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The Digital DivideIt is vitally important that every child in Britain gets access to ICT, not just for a few hours a week in the classroom, but when and where they want, so that every child has the opportunity of advancement in the virtual world. For many children, home access to a computer and the Internet is taken for granted. This access has been proven to provide significant educational advantage for those children. Yet there remains a significant minority who do not have access. '25% of school children do not have access to a computer and the internet at home' - The e-learning Foundation. The e-Learning Foundation, established in 2001, aims to reduce the effect of the “digital divide” by working with schools, parents and other stakeholders to ensure that all children have access to the learning resources that technology can make available, when and where they need them, both at home and at school.
Home Access GrantHome Access is a £300m government programme to enable more families to use computers and the internet at home for learning. The aim of the programme is for every 5 to 18 year-old to have home access by 2011. Grants are specifically targeted at families on low incomes. The grant will enable parents/ carers to choose a computer and internet package designed to support learning at home. To find out more about the home access grant and how your school can get involved in the home access grant scheme:
Home Access Grant Update - August NewThe Home Access Grant helpline (Tel: 0333 200 1004) has re-opened temporarily for final requests of application packs. Funding is still available for approximately 10,000 grants as of 10th August Families that have already received an application pack but have not returned them are strongly recommended to do so. The grants are currently being awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Approximately 20,936 applications have been approved for families within East of England local authorities. In Hertfordshire 3774 Home Access Grant applications have been approved as of 10th August. The highest uptake has been from families with children aged 8 to 11. Low income families with children in years 3 to 9 are eligible to apply. Approximately 12,044 Home Access Grant applications with assistive technology requirements have been made nationally. The assistive technology requirements are now starting to be delivered to families. Once the Home Access Grant project has ended we aim to send every school a letter informing them how many grants have been awarded to families in the school. Home Access Grant - Update June 2010Funding for the Home Access Grant is expected to be exhausted very soon. On the 14th June, 258,564 applications had been received by Capita, with 213,513 applications approved. Overall there is funding available for 270,000 applications and it is expected this total will be reached by the end of June. So far there have been 3218 successful Home Access Grants awarded to families in Hertfordshire. Any family that has received an application form recently is strongly advised to complete and post by the end of this week. The assistive technology aspect that runs alongside a Home Access Grant is mobilising to start in July. There are over 12,000 different devices which families with children that have profound learning difficulties/ special educational needs may be able to access. Some of the schools have done amazing work promoting the scheme and encouraging uptake by low income families in Hertfordshire. Home Access Grant - Update May 2010You may be aware that Becta, who are responsible for Home Access Grant project, are set to close as part of the government spending review. The Home Access Grant project is administered by Capita and will continue, although due to the rapid take-up of grants funding is only expected to continue until the end of the Summer Term 2010. Over 218,756 applications have been received nationally and 174,710 applications have been approved with funding set aside for a total of 270,000 applications. Capita are currently predicting that an application can be turned around in seven days if the application form is completed correctly. The lowest up take at the moment is families with children aged 7 years and aged 14 years. We recommended eligible families are encouraged to make an application as soon as possible. Do remember that low income families with children in years 3 – 9 can apply. For more information on eligibility:
Home Access - Update April 2010Hertfordshire families have been very successful with the up take of the Home Access Grant. Over 84,000 applications have been approved nationally with accommodation for 270,000 applications by March 2011. 1,390 Successful applications have been made by Hertfordshire families to date. There is quite a long way to go to encourage more Hertfordshire families to take up the offer. The e-learning foundation have made available translated letters which may require some customisation about Home Access which may be useful to use with some families: Capita have also produced a very informative A5 information sheet about Home Access for families labelled ‘005A_Information leaflet.pdf’ This information sheet can be ordered to be sent out to families by schools. To order the information sheets complete a request on the enquiry page of your partner account on: Becta have produced a letter for families that may be eligible with children that have special educational needs. The Home Access package makes available different types of assistive technology to enable access for young people with even the most profound special educational needs.
Home Access Grant - Update February 2010As of 8th February Requests for over 131,938 application packs have been made nationally. 5,309 applications have been approved to date. To find out more about the progress of the Home Access Grant scheme: Below are a selection of useful resources that you may wish to use to promote the Home Access Grant Scheme: Letter to be sent to Targeted Eligible Families
Newsletter Article
CSF005 Fact Sheet about the Home Access Grant with Useful Financial Websites
Home Access Grant - Update January 2010The Home Access Grant scheme has been launched nationally and is being administered by Capita. The scheme is expected to run from January 2010 to March 2011. Funding has been allocated for 270,000 low income families to benefit from the scheme. The Home Access Grant has come at a time that the Government is legislating to make reporting to parents online by 2012 a legal guarantee in the Children, Schools and Families Bill. Details of the DCSF announcement can be found at: Hertfordshire, Becta and Capita have organised a series of short one hour Home Access cluster sessions for all school phases. This is to inform schools about the scheme, the application process, how to engage families and get involved. These sessions are aimed at senior and middle leaders. Any questions you may have about the Home Access grant can be answered at these sessions. February 8th February 9th If you would like to attend one of the above sessions please email adam.woulds@hertscc.gov.uk with details of your session. Applications, contact and publicity information The Home Access website: Schools are now able to download, by registering as a partner on the Home Access website, for sample application forms and further guidance, posters, leaflets and other marketing materials. It takes between 3-7 days for your registration to be confirmed. The Helpline number required for all applications and enquiries:
The application process is slightly different for Children Looked After and you can find an overview of the process below. For further information about the application process please look at the following diagram: Application process diagram
Approved SuppliersBelow is a list of the first wave of approved suppliers that eligible participants can purchase from, using their ‘once-use’ VISA debit card. Further suppliers are expected to be announced shortly. The suppliers will all offer slightly different final packages
Benefits of Home AccessRace online have conducted some interesting research about the benefits of digital inclusion: Download a copy of the January 2010 Update
Home Access – Hertfordshire Schools Briefing SheetThis briefing sheet is subject to change as further information becomes available.
Detailed Information about the Home Access Packages
Detailed Information about the Educational Benefits of Home Access (Becta)
Find out the benefits of e-learning and get advice on getting online (useful for parents) Information about benefits of getting online (useful for parents) Various e-learning foundation video’s useful for staff inset about the digital divide (check school's web filtering policy for access to Youtube): Families that fall shortly of the eligibility criteria required to apply for a home access grant may be able to access a grant through the e-learning foundation: For further information about the home access scheme: Powerpoint Presentation - June 2009
Access 4 StudentsAccess 4 Students provides an innovative 'cost neutral' procurement process for schools which helps to bridge the digital divide. More information in the flier below:
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