Becta Home Access Scheme - any concrete information yet?

[Andie]

According to one of the presentations at the E2BN e-safety conference, the Becta Home Access scheme is due to be launched in January 2010. Have any schools had any concrete information from their LAs about how the scheme will actually be administered? That is, how eligible parents get hold of the forms, etc.? I have trawled the web (some links and attachements below) but can't find anything that gives us an actual date and an actual procedure. I would have thought it would be good for schools to be prepared prior to any national press announcements...?

 

 

Becta Schools - Extending opportunities - Home access - How Home Access works

Home Access Nov Update for LAs.pdf

[plexer]

Norfolk CC are sending a letter to every family that are eligible for free school meals. Application forms are not yet available however.

[pooley]

Any info on Wlesh schools requirement if any?

[garethEds]

Any info on Wlesh schools requirement if any?

 

We probably miss out as usual.

 

GJE

[meastaugh1]

We probably miss out as usual.

 

GJE

[russdev]

Right so firms have got vendor status and can supply equipment under the scheme. The firm has won the contract to run the home access project (Capita I believe).

 

It then depends on LA some LAs are having nothing to do with as such apart from provide info to schools (as there is no money to pay LA staff) some LAs are more proactive.

 

Start was delayed slightly at last point.. TO be fair schools shouldn't need to do anything as otherwise it could open a whole can of worms.

 

Russ

[sparkeh]

It then depends on LA some LAs are having nothing to do with as such apart from provide info to schools (as there is no money to pay LA staff) some LAs are more proactive.

 

Start was delayed slightly at last point.. TO be fair schools shouldn't need to do anything as otherwise it could open a whole can of worms.

 

Russ

 

Interestingly this came up at a course run by a Becta advisor who actively discouraged schools and LAs from becoming too involved in this beyond helping parents apply.

[Sylv3r]

The LA's that are running the schemes themselves - do they also support the machines - hardware / software issues, warranty repairs etc?

 

And the opposite to the above - do the schools aggregation their own scheme are they responsible for the management and support of these devices?

[plexer]

How the LA may support the scheme is going to be an individual decision for them. Some may have a recommended solution others may just be helping support parents in applying.

[Sylv3r]

How the LA may support the scheme is going to be an individual decision for them. Some may have a recommended solution others may just be helping support parents in applying.

 

If thats the case, some (all) I imagine will recommend the schools look after them

[Andie]

The LA's that are running the schemes themselves - do they also support the machines - hardware / software issues, warranty repairs etc?

 

And the opposite to the above - do the schools aggregation their own scheme are they responsible for the management and support of these devices?

 

One thing we were told at E2BN conference was that schools are NOT responsible for service and support. Aggregating schools/LAs (those who choose to administer the scheme on behalf of parents) just act as purchasers and distributors of equipment. Support is obligation of suppliers and is part of the package purchased. There is only one year of internet and support included as far as I can tell.

 

Thanks for everyone's input. Our head is concerned and reluctant to flag the scheme to parents when we don't know anything more concrete, and our LA are only now looking into the scheme. Also, at the E2BN conference, they mentioned that the initial pilot had run into funding problems (funds ran out). One of the questions was about what would happen in the roll out if the funds ran out, but there wasn't a definitive answer. So there are also concerns about missing out. I guess it will just be a case of keeping a constant eye on the Becta website.

[sparkeh]

The line that we have decided to take is to make parents aware of the scheme (and thus take advantage of the inevitable boost in free school meal numbers ) and offer help to apply but make it clear it is not a school scheme and we are not responsible for the equipment.

[mullet_man]

Oldham and somewhere else were test councils to run this, we as a school in Oldham had no input into who got a PC/Laptop.

 

It ran eariler this year, we had a few parents ring up for information, and ran a link on our website, and someone from the council came to parents evenings to sell it to the parents.

 

We had leaflets in school, but other than that as a school we didn't have to do anything.

[JonathanT]

Hi Everyone,

I'm from BLi Education, which is one of 6 companies authorised by Becta to supply Home Access kits, and I've just joined this forum so I thought I’d try to answer some of Andie’s (& others) questions. As you probably know, BLi Education is the home of TAG Learning, Sherston, SEMERC and Economatics Education.

 

The Home Access Programme is officially being launched this week at the World Education Forum (by Gordon Brown) and at the BETT Show in London (by Diana Johnson). From that point onwards, anyone who thinks they might be eligible can call the hotline (run by Capita for Becta) to find out more. A good rule of thumb is families with children in KS2/ KS3 who are on free school meals should be eligible. Also, schools interested in aggregating orders on behalf of their parents have until the end of February to register with Becta, but must also be registered with the e-Learning Foundation.

Just so that you have the facts, BLi Education is including over £570 worth of free curriculum software from TAG, Sherston & Economatics with each computer/laptop, and I think we are unique in this part. You can find out more about what we are offering at our Home Access Computers (just Google Home Access Computers or BLi Education) or by ringing 0800 258 5990,

and parents and schools can contact the Home Access Grant Administration Service (HAGAS, run by Capita) at 0333 200 1004.

 

Incidentally, the support and warranty will be provided by the suppliers, backed by the manufacturers, all machines come with a year's theft insurance, there is e-safety and anti-virus software installed, and Becta have provided a suite of software at no extra cost, which includes some assistive technology tools, such as screen magnifiers, text-to-speech, predictive text, spell-checkers etc. With the full package there is also one year's broadband connectivity provided as well.

So it's a very well-specified package, and should be something that parents and chidren can use straight out of the box.

For a school, there could be a lot of benefit in helping parents not only to fill in the forms correctly, but also to make the right choices in terms of the type of package to order.

 

Hope this is helpful!

 

Jonathan Thomson – BLi Education

[sparkeh]

For a school, there could be a lot of benefit in helping parents not only to fill in the forms correctly, but also to make the right choices in terms of the type of package to order.

 

Interestingly a Becta consultant advised schools not to get involved at an LA meeting where this came up.

[plexer]

Home Access - Home Access

 

Ben

[craigj]

I can't help but feel this is just another election ploy by the government, having promoted and funded schools to get their VLE/MLE up and running, I come across countless schools who whilst can claim to have a VLE. It will not support the kinds of things the government is expecting and telling parents they will be able to use these devices to access. It's a year too early in my opinion and am concerned our money will just be used for devices to access social networking sites. I do appreciate the amount of content available on these devices, but lets be honest what percentage (I know its not all) of parents will be encouraging their children to actually use it?

[JonathanT]

Interestingly a Becta consultant advised schools not to get involved at an LA meeting where this came up.

 

That could be because it's quite a lot of work for the school to aggregate the order, and needs to be done through the e-Learning Foundation I believe. However, I have spoken to several heads who are considering aggregation so they can try to match what they get for the school with what those with Home Access grants get.

[torledo]

Yet another means tested giveaway for one of gordons special groups. For anyone who's

ever seen if they were entitled to a college course or free school meals or various other things

and you discovered that no you weren't worthy, the list below will look

depressingly familiar.

 

Do you receive at least one of the following?

• Free school meals for your child***

• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income support

• Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and an income of less than £16,040

• Guaranteed Pension Credit (not Savings Credit)

• Income-based Employment Support Allowance

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

 

Can someone explain, if your household income is not much over 16040k, is it worth earning that extra money, progressing, bettering yourself etc. if your denied free school meals [if you have children], that's immediately a several hundred pound burden per annum.

 

A complete package of laptop plus annual internet access could also be a few hundred pounds.

You'd have to fork out for that aswell.

 

And there's plenty of other means tested stuff where that CTC and 16040 requirement applies, costing

up to several hundred more pounds.

 

That's why i want to boot this govt. out at the earliest opportunity. Are there really such few families with such a high marginal tax burden, who are not entitled each time such means tested schemes are announced, that nobody seems to bat an eyelid.

 

Next time your pay may be going up, better think twice, as you may lose out!!!! by earning too much!!!!!

[localzuk]

Yet another means tested giveaway for one of gordons special groups. For anyone who's

ever seen if they were entitled to a college course or free school meals or various other things

and you discovered that no you weren't worthy, the list below will look

depressingly familiar.

 

 

 

Can someone explain, if your household income is not much over 16040k, is it worth earning that extra money, progressing, bettering yourself etc. if your denied free school meals [if you have children], that's immediately a several hundred pound burden per annum.

 

A complete package of laptop plus annual internet access could also be a few hundred pounds.

You'd have to fork out for that aswell.

 

And there's plenty of other means tested stuff where that CTC and 16040 requirement applies, costing

up to several hundred more pounds.

 

That's why i want to boot this govt. out at the earliest opportunity. Are there really such few families with such a high marginal tax burden, who are not entitled each time such means tested schemes are announced, that nobody seems to bat an eyelid.

 

Next time your pay may be going up, better think twice, as you may lose out!!!! by earning too much!!!!!

 

I was about £15 over the limit for a whole list of credits when I started working at my current school. That £15 meant the difference between receiving roughly £1500 of tax credits, housing benefits etc... But because of that £15 I was 'entitled' to no help at all.

 

I just worked hard and got a pay rise instead. Now i'm on roughly 25% more than 3 years ago. But then, i'm in a 'high skill' job - meaning that job progression is relatively easy compared to, say, a family where both parents are labourers.

[torledo]

I was about £15 over the limit for a whole list of credits when I started working at my current school. That £15 meant the difference between receiving roughly £1500 of tax credits, housing benefits etc... But because of that £15 I was 'entitled' to no help at all.

 

I just worked hard and got a pay rise instead. Now i'm on roughly 25% more than 3 years ago. But then, i'm in a 'high skill' job - meaning that job progression is relatively easy compared to, say, a family where both parents are labourers.

 

if your a low income family with a household income of 15k for example, and bump your income up by 25% to 20k, much of that net increase will be eaten up by costs which otherwise would be free or cost less if you were on the lower salary. Not all of them day to day, but school meals is one example. If you have two kids, double that cost.

 

other things like dental, prescriptions, college courses, buspasses for college courses cost more.

 

Council tax and rent would cost more i think.

 

Then there's the issue that both WTC and CTC are income dependant, therefore the entitlement goes

down the more is earned. And i disagree that it's relatively easy to job and salary progress. Many IT people employed in the public sector are going to come up against a glass ceiling as far as pay, it's not straightforward to make that move and get that job with the big pay jump. Additional responsibilities, performance linked pay, travelling, is what you could have to look forward to in the private sector in a skilled job.

 

life may be a whole lot less stressful just to do a minimum wage job with no-one hassling you, don't

have to pay as much in Council Tax [if anything at all], entitled to housing benefit, and the rest.

 

Maybe this govt. is intent on driving people down that route into low paid, non-aspirational employment with significant benefit dependancy. I'd personally prefer to do a high skilled job, and not be taxed as much when on moderate income rather than get all those freebies. But that choice and assitance isn't available. It's all or nothing. Effectively you become a low income household if your 25%

above the threshold because of the cost burdens.

 

There can't be many dual income households which earn less than 16k. Effectively we're talking about single income housholds, but whatever the type of household there's a disincentive for say one part-time earner to go full-time in that household or for someone on 14k to apply for jobs that pay 16-20k depending on their family circumstances. I take your point about the low paid and unskilled, but low pay isn't the exlusive domain of the unskilled and unqualified. Ypu only have to look at some of the jobs advertised for IT technicians to see that.....and there's no guarantee that they'll progress to 30k four or five years down the track.

 

Surely the tax system has to encourage the gaining of skills and qualifications and pay progression,

for those willing and able to escape the benefit dependancy.....

otherwise we might aswell all not be arsed with school and attending, knowing any menial low paid work will provide free housing and tax credits topups. It's a question of being truly progressive.

 

A scheme such as this is just another example of the govt. not being interested in doing that.

[Andie]

I downloaded the information "pack" from the Becta site yesterday - masses of files. I haven't looked at it all, but did open up the sample guidelines for filling in a form. I must admit my heart sank when I read that there were 10 sections and 45 questions to complete, and that you needed your original child benefit letter to send with it. I'm reasonably well educated and have english as my first language, and even I struggle with filling in some of the forms that the government produce (working tax credit, etc.) let alone the real hassle of finding documents to send as evidence. I haven't had time to look in detail at the sample form, but sometimes, just sometimes, I wish we could all get a break from all this dratted complicated stuff. Surely the government now gathers so much data on everybody from all their various bodies that they must be able to fill in these forms for us by now???

[torledo]

I downloaded the information "pack" from the Becta site yesterday - masses of files. I haven't looked at it all, but did open up the sample guidelines for filling in a form. I must admit my heart sank when I read that there were 10 sections and 45 questions to complete, and that you needed your original child benefit letter to send with it. I'm reasonably well educated and have english as my first language, and even I struggle with filling in some of the forms that the government produce (working tax credit, etc.) let alone the real hassle of finding documents to send as evidence. I haven't had time to look in detail at the sample form, but sometimes, just sometimes, I wish we could all get a break from all this dratted complicated stuff. Surely the government now gathers so much data on everybody from all their various bodies that they must be able to fill in these forms for us by now???

 

surely, people who are normally entitled to such benefits and 'struggle' with big forms do what they've typically done. Get down the local neighbourhood office for help with filling it in

 

failing that, i'm sure they can find a family member or friend with a degree and some time on his or her hands.

[Andie]

Our LA (not Cambs) held a meeting last week at which there was a rep from Becta Home Access. One of the questions asked was whether the material for publicity and the forms were avaliable in other languages and formats. The answer was no, and given in a way that indicated the question was a stupid one.

[torledo]

Our LA (not Cambs) held a meeting last week at which there was a rep from Becta Home Access. One of the questions asked was whether the material for publicity and the forms were avaliable in other languages and formats. The answer was no, and given in a way that indicated the question was a stupid one.

 

maybe money's a bit tight ?