MANAGING ICT MANAGING ICT
The e-Learning
• How can they take advantage of these higher levels
of access to drive standards up, especially for
Foundation’s
Valerie
Thompson
Home
children from low-income families who traditionally
underperform?
The e-Learning Foundation believes that schools
have a crucial role to play in achieving universal access.
If they succeed, then their return on investment in ICT
infrastructure, including online learning platforms for
students, teachers and parents to access, will multiply
updates us on the
many times, So what can they do?
government’s Home Access
programme and urges
help
At the very least, schools can provide a vital
information role – explaining why children need access
to a computer and the internet at home, and making sure
that families who are entitled to assistance are made
aware of it.
They could be more pro-active, taking on a
schools to move quickly to
facilitation role; examples would be making available
supplies of the application forms, helping families to
get involved
fill in the paperwork, and making sure they are sent to
the right address.
The next level would be for the school to apply
to aggregate the Home Access grants on behalf of
HE BECTA report Harnessing all eligible families. This would maximise the level
T
Technology 2008: The Role of of take-up, especially among those unfamiliar with
Technology and its Impact on computer technology.
Education records that about one third Finally, a school could offer a universal access
of schools are still falling into the “late programme where those who are eligible for a Home
adopter” or “ambivalent” category Access grant are helped to get one, and those who are
when it comes to understanding the for a Home Access grant and redeem it through a local fall just above the threshold will not be eligible for a not eligible are offered the opportunity to take part in an
growing importance of technology. approved retailer. Home Access grant. equity programme.
Does this matter? The answer is emphatically yes. This process appears to effectively bypass schools The next 18 months will see a General Election and The e-Learning Foundation is running a grants round
In his book, The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman but there can be no question that the educational potential possible new government. The next Comprehensive this month to help schools who want to implement such
describes how the world is changing, and stresses of such a government-funded programme would be Spending Review is due in March 2011. Because of this an equitable approach, which has the advantage of
the crucial role that technology now plays in maximised with the full involvement of the schools. uncertainty, it is not possible to second guess whether also being sustainable through the majority of parents
determining the future prospects of individuals However, it is hard to see what else Becta could the Home Access programme in its current form will making a small but regular donation to the programme.
across the planet. have done given the number of schools who, looking be maintained. The timing is not ideal for schools, with the first
The bottom line is that children who lack at the evidence to date, could have proved reluctant or So we need to move quickly to help families take Home Access grants unlikely to be redeemed before
educational opportunities and, particularly, good access unable to fully engage with the programme, potentially advantage of the Home Access funding about to be Christmas 2009, making a programme linked to the new
to technology for their learning, will find it harder and leaving their families at a disadvantage to those linked made available; and we need to take action to help academic year an impossibility. However, if schools
harder to succeed in life because the chances are that to more forward-thinking schools. those needy families currently not eligible for the really want to make the most of this programme for
someone else, somewhere else, will be able to perform All is not lost, however. Local authorities have been programme. their free school meals families, and take advantage of
a wide range of business activities, from wherever they given the opportunity to apply to aggregate Home What this means for schools is that they need to additional help available from organisations like the e-
live, cheaper and better. Access grants on behalf of their families by mid- quickly decide on the level of engagement they want to Learning Foundation to extend home access to all their
The Digital Britain report, published in June 2009, September. If they decide not to, then individual schools adopt with the home access agenda in terms of: families, then the next few months provide a unique
adds to the growing recognition that we must achieve will be able to apply to aggregate, ensuring closer links • How can they ensure that their eligible families opportunity to take a giant stride towards universal
universal access to the internet for all our citizens and between the acquisition of technology by the families benefit from the Home Access programme? access to technology. SecEd
especially our children. and the educational objectives of the programme. • How can they ensure that any existing school
Translating words into action, this autumn the The other important aspect of the programme is that programme, particularly where it involves parents • Valerie Thompson is chief executive of the e-Learning
national roll out of the government’s Home Access while it should have a significant impact on the digital making a contribution, is not compromised by the Foundation.
programme will begin. The first phase will be offered divide for some of the families, it will not achieve Home Access grant offer?
to children eligible for free school meals at key stages universal access. Some age groups will not be included • How can they help non-eligible but poor families
Further information
2 and 3. Eligible families will be encouraged to apply in the programme initially and families whose incomes provide home access for their children? www.becta.org.uk/homeaccess
Organised by
3rd national conference
SCHOOL AND PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING
Listening, hearing and delivering: developing services
to meet the needs of children, young people and their families
The Centennial Centre, Birmingham 6th & 7th October 2009
Objectives
• To provide school and public health nurses and
• To stimulate discussion about the way forward for
partner agencies with an update on some of the
school nursing and integrated services
challenges and opportunities facing the specialty
• Through personal examples, case studies and
• To provide a relevant and attractive learning
informal discussion, to improve and enhance
environment for knowledge and creative thinking that
performance and practice
will benefit future development
CONFERENCE FEE INCLUDES ENTRANCE TO THE CONFERENCE, LUNCH AND REFRESHMENTS AND FULL CONFERENCE DOCUMENTATION
MA Healthcare Ltd, St. Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PB
For further information and a booking form, please contact
Tel: 020 7501 6762 Fax: 020 7733 8174 Email: laura.d@markallengroup.com
MAH BJSN09 190x130.indd 1 21/8/09 12:41:47
10 SecEd • September 17 2009
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