Free laptops for poorer children under new government scheme

A new scheme has been rolled out to close the divide between rich and poor when it comes to digital learning...

By

13 January 2010

Child on laptop

Families of children who are entitled to free school meals can now apply for a free laptop and internet connection under a new scheme.

The Prime Minister announced the ‘Home Access’ scheme to help close the ‘digital and educational divide between rich and poor’ and keep parents in touch with their child's progress. Around 270,000 low income families will benefit.

Currently the scheme is only for children in years three to nine (around 7 – 14 years) who are eligible for free school meals. Although ‘Looked After Children’ up to the age of 18 will also receive laptops (carers and foster parents can apply).

The groundbreaking system comes after research revealed pupils could improve by two grades at GCSE with a computer at home.

The scheme will also offer bespoke packages to provide more support for children with special educational needs.

Online safety is to become a compulsory part of the primary curriculum from 2011. In keeping with this all free laptops will come with pre-set parental controls and loaded with a copy of the award winning e-safety guide ‘Know IT All for Parents”. The computers will also have a pre-set homepage which includes the Child Exploitation and Online Protection ‘report abuse’ button.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families said “The  £300m investment in the Home Access programme will help make England one of the first countries in the world to ensure young people can use a computer and the internet at home for their education, and get parents better involved and understanding more about what their child does at school.”

The programme is in place nationally after successful pilots in Oldham and Suffolk showed a positive impact on the pupils and their parents.

Those children who received computers from the Home Access programme spent an hour more per week learning online, compared to their classmates who already had the internet at home.

81 per cent of parents believed that home access had increased their involvement in their child’s learning – and increased parental engagement is proven to improve children’s educational progress.

The laptops will have to be bought from an approved supplier and families must first meet strict eligibility criteria.

For more details on the scheme see Becta.org.uk or the Home Access website

To apply for a grant call 0333 200 1004.