Free internet access plans revealed

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Schools minister Jim Knight said the programme will begin in February with two year-long pilot schemes in Oldham and Suffolk.

Grants will be provided to allow families to buy an "approved home access package" which will include a computer or lap top, basic software and broadband access for one year.

The £300 million initiative was announced by the prime minister at the Labour party conference last month and is intended to help ensure every child has access to a computer and the internet for their school or college work. Ministers hope the initiative will help to close the achievement gap between those from rich and poor backgrounds.

The programme will be rolled out nationally next autumn with every five to 19-year-old in England having internet access by 2011.

Mr Knight has said previously that said around 35% of families have no internet access.

Launching the first schemes at Lilian Baylis Technology School in south London on Tuesday morning, Mr Knight said that 20,000 children aged seven to 18, from low income families, will qualify for the pilots.

High profile marketing campaigns in local communities and schools will help to raise awareness about the importance of home access and the educational benefit of IT. The value of the home access grant will be announced in January.

IT suppliers will be invited to apply for approved supplier status, with those approved announced in January.

All local authorities will be able to submit proposals for additional funding for specific vulnerable groups, such as looked after children, pupils in alternative provision and low-income families in National Challenge schools.