Lynn Holloway, deputy head of Great Ecclestone Copp primary school, Lancashire, said: “The Government’s offer to pay half of the cost of a laptop is very nice, but will they give us the money for the other half, please? If they want every teacher to have a laptop, then they should meet the cost in full, for every teacher.”

Ros Alden, information and communications technology co-ordinator at Stourfield first school, Bournemouth, said: “I already have access to computers at home, but many staff at my school do not.

“The job is getting increasingly difficult to do without comuter access. A number of staff have to stay late at school to prepare worksheets on the computer. I think they will welcome this offer.”

Sheila Thomas, a special educational needs advisory teacher for Anglesey and Gwynedd, said: “I’ve got my own laptop and find it invaluable. Computers are very useful as a learning tool for the visually-impaired children I work with, and I can do a lot of the preparation work on my computer at home.”

Simon Grant, a teacher at the Leighton Project, a further education college in Camden, north London, for students with moderate learning difficulties, said:

“I think it’s a great idea. I’m thinking of buying a computer myself, and would be interested in an offer like this. If I had access to one in my free time, I think my skills would improve.”