"Our vision is to provide all Essex pupils with the opportunity, regardless of social circumstance, access to ICT to enable them to experience the wonder of learning in the digital age."
Welcome to Essex e-Learning Foundation
We are a registered charity launched with the sole aim of raising funds to finance and support schools which wish to offer their pupils one to one access to mobile devices to facilitate learning anytime, anywhere. The Foundation has been launched by a committed group of professionals - primarily ICT education experts, who have seen first hand the benefits one to one access to laptops, can bring to individual pupils, their schools, families and the community as a whole.
Why the Essex e-Learning Foundation?
Essex is leading the way in pioneering new uses for technology in education in a bid to raise standards and to best equip the county's workforce of the future. In order for Essex to achieve its vision of 1:1 access for all pupils in Essex schools the Essex e-Learning Foundation has been formed to push progress further. The charity wants every pupil to have 24 hour access to appropriate learning technologies, whatever their background, economic or social circumstances and regardless of whether their own family can afford computers, internet access, digital television and similar technologies at home.
Why a charity?
Funding this ambitious project is a major undertaking. Individual schools need help to make their fund-raising efforts work to best effect. As a registered charity the Essex e-Learning Foundation can use tax incentives to help make the most of money raised-it can apply for EU grants or lottery funding and can claim tax back on funds given through parental covenants, payroll giving, and gift aid schemes. Extra funding can be allocated where it is most needed.
What's the point?
National research carried out for the Department for Education and Science indicates that full time access to ICT by pupils increases their levels of attainment in national tests; raises boys achievement - particularly in English and raises the standard of work and involvement of disaffected pupils. These findings were also reflected in Essex pilot schemes which took place at Great Bardfield Primary, Noak Bridge Primary, Colne Community College and The Gilberd School during 2003 and 2004. The results of these pilots were extremely positive and indicated increased levels of motivation and educational achievement amongst pupils; greater involvement of parents and carers in the learning process and improved relationships with the school; greater engagement with homework tasks and out of hours learning, and improved levels of IT competence in the community.