Home Access packages with Assistive Technology for children with severe disabilities or Special Educational Needs

LA School Summary Report for Hackney: Hackney_HAgrants_Schools_050710.xls

Becta Home Access are now focusing their activities on promoting Home Access packages with Assistive Technology for children with severe disabilities or Special Educational Needs and in the circumstances a copy of this e-mail is also being sent to your SENCO Advisor or equivalent where you have been able to provide contact details.  This week has seen the first application forms issued for Home Access packages with Assistive Technology aimed at children with severe disabilities or Special Educational Needs. Already more than 100 applications forms have been received. A marketing campaign will now be launched to invite eligible families with children who could benefit from this offering to apply as soon as possible.

The campaign will leverage existing successful stakeholder relationships and planned press coverage in national, regional, tabloid and educational press through July and August.

A specimen copy of the revised application form that will be issued to any parents wishing to apply for a Home Access Assistive Technology package can be viewed here: HA_AT2_SEN_App_Form_sample_v3.pdf.  However, Becta can confirm that any original versions of the Home Access Grant application form will still be accepted for a Home Access Assistive Technology package so as to ensure that this cohort doesn’t miss out.  They emphasise that packages are limited and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. Eligible families are strongly encouraged to apply immediately.

Please remember that the mandatory documentation that is required for an Assistive Technology package includes the following:

• A Statement of Special Educational Needs, or
• Proof of receipt of Disability Living Allowance, or
• A signature from the child’s SENCO/senior teacher/LA rep confirming that they need Assistive Technology to support learning in the home.

All applications for Looked After Children should now have been submitted, any that have not already been submitted are unlikely to receive a grant.  Please be aware however that there are over 300 applications on hold and awaiting further information, the detail of which has already been provided to your nominated authority.  Until this information is provided, these applications cannot be processed, and therefore can we please request that you ask your social workers to respond urgently to any queries.  The Looked After Children process will continue only for those applicants with Assistive Technology needs (with severe disability or a statement of need), and guidance on this will be issued shortly directly from Becta.  If there are other representatives within your authority that should also receive this guidance, please email the address below.

If you have any questions around outstanding LAC applications please contact the LAC Team by email; lacteam@becta.org.uk

Home Access Schools Data

Your report on Hackney school level data, based on data as at 14^th June 2010 can be viewed here: Hackney_HAgrants_Schools_140610.xls

As usual if any school is not present in this report it means that, to date, no Home Access Grants have been approved for a child/children attending that school.  Of course there may well be applications in the pipeline for children at some of these schools that have not yet reached the approval stage.

Here is the latest Home Access fortnightly update showing the national and regional picture, which as before is provided to all LAs in the region, and also the summary report showing individual school level data for your own local authority.

Hackney_HAgrants_240510.xls

HA_update_Inner_London_240510.pdf

HA_update_Outer_London_240510.pdf

On 24 May 2010 the government announced that Becta would be closed as part of the £6.2 billion savings planned by Government for 2010-11. Until the precise timing of this closure is confirmed, we will continue to operate the Home Access Programme until such times that allocated funding has been exhausted.  The following lines have been cleared to respond to any queries that you may receive.

“Is Home Access still available” The Home Access Programme is continuing to run as normal.  The programme went live across England in January 2010, and aims to award over 270,000 grants.  Many of these grants have now been awarded, but there are still grants available. Becta point out that grants are allocated on a first come first served basis, and therefore they cannot guarantee that grants will still be available by the time we receive your completed application.

With less than 85,000 grants left to allocate we are still working hard to ensure the grants reach the people that need them and we thank you for your continued support.  Again, we are encouraging applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible as the grant is only guaranteed once they have their Notice of Entitlement.

Home Access Grants awarded by school and regional summary reports

Here is the latest Home Access fortnightly update. In the previous update just before Easter Becta have now started awarding grants with funding allocated for the 2010-2011 financial year. 　

These files HA_update_Inner_London_140410.pdf, HA_update_Inner_London_140410.pdf and HA_update_Outer_London_140410.pdf show the national and regional picture and which is given to all LAs in the region and also a file of the individual School level data for your authority.

Application Packs are still being sent out at a steady pace but funding still remains available. For children that need additional support when using a computer, Assistive Technology packages can be applied for by the standard application form. Assistive Technology package 2 is still available for learners with the most profound needs and it’s important for eligible learners to apply right now so they can start the evaluation process.

HA Grants Awarded to Learners

This file Hackney_HAgrants_290310.pdf shows the number of grants awarded to learners by school as of 29^th March 2010.

Schools are not shown if grants have not yet been awarded to any of their learners.

Hackney Home Access Grants

This document Hackney_HA_Grants_220210.pdf shows the number of grants awarded to learners by school as of 15th March 2010.

Schools are not shown if grants have not yet been awarded to any of their learners.

Home Access grants awarded by LA and region

The Home Access programme has had an excellent start. This document HA_update_Inner_London_150310_FINAL.PDF shows the national and regional picture, which has been given to all LAs in the Region.

There is funding for over 270,000 grants nationally so we still need to receive more applications as there is no guarantee that application packs sent out will be received back. 

The Home Access letter to parents has been translated into various languages. 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.

We hope you find this information beneficial to you and your school.

Apply now for Assistive Technology package 2

Funding for the Assistive Technology provision within the Home Access programme is ring fenced to ensure that those who need it most don’t miss out. Even though it won’t be available until Summer 2010, we’d like to urge you to encourage any learner that may be eligible to apply right away.

You can learn more about Assistive Technology package 2 here: http://collaboration.becta.org.uk/community/homeaccess/blog/2010/02/24/access-for-all

Home Access Program

As of the 26^th February 329 families in Hackney had been awarded Home Access grants.

Home Access is a new government drive which helps low income families get access to a computer and the internet to get online at home. This government programme aims to ensure that more children in state-maintained education in England have access to technology at home to support learning.

Over 4,000 Hackney KS2 & KS3 students are on free school meals and therefore eligible for the Home Access program.

Becta are actively looking for families who could offer their positive HA experiences as written or filmed case studies.

To view our wide range of guidance material, please open this document.

HATG Index - Guidance Documents.docx

Please contact Geoff.Carter@learningtrust.co.uk  if you require further information or have families who would wish to work with Becta.