If you are a low income family with children in school years 3 to 9 you could get a grant through the Home Access programme to pay for a computer, one year’s internet access, service, safety features and support.

This is a Government programme, which means there are no hidden catches. The grant value is up to £528. Depending on what you need, the grant allows you to purchase one of the following packages:

1. Full package (a computer, one year's internet access, service and support)
2. A computer with service and support only
3. One year's internet access only

A home computer has benefits for the whole family. Children who have access to technology at home tend to learn and achieve more, and have fun while they’re doing it. Having a computer at home has been associated with improving a child’s GCSE performance by as much as two grades in one subject at GCSE. This means that your son or daughter could see a D turn into a B with the help of Home Access. Home Access could also help you build your skills and make it easier to access government services.

Home Access could also help your family sign up for online courses, apply for jobs online, access online government services, and save money. Using the internet to shop for everyday items and paying household bills can save around £40 a month – that’s almost £500 a year!

The funding for Home Access is limited and has been targeted at learners most in need, in all 270,000 families are set to benefit from the programme. In just three weeks since the national roll-out more than 180,000 telephone enquiries have been made to the helpline number (0333 200 1004) and over 100,000 application packs sent out to potentially eligible applicants. You will qualify for this grant if you are a low income family with a child in school years 3 to 9 and receive certain benefits such as free school meals. Applying for the grant is easy; our local rate telephone line is open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday to register for a grant application form.

Once your application is approved you will receive a Notification of Entitlement (NoE) and a Home Access Grant Card. The grant allows you a choice of computers from a range of Approved Suppliers and can be redeemed at a number of high street retailers, over the phone or via the internet. The grant can be redeemed at a number of leading high street retailer.  Shopping around is important. Not all suppliers offer the same package and prices will differ, so do some research – just like you would with any other major purchase and choose a package that is right for you.

If you don’t qualify for a Home Access grant you might want to think about buying a package for yourself. With a Home Access package you can be sure that you’re getting a computer that’s been set up to make it easier for you to get started, with all the software you will need. The package is specially developed for learners to guarantee better access to the internet at home, and come pre-set with parental controls and anti-virus protection.

A Home Access Grant Card is only valid for three months, and it must be used within this time. All Home Access packages include Assistive Technology software including text to speech, text prediction, mind mapping and screen magnification to make learning online accessible to all. Additional assistance is available for learners with special educational needs who are able to apply for additional grant funding to cover the cost of appropriate assistive technology. Children with additional needs can apply for Assistive Technology 2 and their needs will be evaluated on a case by case basis.  This Assistive Technology package will be available from April 2010, but you can apply right now.

There are Home Access packages to suit all families, but with all them you can be sure you’re getting a computer that’s already been set up to make it easier for you to get started online. Each Home Access package is ready to use out of the box and you should be able to get going in around half an hour.

If you think you are eligible for a Home Access Grant and would like to apply please call the Home Access Grant Helpline on 0333 200 1004 for an application form