CHILDREN at an Evesham school will be returning to class after the break to receive their own iPad.

Rooftop Housing's community fund has just awarded £10,000 to St Andrew’s School, in Hampton, to support a home and school partnership.

Pupils will each be provided with a personal iPad that they get to keep when they leave at the end of their final year.

Headteacher David Coaché said: “Receiving this funding is fantastic news for our children and families. We can deliver a complete package for parents to help them develop their own skills, support their children in learning at home and school as well as equipping them with the knowledge to keep their children safe online. To receive the total amount we asked for from Rooftop ensures that this programme can now begin in September and run indefinitely. It demonstrates a terrific commitment to the community which we both serve.”

Conditions of the project require parents to pay a proportion of the reduced cost, but also that they attend training to equip families with a firm understanding of E-safety, Computing and IT skills.

The project will be funded primarily by the school, using the Rooftop grant to help with set-up costs and initial outlay of equipment but over time it will become cost-neutral. Families benefit from a significant discount and nought per cent finance over 12 months on the cost of a brand new iPad, as well as free access to training, education applications and school workshops on IT skills and E-safety. The project is due to run next term in partnership with AT Computers, who will provide and support the equipment, and the Birmingham E-Learning Foundation (BeLF).