Schools across Dudley borough are being urged to take up an offer by a mobile phone firm during lockdown to ensure education can continue.

Councillor Keiran Casey has been speaking to mobile phone providers to see what more can be done to ensure that pupils having to stay home can access learning online.

He has discovered a scheme that Vodafone have launched called Schools.Connected, offering free SIM cards for pupils that have 30GB of free data for 90 days.

The scheme is aimed at helping address concerns raised by headteachers and education trusts about home connectivity and students that have fallen behind in their studies.

It is hoped that the free SIMS will help students in most need access their work from home, catch up on lost learning and continue their education during lockdown or if having to isolate.

Councillor Casey said: "I think the scheme is extremely important and has the ability to make a massive difference, really helping to bridge the digital divide and address digital exclusion".

"I have been in touch with a number of headteachers about this across Dudley to make them aware of the scheme , but I would urge as many schools as possible, primary and secondary as well as colleges to apply ."

More details can be found at http://www.vodafone.co.uk/schoolsconnected and the scheme is is open until the end of January".

The Beacon Hill Academy in Councillor Casey’s ward has applied and will be receiving some of the SIMs to distribute.

"It's vitally important that children are able to continue learning, so I wanted to make sure as many people know about this as possible and will continue to see what more can be done to help young people in Dudley".