5 questions you should ask your students

Leading a Student Home Access audit

Do you know what your students’ know about technology? Really know? Of course you might know about what you have taught them in ICT lessons – that they are capable of creating a spreadsheet that draws a complex (and colourful) pivot-graph about how your class travels to school or that they can animate plasticine with ease. But what do they do when they are not at school?

A student access survey should ideally be conducted annually and can focus on a stratified sample of students. The results will help you plan your ICT curriculum (especially important in the current environment); plan your whole-school online learning strategy and also ensure your eSafety education focuses on the issues that are relevant for your students.

Home Access ICT Grant - Thanks a million!

This government grant was designed for families with students studying at KS2 and KS3 who did not have access to ICT at home. Each family could apply for a computer and a year's worth of internet connectivity fully paid for by the Home Access Grant scheme. Many of our schools were very proactive in ensuring their students who were eligible put in strong applications.

Across Redbridge we supported 2080 successful applications across 67 schools. In addition Social Services and the Children Looked After Support Service made a further 30 successful applications on behalf of foster carers.

Given that each grant was worth £528 the success of this project is equivalent to an amazing £1,114,080 additional ICT funding to support students studying in Redbridge.

Well done all those of you who supported this project. The impact of this project is already being seen by the teachers who work with these students, but it will only become truly measurable as these students reach the end of KS4 and start taking public exams. Let us wait with hope to see what a £1m seed into the collective futures of Redbridge children will grow into.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Home Access - Latest Information 05

32% of the eligible students in Redbridge have received free computers and interent connections on this scheme. This equates to 1331 families who now have access to ICT who didn't before. I actually have these stats broken down by school so please, as per the last update, if you would like your school's exact figure (which you can then compare against your FSM KS2 and KS3 numbers) please get in touch.

When this grant was launched it was said that funds were set aside to support 270,000 grants. Nationwide 153,651 grants have been successfull. If both these figures are true then 57% of the funds have been allocated. This suggests that Redbridge students are at real risk of not getting their applications through on time. Of course, the figures upon which this calculation is based may well change (especially in the current political climate) but it is still relevant to remind your students again of how to take advantage of this scheme.


To see back copies of Home Access updates please click on the HomeAccess label on the right hand side.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Home Access: Latest Information 04

Statistical Update

By March 15th Redbridge has had 701 successful applications for the Home Access Grant. This means that about 1 out of every 6 eligible students has so far successfully applied. This is a really good start but it does show that much more work needs to be done. Nationally 28% of eligible families have successfully applied, whereas here in Redbridge that number is only 17%. Please keep getting the message out to ensure that the Redbridge community has the information to benefit from this grant. If you would like to know your own school's statistics please email me directly.

What's on the inside?

Logging into http://www.homeaccess.org.uk/ gives you access to a range of information sheets and presentations that you can use when raising awareness of this grant. If you are tasked with ensuring your students are not missing out then registering on this site is well worth it.

Case Study Request

The national Home Access team are looking to develop some more case studies of families enjoying the benefit of the Home Access project. If you know that some of the 299 successful applicants are within your school community why not invite them to be involved in a video case study? Contact me directly if you would like further details.

Web-strategy within your school

When students receive their Home Access computer or laptop one of the first things they do (according to the case studies) is go to the school's website. If your school is not yet making use of the web to support teaching and learning then this is an excellent time to start. Get in touch to discuss the different ways the web can support learning within your school community.


Translated literature for parents

We have been given a set of translated information letters for parents who would prefer to find out about the scheme in their own language. This work has been undertaken by the Bristol Extended Services team and they are happy for them to be used by other LAs as long as they are acknowledged.

If you are a Redbridge Fronter user and have access to the following virtual rooms then these letters are available in:

Redbridge Secondary ICT
> KS3 Resources

Redbridge Primary ICT
> Resources > Home Access translations

(You need to be logged into Fronter with pre-agreed access to these rooms for these links to work.)

If you don't have access please email Tina.Pennells@redbridge.gov.uk stating your school name, your role within the school and your Fronter username to gain access or to request specific files.

Any further information about the Home Access Grant please get in touch. There have been several previous entries on this blog which can be accessed by clicking on:

http://redbridgeictsubjectleaders.blogspot.com/search/label/HomeAccess

As before, the most important information to get out to parents is the telephone number 0333 200 1004 which should be copied onto school newsletters.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Home Access Grant: Latest Information 03

Link change
The previous link that was issued giving a summary of eligibility has changed. Please direct parents to http://www.homeaccess.org.uk/Are-you-eligible/. More usefully, please copy the criteria into your school newsletter to ensure that parents without computers (the target audience!) have access to it.

Assistive Technologies
Becta have confirmed that there is little take up of 'Assistive Technology' applications. These are applications that request further technology to support children with special needs. To do a Home Access grant application for assistive technologies the school must fill in section 5c of the form, this task is usually completed by the SEN Coordinator and information for them is available here: http://collaboration.becta.org.uk/docs/DOC-1992

One Stop Shop
The One Stop Shop service based in Lynton House, Ilford, is being inundated with parents asking for proof that they receive free school meals. They have advised me that the proof they can provide is no different from that that a school can provide. If you are running support events, or briefing school office staff relating to this grant could you arrange to provide proof for parents if necessary. If parents are part filling out the form with your support and then having to travel to Ilford for proof that they are eligible it may well prevent some parents from completing their application.

National Association of Teachers of Travellers
This organisation has produced some additional support material available here. This includes a post card for distribution (see right) and some traveller specific information.

Looked After Children
Looked After Children who are deemed to have a Home Access need can be in years 1 to 13 inclusive, as opposed to years 3 to 9 for the main programme. Grants will be issued to the foster family and they will then use this to buy a Home Access package from an approved supplier. This application will then be endorsed and verified by the relevant professionals – usually the designated social worker. The borough CLA Support Service 020 8708 3913 will be able to advise further.

More suppliers on board
Four more provisionally approved suppliers have just been announced. DA Computers, Micro P, NS Optimum and Stone Computers will soon be joining the six other approved suppliers. All four suppliers have had to undergo a stringent accreditation process to gain provisional approved supplier status. They are working to Becta guidelines to try and achieve full approved supplier status in April. (Press Release)

Proving Child Benefit
An original Child Benefit award letter must be included in every application for a Home Access Grant, and three different types are acceptable:
• Initial Child Benefit award letter. This must be dated from 1 December 2008.
• Child Benefit Statement of Entitlement. This also needs to be dated from 1 December 2008 and will only have the first name of the child the application relates to.
• Child Benefit uprating letter. This should have been received by the applicant in December 2008 or January 2009 and will have advised them of the annual increase in benefit payment.




The most important information to get out to parents is still the telephone number 0333 200 1004 as this is the easiest way for parents to get hold of an application form. The most important site for schools to find out detailed information is http://www.homeaccess.org.uk/.

You may like to read previous updates on the Home Access Grant published on this blog:

• January 2010
• December 2009

Further questions for Redbridge schools that are not answered by any of these posts can be sent to me directly.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Becta's Latest News and features

Becta's news is available on the Schools website.

Home access takes off...
Equipping our current and future generations with the necessary skills to compete in a digital world is crucial to our future. Through innovative programs such as Home Access, Becta is driving this development. Find out more about applying for the Home Access grant and take a look at some case study stories.

Get the bigger picture
How committed are you to ICT? Take our 30 minute survey and discover the impact that ICT is having in your school.

Has your school signed up to the Next Generation Learning Charter?
A booklet outlining the features and benefits of the Charter and the four stage journey towards effective use of technology is now available for schools. You can order or download the publication here. A map is also available which shows all schools on the Charter and the level they have achieved.

Upcoming improvements to the Self-review framework
We have been working on improvements to the Self-review framework which will be implemented this Spring.

Digital literacy: teaching critical thinking
This new publication aims to help teachers to teach the skills, knowledge and understanding that young people need to participate fully and safely in an increasingly digital world. The publication is accompanied by a planning tool which will help you to incorporate digital literacy into your teaching.

New secondary resource for online reporting
This booklet and interactive DVD provides substantial information around the online reporting agenda as an aid to secondary schools to help them meet the expectation of implementing online reporting to parents and carers by September 2010.

Get started with your learning platform
Used effectively, learning platforms open up learning opportunities for all pupils in school and extend learning outside the classroom and school. This publication presents the key steps to a whole school approach to learning platforms.

Are you a 21st century teacher?
Newly published ‘The 21st century teacher’ booklet is designed to help teachers develop their professional use of technology. You can also find links to helpful resources and an online self review checklist on our website.

Narrowing the gap
This report and accompanying videos focus on exploring the ways technology can support approaches to ‘narrowing the gap’ for low and underachieving learners in secondary schools.

2010 ICT Excellence Awards now open!
The 2010 awards are now open for entries until 24 March 2010. To enter your school, please complete our online application form.

Management information systems market review
Modern schools require sophisticated Information Management solutions to address ICT issues. We are conducting a review which will enable us to issue guidance on management information systems.

Procurement framework consultation
Over the past year, we have been looking at the best ways to allow you to put ICT services in place in a way which will support cash savings, efficiency and save staff time. Find out how you can input into the scope of this procurement frameworks consultation.

Becta launches new NVQs
We have launched the Framework for ICT Technical Support (FITS), providing National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) to IT technicians in schools.

Gordon Brown's speech to the Learning and Technology World Forum

At the Learning and Technology World Forum held prior to BETT this week Gordon Brown outlined his perspective on education, focusing on the impact technology has had, and will have, on it. Within this speech he officially announces the Home Access Grant, reiterates the parental engagement expectation and personally congratulates one of Redbridge's own teachers.

The whole video is 20 minutes and linked below. The full text for the speech is available here. If you haven't time to watch the whole presentation you may want to jump to some key phrases:

14 mins 20 secs
"...we want every family to become a broadband family. We want every home where there are children linked to the school. For those finding it difficult to afford this I want to announce the nationwide rollout of our Home Access Programme to get laptops and broadband at home for 270,000 families in the United Kingdom. It means that all families can come together, learn together and reap the rewards together."

15 mins 50 secs
"We realise that for parents to influence and engage in the education of their children they need rich, varied and easily accessible information on the progress, on the behaviour and on the attendance of their children at school. And that’s why we’ve said from 2010 all secondary schools in our country and from 2012 all primary schools will guarantee reporting online to parents. So the mother who’s worried about her son struggling with his reading can find out more about how she can help, the dad who works long hours and can’t make a parents’ evening can keep in touch with his daughter’s progress at whatever time of the day or night that he is free."

17 mins 20 secs
"Dan Lea is a primary school teacher from here in London who won the UK’s Teacher of the Year Technology Award and whose innovations include teaching children to blog as a way of documenting their learning and sharing their projects instantly with family, friends and peers. Dan - congratulations on behalf of all of us for your great success."



Congratulations Dan on your now established international recognition. If you are a Redbridge school and have further questions on either the Home Access Grant, or your own parental engagement strategy please do get in touch.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Home Access Grant - latest information

The scheme will be formally launched, as suspected, at the BETT ICT education exhibition in London next week.

Key information that has been released to date:

• Capita have been awarded the contract to deliver the grant administration service which includes marketing activity. Marketing activity will start at BETT on 13 January and will utilise local papers, radio, poster sites and local events.
  
• It is now possible for schools to sign up to access marketing information for use with your school community at http://www.homeaccess.org.uk/sign-up/
  
• It is now possible for parents to ring 0333 200 1004 to request an application form. The detail of the criteria for applicaton is available on http://www.homeaccess.org.uk/Information-for-parents/ . Obviously if their family currently does not have a computer they will be unable to access this link. You may wish to copy the information on this webpage into your own newsletter, or into a mail shot targetted towards the families who may benefit.
  
• The following companies are approved suppliers and therefore they have all got dedicated sections of their own websites relating to the homeaccess project. You may wish to peruse these if you wish to recommend for educational reasons a particular device or to find your nearest outlet to direct parents to. Each company has in brackets the retail outlets they will use for parents to go to to 'purchase' their computer.
  
  Bli Education - http://www.homeaccesscomputers.com/
  Centerprise (3 mobile, Phones4U, Apollo, Hughes, Brighthouse, Retra) - http://www.cihomeaccess.co.uk/
  Comet - www.comet.co.uk/homeaccess
  Misco - www.misco.co.uk/homeaccess
  Positive IT Solutions (Cartridge World) - http://www.homeaccessgrant.com/
  XMA (T-mobile) - http://www.xma4ha.co.uk/
  

Should you need further information that is not available using the links listed above please do not hesitate to get in touch. We do have a sample application form that can be emailed to Redbridge Schools' Home Access Grant coordinators on request.

Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk

Home Access Grant: update information

Becta have released further information on schools who may want to aggregate the grants.

"Schools and academies who are interested in applying to run an aggregation scheme can request a form by call 0333 200 1005 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The deadline for applications is 28 February."

Within this pack is the statement that "Running a scheme requires a signifi cant amount of administration work, so running it for a very small number of pupils may not be worthwhile." Since the agreggation scheme involves additional work for your school we recommend all schools do the following:

1. Ensure parents are aware of the HAG scheme via newsletters and other school communication systems. (Home Access grant application forms are expected to become available in January.)
2. Where you feel many parents may be able to take advantage of the HAG scheme consider additional support you may be able to offer to ensure your parents take advantage of the grant (e.g. checking application forms for parents, setting up after school meetings for parents interested in the scheme but wanting to know more about new technology, eSafety events...)

All eligible parents can apply directly for the grant - schools who choose not to aggregate are not preventing their families from being successful.

If your school already encourages student use of personal IT devices like laptops as standard, or this is something you are considering, then you could consider aggregating and 'piggy-back' the administration of the Home Access Grant on to your own project. There are further pdf advice documents that are available if you are considering aggregating - please get in touch if you would like me to email them through.

Latest information can be found on: www.becta.org.uk/homeaccess (target audience: schools) or http://www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk/homeaccess (target audience: parents).


Alex Rees
alex.rees@redbridge.gov.uk