Home > In Education > Paying for your equipment
Funding equipment
Computers are becoming cheaper and many access solutions are free or cost under £100.
Funding is approached differently depending on the education sector you are in:Schools
Equipment for individual pupils
Funding options vary between local authorities and often between independent and foundation schools.
You will need to identify
- The child’s SEN status
- Where funding responsibility lies
The child’s status in the code of practice for SEN (School Action, School Action Plus or Statemented) will also influence whether and how the child will get statutory support for their equipment.
Funding responsibility. Funds are increasingly being devolved away from LEAs to schools. Where this is the case the responsibility for meeting the child’s support needs lies with the school rather than the LEA.Contact your LEA to confirm your local situation. Some local authorities are operating a buy back service where schools contribute back into a central pot to increase their buying power.
Funding priorities. Where the school is responsible for funding they should have a contingency fund for SEN support. There are likely to be funding shortages, and assistive technology may not be seen as a priority.
We would always recommend fighting the cause where you believe assistive technology will provide important learning support. It is always possible to influence thinking and funding in your area.
The Computers for Pupils initiative (home access)
£60million of government funding has been allocated to this initiative. It funds home computers and internet access for students living in areas defined by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD 2004) and PLASC 2005, and so is restricted to those living the 10% most deprived areas of England.
It is envisaged that a significant number of beneficiaries will have SEN.
eLearning Credits
Schools can apply for eLearning Credits (eLCs) to fund multimedia resources. The money is distributed from central Government via LEAs to individual schools, to allow local decision making.
Every school has an appointed eLC budget-holder and any teacher can recommend resources for purchase.
At www.curriculumonline.gov.uk you'll find the definitive list of the multimedia resources available with eLCs, including resources for SEN pupils.
By April 2006 schools will have received £330million in eLC money.A further £75 million has been allocated in 2006-07 and £50 million in 2007-08. This funding is ring-fenced and only available for spending on Curriculum Online approved products and services.
Other options:
- the Tesco Computers for Schools scheme has a catalogue of hardware and software which includes some SEN items.
- if you have enough vouchers go straight to the catalogue
- the e-learning Foundation is a charity that supports schools in raising funds for home computers for children and provides matched funding
Let the equipment pay for itself!
Assistive technology significantly improves learning independence for SEN pupils, making them better prepared for independent living.
AbilityNet is promoting greater recognition of the power of assistive technology, and wishes to see it considered at the same time as learning support. Appropriately chosen, supported and used it can pay for itself through reducing the amount of time a pupil is dependent on learning support.
Further Education
Further Education colleges in England and Wales receive money to pay for additional support for disabled students.
A college can use these funds to provide a variety of resources, such as additional teaching for dyslexic students, an interpreter for deaf students, materials in alternative formats, or specialist computer software and hardware.
Equipment for individual students
If a student asks for equipment, such as a personal or laptop computer, it will be the property of the college and they may not be allowed to take it home. Students can apply to a charitable trust if they need equipment for their studies at home.
Moving from secondary to further education in England and Wales
In the last year of compulsory education (under The Learning and Skills Act 2000), an assessment (sometimes known as a transitionary review) must be carried out for anyone under 19 with a Statement of Special Educational Needs and who is likely to move into FE. This assessment will set out the student’s learning needs and the provisions that need to be made to make transition into FE easier.
For students already in further education, and students without a statement of special needs
If you’re between 19 and 25 you are entitled to an assessment whilst taking an FE course or if you are likely to start one, regardless of whether or not you have had a Statement in the past.
Funding in Scotland and Northern Ireland
In Scotland, FE colleges receive funding from the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC). In Northern Ireland, colleges manage their own budgets, but are expected to present development plans to the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).
Higher Education
Local education authorities (LEAs) can pay Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) to part-time and full-time university undergraduate students and certain postgraduate students who can show that they have a disability or medical condition which affects their ability to study.
Health issues and disabilities
- you will need a doctor’s letter or evidence from a professional to confirm your condition
- DSA funding can cover physical disabilities, mental health difficulties and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia
What the funding can pay for
The DSAs help pay for extra costs you may have to pay in attending your course, as a direct result of your disability. The allowances can help pay for
- a non-medical personal helper
- major items of specialist equipment
- travel and other costs
Applying for DSA funding
- You should apply through your LEA as early as possible
- Your LEA will wish to establish what you need and the cost
- In most cases you will be asked to have a needs assessment
- This will take place at an assessment centre at the university after you arrive or near where you live
- The money will only be enough to cover additional costs of equipment or support
- You can download a booklet for further information
Paying for your equipment yourself
As a charity AbilityNet provides a great deal of free advice and support but unfortunately isn’t in a position to offer free computers.
Although the average cost of a PC has come down over the last 10 years, they are still quite expensive pieces of equipment.
If you need help paying for an adapted computer or the assistive technology recommended our factsheet has some useful guidelines.
We can reassure you that we will always do everything we can to find you the best solution (and that doesn’t mean the most expensive) and go out of our way to give you all the support you’ll need to get the most from it.
If you decide to buy directly from AbilityNet our prices are structured to include technical support for the lifetime of the equipment. We accept credit cards and are happy to work directly with another funder.