Pupils from a rural primary school are being given a helping hand with home schooling thanks to a local internet provider.

Wessex Internet has given brand new laptops to Lulworth and Winfrith CE VC Primary School.

Three primary school pupils have each received a much-needed laptop to help with their home schooling, thanks to the Blandford-based internet provider.

The Key Stage 2 pupils from Lulworth and Winfrith CE VC Primary School were presented with the equipment after the school conducted a home equipment audit amongst parents following the sudden announcement of school closures on January 4.

Headteacher Richard Skinner said: “No sooner had the government announced that we were to close due the national lockdown, we received a call from Wessex Internet with their offer of help.

"They recently connected both our school sites to full-fibre broadband. It was such a welcome surprise and has certainly taken the pressure off. Like many schools across the country, we have a number of pupils who for a range of reasons simply had no access to personal laptops at home. It is heartening to see that true community spirit is very much alive in Dorset.”

Hector Gibson Fleming, Managing Director at Wessex Internet said: “Lulworth is one of the areas in which we are working in to bring the best internet connectivity to rural homes and businesses. When we heard about the latest lockdown, we wanted to support the community where help was needed immediately. We hope that these laptops go some way towards making a difference to both children and their families in these crucial educational years in a safe and healthy environment”.

Teaching Assistant Caroline Bailey said: “Access to online learning materials and resources is vital to the continued education of our pupils. This generous donation has helped enormously with the provision for the pupils, their parents and the class teachers at such a challenging time.”

Between 1.14 million and 1.78 million children in the UK (9 per cent) do not have home access to a laptop, desktop or tablet, and more than 800,000 children live in a home with only a mobile internet connection according to the BBC.