the lack of routine during lockdown, thus impacting learning - Jane Girt

One of our student ambassadors lives in a multi-generational household and only had access a device between 2-5am - Jane Girt

Since September we have had to teach our students how to learn, in addition to recovery - Jane Girt

82% of our students now have access to a device since schools reopened, but some still have to share the device so we also have to provide paper-based work - Jane Girt

In October we moved to live lessons for those self-isolating using webcams purchased with the catch-up funding - Jane Girst

Each step in ordering devices and dongles has been met with issues. Our first order placed in March arrived in June - Jane Girt

Families aren't keen to return devices, so we now have to go to houses to collect them - Jane Girt

Yesterday we were fortunate enough to receive SIM cards from @VodafoneUK for our pupils to access the internet - Jane Girt @CarltonBolling

'My students life chances have been changed forever through no fault of their own'. Jane Girt @CarltonBolling

'Vouchers should be used to purchase devices, and all students should be entitled to one, not just one per household' - Jane Girt

We are going to run training for families in using devices to access online learning - Jane Girt @CarltonBolling

Question to the panellists from co-chair @ClaireT_UKLords on whether the businesses could do more to tackle the #DigitalDivide, and what more the government could do

@Siobhain_Mc said she believes in charitable and business giving, but it should be a government priority

Now is a good time to get businesses on board, many have realised they need to work with the community to maintain public support @JavedKhanCEO

Levelling up needs to be more than just about trains and jobs or the North/South divide, but is also about the #DigitalDivide - @JavedKhanCEO

Access to tech should be a basic entitlement, in the same way pupils have a right to be taught how to read, write, etc - Jane Girt

Co-chair @david4wantage says the #DigitalDivide is an important issue, but nothing can replace face-to-face teaching. Jane Girt agrees that learning in the classroom is best, although live learning with interaction is useful

@Siobhain_Mc says access to tech is no replacement for classroom learning but is useful for catch-up, and highlights the lack of digital knowledge among adults

Young people appreciate the flexibility in learning online - @JavedKhanCEO

Question from audience on dyslexia and online learning. Jane Girt says there are programmes available, but children need the training in how to use it before there is a situation like a lockdown

Question on effective online pedagogy and learning and how we can develop these skills. Jane Girt says more research and evidence is needed. @JavedKhanCEO says there needs to be investment in online pedagogy, and suggests building it into the national curriculum

Question on catch-up and using volunteers and retired teachers to deliver this. @Siobhain_Mc says there needs to be a call to arms and a national mission for catch-up learning. Jane says it will take some training to ensure this works effectively, and notes logistical challenges

Jane says there is a place for catch-up initiatives like the @NTProgramme, but that it involves work for schools on top of what they normally do

Jane adds catch-up funding is being used for Saturday classes with breakfast at @CarltonBolling , with small cohorts to maximise impact

Q on what businesses can do to promote digital upskilling and increase access to tech

@Siobhain_Mc says the government has engaged with the likes of BT and Vodafone but many people are using smaller network providers like @LycamobileUK and @giffgaff

Jane Girt says you need staff who are keen and on the ball as these schemes aren't well advertised

Q on training for parents on using tech

Jane from @CarltonBolling says families are unconfident using tech and that the school is inviting them in to show them how to use devices, but that it is a big task

Question on teaching recruitment and retention

Jane Girt says people are leaving the profession in hoards, with increased pressure now pay and performance are linked. The lack of a pay rise is disappointing

Jane adds that recruitment targets have boosted, but that may be because of a graduate job crisis, noting @TeachFirst have had to cap applications. Whether people stay in the profession remains to be seen

@Siobhain_Mc highlights @AFCWimbledon's work on updating old laptops and donating over 1000 to schools

Chair @justinmadders asks whether more needs to be done to account for learning loss

@JavedKhanCEO says if we don't life chances will be dented in a way that their adulthood and working lives will become unsustainable, and that the business case is straightforward

@Siobhain_Mc adds that children and their futures are not at the top of the list, with a feeling that the Department of Education is more threadbare and unable to respond. Jane Girt says it's still unclear what 2021 exams will look like

Jane Girt says it's difficult to plan without a clear indication of exam arrangements, and fears for the long-term impact on young people's lives

Co-chair @ClaireT_UKLords says education needs to be placed in the centre stage of the government's Covid-19 recovery response

@david4wantage agrees and says more needs to be done to maximise the potential of young people

Jane Girt from @CarltonBolling's says the school is working really hard to put pupils at the centre of what they do, but that it is not a level playing field

If we're serious about social mobility, we don't just need to end digital poverty but focus on wider support the vulnerable require @JavedKhanCEO

We should buy laptops and dongles with money from the community infrastructure levy as short-term measure @Siobhain_Mc

That's the end of our session on the #DigitalDivide

Thanks to all our attendees and our panelists @Siobhain_Mc , @JavedKhanCEO and Jane Girt from @CarltonBolling