The government has announced that schoolchildren from the least advantaged households in the country will be able to benefit from a new scheme where they will receive a free laptop and broadband. 270,000 families across England will benefit from the Home Access Scheme, which is set to cost in the region of £300 million.
The scheme was first announced back in 2008, but it has faced many delays and has only now been launched. It has already been piloted in two areas, Oldham and Suffolk, where it has proved a success. The children in poorer homes and in care across England will now be able to apply for a grant for a free laptop and broadband to help them with their studies.
One of the main aims is to help reduce the gap in achievement between the rich and the poor at school. It is now widely accepted that computers are not just an added bonus for the most affluent pupils, but are an essential piece of kit for the education process.
Ed Balls, the Children’s Secretary, said that the families most in need “cannot be left behind in the digital revolution”, adding that the UK is “leading the world” in its use of technology in the learning process. He said that computers are now an essential part of education.
Families will be able to keep the laptop permanently, but the broadband will only be paid for the first year. After that the families can decide whether they want to start paying for their connection. Any families with children from 7 to 14 can apply for the grant, and the priority will be children with special needs and those in care.
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