Government scheme for free mobile data increases

The Government has created a scheme in which Schools and families can request free mobile data increases for children and young people without broadband and/or who can't afford extra data for devices.

This scheme temporarily increases data allowances for mobile phone users on certain networks. This is so that children and young people can access remote education if their face-to-face education is disrupted.

Who can get help

As a school we can request mobile data increases for children and young people who:

• don’t have access to a fixed broadband connection
• cannot afford the additional data needed to access educational resources or social care services
• have access to a mobile device that uses a participating network
• are facing disruption to their face-to-face education, or have been advised not to attend school

Children with access to a mobile phone on one of the following networks might be able to benefit:

• Three
• Smarty
• Virgin Mobile
• EE
• Tesco Mobile
• Sky Mobile
• O2
• Vodafone

Other providers may join the scheme at a later stage.

What information we need

To request extra mobile data, we will need to collect the following information:

• the account holder’s name
• their mobile number (a number beginning with ‘07’)
• their mobile network
• whether they pay monthly or pay as they go

The offers by the Network Provider

Details about each of the Network Providers can be found here (You will see that most providers have a limited amount of ‘requests’ available, so if you choose to opt into the scheme we will need your information as soon as possible) –

Network Provider offers

Privacy statement

Those affected by the offer need to understand how the Government will you’re your personal information.

Please share the following privacy statement with:

• the adult account holder for the mobile device
• the parent or carer of the person benefiting from the offer, if they’re under 13
• the person benefiting from the offer, if they’re 13 or over

• 1. For the purposes of data protection, I need to let you know that the Department for Education (DfE) is running the Mobile Network Offer through schools and their trusts or local authorities.
• 2. If the offer is taken up by an adult account holder, the school or social care team will share the account holder’s name and mobile phone details with the DfE, who will share these with the relevant mobile network operator.
• 3. The mobile network operator will use that information to increase the data available for the account holder’s mobile device, as long as they qualify for the offer.
• 4. The adult account holder’s personal data is only shared with their mobile network operator for the purposes of the offer. No names of children or other adults, other than adult account holder, are shared with the DfE or the mobile network operator.
• 5. No personal information will be shared with the DfE if you do not want to take up the offer.
• 6. If you want to know more about how your personal information will be used before you take up the offer, we can send that to you first.
• 7. If you decide to take up the offer, you’ll get a text message from the Department for Education with more information about your data protection rights.
•  
• If you want to receive some written information first, you can read the privacy information.

Do you wish to continue?

Upon reading all this information, if you wish to be a part of this scheme please email

l.mitchell@gateacre.org

With the following information-

• the account holder’s name
• their mobile number (a number beginning with ‘07’)
• their mobile network
• whether they pay monthly or pay as they go (Account holders with monthly contracts need to be over the age of 18)
• Confirmation that you have read the Privacy Statement