Schools Minister Jim Knight welcomed the news that the first families have received their computers as part of the Home Access pilot in Suffolk. The £300 million Home Access programme, announced by the Prime Minister in September 2008, aims to deliver equal learning opportunities to the 35 per cent of families that currently have no access to the internet at home. The pilot will refine and test the process for awarding grants for computing packages to low income families in Oldham and Suffolk before the planned national roll out in late autumn.

Commenting on the pilot, Mr Knight welcomed the news that over 1,100 learners had already been awarded Home Access Grants by Suffolk Local Authorities which are administering the programme in partnership with Becta, the government agency for technology in learning.

Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners comments:
“It is impossible to overstate the importance of IT to today’s children. As previous generations may look back fondly on inkwells and fountain pens, today’s children see laptops and memory sticks as their everyday materials for school.

“It is vitally important that we close the digital divide and do not allow it to swallow children from 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.

“We have taken the lead on this issue and parents are responding. We have already had more than 2,000 grant applications in Oldham and Suffolk. I am looking forward to seeing the results of the trials in these areas which will underpin our national roll out later in the year.

“I want to see a culture where parents see home access as equally important as sending their child to school with pens and exercise books. There is no substitute for good classroom teaching but access to learning material at home is no longer optional – it is essential.”

Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive of Becta said:
“This is an exciting opportunity to explore the important role that technology can play in our everyday life at home and school. This scheme and our work with the pilot regions will provide the basis for a successful national launch which will benefit all learners and their parents. As part of Becta’s Next Generation Learning campaign, Home Access will ensure every learner has an equal chance to tap into the benefits of the internet to enhance their learning.”

The Home Access programme aims to support the aspiration of every learner being given an equal opportunity to support their learning at home into reality. Learners who use technology at home for learning perform better in maths and reading tests, are more likely to gain over 5 GCSEs and improve the grades they achieve. Having access at home can also benefit other family members and it is hoped that increased access to the internet across Oldham and Suffolk households will enable Local Authorities, schools and other learning providers to strengthen their links with the community.

The pilot scheme is aimed at certain low-income families with children aged 7-18 in full-time state education. Families are able to apply for a Home Access Grant, worth around £600, to pay for a computer and internet package which have been designed to support learning and to be safer and easier to use. All the packages will come set with parental controls and the award-winning e-safety guide Know IT All, as well as benefiting from a high level of service, support and enhanced warranty.

Eligible families in the pilot areas have been able to apply for Home Access Grants since the 2nd of February 2009 and already over 1,100 in Suffolk and over 900 learners in Oldham have been awarded grants. Next Generation Learning @ Home packages have been available for purchase from the 27th of February and it is expected that over 7,500 learners will receive funding during the pilot.

Becta is working in partnership with UK online centres and other local community groups to provide parents with ongoing support and advice on using their new technology effectively to benefit both their children and themselves.