MobileManDan
Here we are nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and our lives are still being changed in many ways than we could not have imagined.
Whilst companies have a furlough scheme for paying people’s wages whilst not able to work, the worry is that children’s education will suffer from being at home and not learning as much as needed to get their exam results.
To combat this there are new ways of learning online such as BBC Bitesize which lets children learn from their phones or other connected devices, and thanks to EE and BT you won’t have to worry about data limits.
The company is “zero rating” access to this important content which means even on a low data allowance none of this learning will be taken from your data allowance for the month.
Below is the press release with more information on how it will work for anyone who is interested.
— Press Release —
BT and BBC partner to remove mobile data charges for BBC Bitesize educational content
- EE, BT Mobile, and Plusnet Mobile customers to have unlimited access for free to BBC Bitesize content by the end of January
- Zero rating of popular educational websites forms part of BT’s ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme announced last week
- Agreement forms part of broader partnership between the two national champions
11th January 2021, BT and the BBC have announced plans to zero rate the hugely popular and award-winning BBC Bitesize for all EE, BT Mobile, and Plusnet Mobile customers, while schools remain closed.
The first of its kind agreement means that from the end of the month customers of EE, BT Mobile and Plusnet Mobile accessing BBC Bitesize for kids’ educational purposes, can watch, read and interact with as much immersive content as they need, even if they have run out of data.
Marc Allera, CEO BT Group’s Consumer division, said: “We want to ensure that no child is left behind in their education as a result of this pandemic, and recognise that we all have a role we can play to help families and carers continue their children’s education while schools are closed.
“That’s why, as part of our ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme launched last week, we’re proud to partner with the BBC and be the first network to zero rate BBC Bitesize and allow all of our mobile customers to access its incredible content without using up any data.”
Tim Davie, BBC Director General, said: “With the pandemic forcing schools to close again we should not allow a lack of digital access to further impact children’s education. This is why I’m delighted we have agreed this partnership with BT to remove data charges when accessing the BBC’s brilliant Bitesize content. The BBC will continue to do all we can to ensure every child, whatever their circumstances, can continue to access vital educational materials during this time.”
To make the process as easy as possible for families, no registration will be required with zero rated access to educational Bitesize content through the BBC website and Bitesize app made automatically.
The Bitesize online offer has become essential to delivering support for parents, teachers and students during the crisis.
For primary, BBC Bitesize online has an expanded offer of structured lessons in Maths and English for all year groups – these can be used at home or in the classroom.
‘This Term’s Topics’ also covers other curriculum subjects and curates learning content that works for the Spring curriculum. This content can be used at home or incorporated into a learning plan. Visit bbc.co.uk/bitesize, click on the year group and subject and all the content is there.
For secondary pupils, Bitesize is also home to two-week learning packs for English and Maths in KS3 (years 7, 8 and 9) as well as ‘This Term’s Topics’ for other subjects to be used at home or to support teachers in the remote classrooms. For students in Years 10 and 11, the Bitesize secondary offer allows students to pick their exam board and subject to find everything they need to help with their studies. Visit bbc.co.uk/bitesize/secondary for details.
BT is doing all it can to help support the nation during lockdown. Last week it unveiled its ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme, working with the Department for Education to ensure school children can continue to learn online while face to face learning is paused. BT will be giving those children who need it most unlimited mobile data as well as handing out thousands of free WiFi vouchers to schools and charity partners to distribute to families without an internet connection. The vouchers give access to the internet via BT’s five million WiFi Hotspots across the UK.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said:“Supporting children and young people to continue their education is vital during this challenging time. It is fantastic that BT and the BBC have joined forces to remove mobile data charges for BBC Bitesize for hundreds of thousands of families across the country.
“Having worked closely with the UK’s leading mobile network providers since the start of the pandemic, I would like to thank BT for this additional support which builds on the Government’s offer of free mobile data for disadvantaged families.”
BT’s partnership with the BBC is the first zero rating of educational content, with announcements on further popular learning portals to be made soon.
Zero Rating of BBC Bitesize:
Available to all contract and pay as you go customers of EE, BT Mobile and Plusnet Mobile in the UK, and commencing end of January (to allow thorough testing of the product), BT will remove all data charges for access to BBC Bitesize content (NB only content accessed via the BBC Bitesize website, Bitesize App, or Bitesize content on iPlayer included), while all schools are closed across the nation. There is no registration required.
The scheme will end as schools reopen across the UK.
