OVER 1,000 laptops and tablets have now been given to York's disadvantaged children as the Government roll-out, figures show.

Department for Education data shows 1,199 laptops and tablets had been sent by the Government to the City of York Council or its maintained schools by Thursday, April 8.

That's 48 more than the previous data reported by March 14 and equates to an increase of four per cent.

Across England, 99.7 per cent of the 1.3 million laptops and tablets promised by the Government as part of the Get Help with Technology scheme have been distributed to disadvantaged young people during the pandemic.

The figures do not include devices allocated to academy trusts, as they are not maintained by local authorities.

Barnardo's said that, while action had been taken to provide technology to some of the poorest pupils, there were families still struggling without access to online services.

Javed Khan, the charity's chief executive, said: "Barnardo's partnered with Vodafone on the Great British Tech Appeal, to deliver laptops and data bundles to families forced to decide between feeding their children, heating their homes and paying for essential data.

“Now we would urge the Government to establish a clear strategy, working with local agencies, charities, and corporate partners, to eliminate digital poverty in the very near future. This is central to ‘levelling up’ opportunities for all.”

The Department for Education said the devices provided were vital in ensuring children and young people continued to access education and social care during the pandemic, and they will give schools flexibility to decide how they will be most usefully employed in the future.

The number of laptops and tablets allocated for schools was decided by calculating how many children are eligible for free school meals and using an estimate of devices the school and children already have, though schools can request additional devices.

As well as laptops and tablets, 95 4G wireless routers have been given to the City of York Council to help families with limited internet access.