Thousands of Luton children have struggled through lockdown without IT access

Improving opportunities in the education of Luton's already disadvantaged children is one of the ambitions of the town's children's trust board.

Its role and aims were explained to the council's health and well-being board by the director of children, families and education, Amanda Lewis.

Labour Farley councillor Mahmood Hussain asked how many children lacked digital access, referring to a previous figure mentioned of 8,500.

Ms Lewis said: "In December we were at 5,600. The latest position, based on a sample of a number of settings, the shortfall was 2,600.

"That's centred around years one and two and early years, which haven't had support from the government and the DfE.

"That's a particular challenge for some children and families who haven't been accessing (educational) provision, but equally haven't had access to remote learning."

Meeting the overall requirements of the special educational needs and disability (SEND) agenda with speech and language development is another target, according to the corporate director.

The board considered the outcomes framework for SEND children before, and many organisations and partners around Luton have signed up to the SEND charter, "which is really important," she said.

"It works to mitigate against some of the changes which have been necessary, such as the closure of the Flying Start children's centres and the reduction in the offer of universal provision.

"That effective support strategy and the implementation of the family partnership service seeks to address that.

"We want to focus on raising young people's aspirations, increasing employment, education and training opportunities, and on children's health and mental wellbeing, with particular emphasis on healthy weight and emotional health.

"And then improving education for all by developing skills for the future, including educational attainment and building career pathways.

"It includes looking at the inequality in educational achievement and opportunity, particularly for those children who've been disadvantaged.

"The board needs to note that as an area of risk and support the priorities of the children's trust board, if we're to deliver the key aims of the population and wellbeing strategy."

Another significant concern is the impact of Covid-19 linked to digital poverty, she added.

"While excellent progress has been made over the delivery of devices, we still have that shortfall especially for years one and two and early years.

"Those people with a great level of poverty are impacted the most over the costs of remote learning.

"The government has sought to address that by those children with digital access poverty issues having a place in school.

"But from the council's and the partnership perspective providing our own information and communications technology strategy to address digital poverty would be a key requirement of the Luton 2040 vision."

Councillors agreed several recommendations and "the overall leadership that the children's trust board will take forward to develop a child friendly town".