Prime Minister announces £300 million for Home Access

The Prime Minister has today (Tuesday 23 September) announced top line details of the Home Access project which will see some £300 million spent on providing computers and broadband internet access to families so that children can enhance their learning at home.

Becta has played a key role researching for and advising on the project and will be instrumental in implementing the initiative over the coming months.

This initiative is intended to bridge the digital divide where currently more than one million children still do not have a computer at home and 35 per cent of families have no access to the internet. This should create a level playing field for learners where every child has equal access to the internet at home to assist with their learning.

Initially the programme will be piloted in two local authority areas in early 2009. This will allow time to trial the purchasing logistics and eligibility criteria, after which the wider roll-out of the programme is planned for Autumn 2009.