A junior school is to issue youngsters with laptop computers to help them do their homework.

Prettygate Junior School in Plume Avenue is asking parents for £3 per week each to help fund the cutting-edge move, paid for in part with an £8,000 grant from the Essex e-Learning Foundation.

From September, all year six pupils will be able to take home a hi-tech portable computer, complete with teaching programmes, which will enable them to continue with work set for them in class.

Headteacher Barry Hawes said it was hoped the initiative would give youngsters a big boost in preparation for secondary school.

He said: "The children have benefited a lot from the computers we have in school because it helps them to develop their own personalised learning programme."

Published Tuesday July 13, 2004

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