Home Access: a local story

Nick Shacklock, Director, Home Access programme, Becta

Steve Goodman, Oldham Council

A clear vision for the future

Diana Johnson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools

Home Access aims to provide practical and financial support to low-income families who may not be able to afford a computer or the Internet. We will support these families to ensure that the educational and social benefits of 21st century technology are available to them.”

The Home Access Taskforce

The Home Access Taskforce, comprised of representatives from government, education, industry and third sector, recommended:

Diana Johnson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools

Home Access aims to provide practical and financial support to low-income families who may not be able to afford a computer or the Internet. We will support these families to ensure that the educational and social benefits of 21st century technology are available to them.”

‘National central solutions for administering and delivering funding and accreditation of technology suppliers who can provide safe, appropriate solutions’

This led to a ministerial decision to adopt a consumer-based model rather than a centralised procurement.

What is the Home Access programme?

To watch this video, please download the zip file from http://events.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=41539

Home Access Grants for 270,000 low income families to cover the cost of:

The offer

Eligibility

Are you a parent or guardian responsible for and living with a child Yes

...in years 3 to 9

... who attends a state school in England full time

... who did not get a computer from Computers For Pupils or the Home Access programme in the pastDo you receive at least one of the following Yes

Free School Meals for your child

Income Support

Income Based Jobseekers Allowance

Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and an income of less than £16,040Guaranteed Pension Credit

Income Related Employment Support Allowance

Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act

How does it work?

Getting the grant

Designed to remove burden from schools and local authorities

Responsible for:

- driving demand

- issuing and evaluating applications

- delivering grants to families

- enquiry and helpdesk support

Capita will provide the grant administration service

Bli Education

Centerprise (Phones4U, Apollo, Hughes, Brighthouse, Retra, Mutual, Kingston)

Comet

Misco

Positive IT Solutions (Cartridge World)

XMA (T-mobile)

First wave of approved suppliers and their partners are:

Acquiring the product

Packages designed to support learning

A computer that’s been pre-configured and set up

Office productivity suite and graphic programmes included

Pre-set parental controls and the award-winning safety guide Know IT All for Parents loaded on every computer

Anti-virus software with three years’ pre-paid updates

Home Access How to guide and dedicated ‘Our Home Access’ website pre-set as the homepage

One years’ technical support including a national rate (or less) phone number, warranty and one instance of re-instatement

A suite of Assistive Technology software

Tried and tested: the pilot

Number of grants

issued:

Measure

7,500

Target by end Sept 09

12,344

To end

• Ran in Suffolk and Oldham from February 2009 - June 2009• A great success with c.90% uptake of grants from eligible families• Tested purchasing logistics and eligibility criteria • Key lessons learnt which have been incorporated into national rollout

Looked After Children

Looked After Children

Looked After Children in foster care will be catered for by the main Home Access programme.

A learner’s social worker will identify a need and make an application on the learner’s behalf.

Eligibility for Looked After Children spans years 1 to 13 inclusive.

Detailed guidance will be made available later in November. This will be sent to the LACES teams in authorities and be available for download from www.homeaccess.org.uk

Assistive technology

Assistive technologyThere are three types of Assistive Technology provision:

1. Assistive Technology software is pre-loaded on all packages.

2. Assistive Technology package one for learners who have physical difficulty accessing a computer or the internet

3. Assistive Technology package two for learners with profound needs. This service will be available from Summer 2010.

Aggregation

AggregationLocal authorities or schools can choose to take an active role as an agent for Home Access and order packages on behalf of their families.

Durham, Hull and Shropshire = local-authority wide schemes.

Schools in other local authorities may wish to apply to run their own scheme, though they must be affiliated to the e-Learning Foundation.

Academies – run their own scheme or support the local authority scheme (if available)

Schools and academies can request an application pack by calling 0333 200 1005 Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. The deadline for applications is 28 February.

Meeting local priorities

Benefits for your area

Supports the effective use of technology in learning

An opportunity to build upon existing work across a range of areas in the knowledge that more families will have access to computers and the internet

Supports the delivery of local priorities

Can have significant benefits not only for learners and families but also for schools and the wider community: supports digital inclusion

Decrease in the technology gap between the varying

income groups

Increased parental involvement in child’s

learning

Improved learning of

eligible pupils

Increased number of parents using technology

for learning for themselves

Improved economic status of eligible

families caused by usage of technology

A wide range of the benefits

Key findings from the pilot

The application and grant process was very effective, and was responded to positively by beneficiaries.

Households got access 2.4 years earlier than they would have otherwise.

Children spent an hour a week more for learning than a comparator group who had existing access.

97% of parents surveyed believed that home access would help their children do better at school a great deal or a fair amount.

Overall, 65% of beneficiary parents agreed that their child is spending more time on homework since gaining access.

.

What do families really think?

“Getting a computer at home is fabulous. I think this will help me with my homework a lot because I can research stuff on it.” Rehaan, 8 years old

“I would give it 10 out of 10. I like doing maths games, learning about ancient Egypt.” Jordan, 10 years old

“The programme is fantastic as we now have a laptop and internet access at home, which is easier for Naomi to do her coursework.” Lesley, mother

Benefits for the whole family

81% of parents (94% in black and minority ethnic groups) said home access would improve their confidence in using technology

81% believed home access increased their involvement in their child’s learning.

89% of parents in Oldham and 69% in Suffolk felt having Home Access would help them with their own skills development

Parents are also accessing local council and public services online, and also using their access to look for employment.

Real life stories

The internet is very important for families to have because a lot of council things is done with the internet now, a lot of government things is done with the internet, even the school’s done with the internet now.”

Anthony, dad

It’s been a big change because I can just look up jobs or apply to different courses. I've enlisted on to an online maths course

so I'll be able to help Evan with his homework.“

Rebecca, mum

And for local communities and wider government

“Home Access has already begun to help ICT to become central to the way students work, as well as supporting more effective communication of progress, ready access to attainment information and exemplar work, online assessment and e-portfolios.” Suffolk Council

“The devices have increased the use of other online council services. We hope Home Access will serve as a catalyst to deliver more services online.” Oldham Council

Access to computers in the home makes a difference to adults by not being isolated and actually being part of the world in terms of communication. One of the major things for them is that if they can use computers competently, then it supports them getting into the workplace.” Lifelong Learning

Working in partnership at a local level

PSA 2 “Improve the skills of the population on the way to ensuring a world class skills base by 2020”

There are clear links between Home Access and its potential to contribute significantly to achievement of several LAA targets, National Indicators and Public Service Agreements:

PSA 8 “Maximise employment opportunity for all”

PSA 11 “Narrow the gap in educational achievement between children from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers”

Get involved

Authorities can use the Home Access National Indicator Map which identifies the indicators in which the Home Access programme can have an impact

Making sure that those families who may be eligible for a Home Access Grant know where to get more information

Explore ways to encourage other families to get online

Sharing the benefits of getting on line with families, and supporting families to maximise the benefits of having home access

Aligning similar schemes to work in tandem with the Home Access programme (eg adult learning, regeneration and ‘narrowing the gap’)

Any questions?

Get involved

Want to support the programme?

www.homeaccess.org.uk

Realise the benefits:

www.becta.org.uk/homeaccess

Home Access Grant helpline:Tel: 0333 200 1004Minicom: 0121 748 1471