Free Computer & Internet Access for Children aged 7-14 of Low Income Families

portlandboy

Hi,
I just sent my application form back, so hoping to get the grant. Does anyone know of a list of participating suppliers or can you use the grant anywhere you like?
Thanks.

jpwhittle

marshallka wrote: »

I have also said that i don't think the whole scheme is right. If the goverment had money to throw away then perhaps there are things more worthy to spend it on anyway.

Perhaps a fairer way would be a reduction in tax for those working on low incomes (enough to help with costs of buying one if they are intent on spending on computers and they have become essential items) and a small amount by way of a reduction card towards a computer for those not.:D

i was beginning to think i was the only one who was angry about this scheme, glad to find im not, I hate that people who havent done a days work in their whole lives get £600 nicely habded to them while others who have tried their best all their lives and are scrimping and saving in a recession have to tell our kids no. And now they can come home with the argument that its an essential as mr brown says so, Thanks gordon, when i was growing up a comuter was a luxery if you could afford it not an essential, next he will be handing out free tvs and sky subscribtions. We are in the middle of a recession and he hands out money like this when it could go to improving the country, then maybe when the country is fixed they could look at something like this, to people who really need it, and maybe help people who have had a crap run rather than freeloading scroats that dont give a damn.
Also very annoying when a comuter ment for a child is suddenly turned into a family computer!!! yeah loads of homework done there then?

But hey ho just another hairbrained scheme by this joke of a government.:mad:

melspur

7 - 14, typical, my boys are 6 and 15 lol

bestpud

melspur wrote: »

7 - 14, typical, my boys are 6 and 15 lol

Are they in school years 3-9 though? That's what counts more than the age iyswim?

I'm sure you've already checked but thought I'd mention it just in case!

cherry1000

portlandboy wrote: »

Hi,
I just sent my application form back, so hoping to get the grant. Does anyone know of a list of participating suppliers or can you use the grant anywhere you like?
Thanks.

You should get a list of participating retailers make sure you check all of them for the best deal.

bestpud

portlandboy wrote: »

Hi,
I just sent my application form back, so hoping to get the grant. Does anyone know of a list of participating suppliers or can you use the grant anywhere you like?
Thanks.

Here you go - Lucinad posted this list a few pages back:

bli education http://www.homeaccesscomputers.com/
comet http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/sea...archButton.y=0
misco http://www.misco.co.uk/content/homea...sspackages.htm
positive it http://www.homeaccessgrant.com/purch...&parent=5&pg=1
xma i cant see what they are offereing as you need the letter code to go thru to their wizard
centerprise http://www.cihomeaccess.co.uk/full-package/

Snakeeyes21

cattie1 wrote: »

I have just rang the helpline and was told 'basically no matter how low your income if you work and are in receipt of working tax credits you do not qualify'. The company who made the decisions/rules and who you should contact to complain to is Becta.
I'm not having a go at any! I understand that there are reasons people don't work, I just don't think the government are giving any incentive for people to go out and work!

And you think a free laptop is going to make people not want to work?

Call me naive but most people arent that fickle.

Why should the government give an incentive to work?

Being on benefits isnt the easy life like most people assume, if your young, old, single, without childen and even most with children what you recieve is barely enough to feed yourself, that in its self is enough of an incentive to work.

SuziG_2

Hi, does anyone know of a scheme like this for children in years 10/11. I meet the benefits criteria and my son is at grammar school but has just been classed as having special needs in that he is being granted 25% extra time in all his GCSE exams and will be given the use of a laptop for all written exams as his reading/writing speeds are below average. it would help him with his coursework and then A levels.

Thanks

bestpud

SuziG wrote: »

Hi, does anyone know of a scheme like this for children in years 10/11. I meet the benefits criteria and my son is at grammar school but has just been classed as having special needs in that he is being granted 25% extra time in all his GCSE exams and will be given the use of a laptop for all written exams as his reading/writing speeds are below average. it would help him with his coursework and then A levels.

Thanks

Give them a call as I am sure I read somewhere they may consider claims from outside the normal qualifying criteria if you can prove the laptop would significantly improve learning potential for the child.

I can't find it now though.

Here's the link if you want to have a look/get the number:

http://www.homeaccess.org.uk/

Zziggi

SuziG - if your son REALLY needs a computer, can the grammar school not provide him with his own personal one as part of "special needs"? Maybe speak to the school SENCO. Maybe emphasize the fact he needs to become very familiar with a computer before the exams so he doesn't have to waste tome in the exam figuring out how to use the computer. Plus if he has been found to need a computer in exams then surely there's an arguement to suggest he needs one (on the ground of special needs) for coursework & general school work. A better option then trying the home access option I think. Approaching the SENCO I reckon is more likely to get you a favourable response as it'll be LEA money.