Launched at BETT 2010 in London on 11 January by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Home Access programme aims to deliver equal learning opportunities to the third of families in England that currently have no access to the internet at home.
Home Access forms part of the drive to make England one of the first countries in the world to ensure every young person has access to a computer and the internet at home.
This groundbreaking national programme will initially target children in years 3 to 9 and provide funding to over 270,000 households by March 2011. Families who meet the eligibility criteria such as receiving free school meals or certain benefits will be able to apply for a grant to purchase a Home Access package. This includes a device such as a laptop or netbook and internet connection.
Recent evidence has suggested that having a computer at home associates with a 2 grade improvement in one subject at GCSE. This means that a pupil who would have got a D, could, with the effective use of technology at home, now get a B at GCSE.
Schools can opt to take a more active role in the Home Access programme via a shared model where they can elect to order compliant packages on behalf of eligible learners. This can provide schools and academies with the opportunity for greater alignment of Home Access with existing or planned activities, while ensuring every learner has the same ICT capabilities at home as at school.
The national programme follows successful pilots in Oldham and Suffolk in early 2009. The pilots were a resounding success with over 90 per cent of the eligible population within the two authorities receiving grants.
Low income families with children in school years 3 to 9 most in need of internet access in the home can register for a grant application form by calling the local rate telephone line 0333 200 1004 between 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday.
The value of the Home Access grant to certain low income families will cover the cost of a package which includes a computer or laptop; basic software; internet access for one year; and three-years' technical support. Each package also comes with a suite of assistive technology software as standard. Any parents wanting a higher specification can 'top-up' the grant to cover the cost.
Find out more at www.becta.org.uk/homeaccess