MSE News: Home Access Grants Ending

Former_MSE_Wendy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"The government's Home Access Grant could be coming to an end next week.
Those eligible should act quickly to ensure they don’t miss out on free laptop and broadband access for children before the scheme closes..."

Read the full story:

Home Access Grants Ending

neneromanova

Sorry but it's this "act quickly to ensure they don’t miss out" attitude which has got our country into such hard times!

It's not even like the people entitled to this are getting laptops. They're just buying TV's or anything they can!

CrabPaste

It's for chavvy single mothers to buy a laptop for their (kids education)/facebook games.

Makes you proud to be a tax payer.

Snakeeyes21

Good, lets hope this is the first of many schemes that the clown bought in that will be scrapped.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

1. You can't buy a TV with it. Only the computer and dongle. And only from certain suppliers who have to keep to an agreed specification.
2. Facebook is blocked unless you know how to unblock it.

3. Try to introduce an element of fact into your diatribes. It makes them slightly more entertaining.

Percy1983

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

2. Facebook is blocked unless you know how to unblock it.

Worse case its easy enough to reinstall windows...

As above why should I pay for a kid to have a laptop I can't afford to buy myself?

Coopdivi

Percy1983 wrote: »

Worse case its easy enough to reinstall windows...

As above why should I pay for a kid to have a laptop I can't afford to buy myself?

So you've managed to make 591 posts on someone else's laptop?

only_mee

neneromanova wrote: »

It's not even like the people entitled to this are getting laptops. They're just buying TV's or anything they can!

Do the homework before you spout inaccuracies, it makes you look a wally!!

Percy1983

Coopdivi wrote: »

So you've managed to make 591 posts on someone else's laptop?

No I used my computer which cost a lot less than £528.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Percy1983 wrote: »

No I used my computer which cost a lot less than £528.

The breakdown of the grant (which isn't seen by the person ordering the package) is £180 on internet dongle for 1 year and £20 for the bag. The computer therefore has a theoretical value of £328, which, as it has a significantly lower memory than the models given away with mobile phones and next to none of the software packages such offers or cheap laptops usually include, means that they are getting a very low spec laptop whilst the suppliers make a fortune out of something they couldn't sell on the high street if they tried.

The family have a choice between getting internet access or not. They cannot keep the difference and the internet only lasts for a year.


Facts are always more complex than the knee jerk tabloid reactions.

Ms_Mouse

It is a really important chance for children with severe disabilities, including those who have very little movement and little or no speech, to have access to special equipment, enabling them to do things which most of take for granted - like writing and talking.

There are hundreds of these children already "in the system", who had applied before the change of government but who were at the back of the queue, waiting for the appointment of a specialist assessment team that was due in July 2010 - no news on that now.

As a "new poster" I cannot include links - drat! So, thanks to info from a Becta representative on another email list, search for "Vangent Ltd" for information about the continuation of the scheme into 2011:
Vangent to Manage Children Evaluations for the Home Access programme

Vangent, a leading business services provider, has been appointed to deliver the Learner Evaluation and Management Service (LEAMS) for the Home Access programme. The scheme will provide up to 12,000 individually configured computer packages to children with special educational needs or disabilities across England.

As part of the Home Access programme, managed by Becta, LEAMS will evaluate the needs of children with profound difficulties from low-income families. Appropriate computing equipment and support services will then be provided to enable internet access from their homes.

Nick Shacklock, Director - Home Access says “With 12,000 children set to benefit from personalised Assistive Technology solutions, it is crucial we have the right provider in place to deliver this service. It’s a unique provision and important that those with specific needs apply now as individual evaluations will be made on a first come first served basis.”

Nigel Rourke, Vangent’s Director of Business Development commented “Vangent applauds the Home Access initiative, in particular the educational and social benefits it offers to a large number of disadvantaged children and their families. We are delighted to have been selected to operate this national programme. Without doubt, LEAMS will have a significant impact to the quality of learning and life for such a needy part of our society.”

************
I would hope members of this forum would support schemes to help these children and their families. There is plenty of evidence that the families of children with disabilities have much greater financial costs and that they have huge problems getting adequate services and support. They pay taxes too and get little enough back without schemes like this being cut.

For more information on the previous Government's Speech, Language and Communication Needs Action Plan for children, search for "SLCN Action Plan":

"Speech, language and communication are crucial to every child’s ability to access and get the most out of education and life. Children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are among the most vulnerable and most in need of effective support to reach their potential."