SCHOOLCHILDREN will benefit from better lockdown learning with ipads donated by an Oldham firm.

ZenTec Network Solutions is an IT Support company based in Dukinfield and had previously appealed for unwanted ipads and gadgets as part of their campaign “don’t bin it, donate it!”

Business owners Cerid Grimshaw and Michael Brooks, started an appeal last October to encourage people to donate old technology so it could be refurbished and then donated to others.

They most recently made a donation to Alexandera Park Primary School

Cerid said: “We used company money to fund this and have now spent over two thousand pounds refurbishing items. We set up a go fund me page to raise £10,000 so that we can continue refurbish tablets and laptops.

"To date, we have sent out over £7,500 worth of tech. We have donated to children’s homes, foodbanks and schools alike."

Deputy headteacher Mrs Stephanie Griffin said: “'We are delighted to have received this kind donation for our families.

"Many are struggling to access remote learning through mobile phones and some children are sharing devices with their siblings, so they can't always access work or live lessons.

"We know just how important this will be to them. We can't thank Zentec enough for how they are supporting schools and pupils in the local area.”

The school has accessed and ordered laptops via the DFE scheme, but has had to look further afield to ensure they received as many devices as possible to support families.

Some families have also been offered data bundles for their mobile phones, or routers to support a more stable internet connection.

Samantha Nicholson-Hickling, year five teacher, said: “We recognise that not everyone has a stable internet connection at home, or access to a laptop or tablet to do online learning.

"It’s been an uphill struggle to provide the best for our families, especially those who have no device."