Let's Get Kent Children Digital!
What is Let's Get Kent Children Digital!
Digital Kent, funded by the Helping Hands Scheme, have a small allocation of £30,000 funding available for up to 50 primary schools (excluding private schools) to apply for one-off funding to support the delivery of a weekly digital after school club that lasts six weeks, reaching around 1,000 Kent children. Unlocking digital adventures for primary school children in Kent with the Digital After School Clubs scheme - Let's Get Kent Children Digital!
Schools we have funded
We had a positive response from schools who applied for funding and we are pleased to be providing funds to a variety of schools all over Kent. Please see below a list of schools we have successfully funded.
- Ashford Oaks Community Primary School (Ashford)
- Langley Park Primary Academy (Maidstone)
- Monkton Church of England Primary School (Thanet)
- Sandown School (Dover)
- Bethersden Primary School (Ashford)
- Birchington Church of England Primary School (Thanet)
- Bobbing Village School (Swale)
- Brenzett Church of England Primary School (Folkestone & Hythe)
- Ditton Church of England Junior School (Maidstone)
- Dover, St Mary's Church of England Primary School (Dover)
- Fleetdown Primary Academy (Dartford)
- Folkestone, St Peter's Church of England Primary School (Folkestone & Hythe)
- Grove Park Primary School (Swale)
- Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School (Gravesham)
- Horton Kirby Church of England Primary School (Sevenoaks)
- Iwade School (Swale)
- Minster Church of England Primary School (Thanet)
- Rosherville Church of England Academy (Gravesham)
- Saint George's Church of England School (Gravesham)
- Sedley's Church of England Primary School (Gravesham)
- Smarden Primary School (Ashford)
- Snodland CofE Primary School (Tonbridge & Malling)
- St Botolph's Church of England Primary School (Gravesham)
- St Clement't Church of England Primary School (Swale)
- St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (Sevenoaks)
- St Peter's Methodist Primary School (Canterbury)
- St. Edmund's Church of England Primary School (Sevenoaks)
- Stone St Mary's CofE Primary School (Dartford)
- Sutton-At-Hone Church of England Primary School (Dartford)
- Westgate Primary School (Dartford)
How the funding works
The funding will be available to enable schools to improve digital skills for Kent children through an after school club. The funding will not cover purchases of IT equipment, software or other related expenditure. The funding should be used with a third party organisation who can deliver the following types of after school clubs, including but not limited to:
- Coding and programming
- Robotics
- Digital art and/or animation
- Microbit
- Engineering and/or computer science
- Data handling
- Gaming
- Using digital core subjects (science, mathematics, English)
An average school could be granted £555 to deliver after school clubs for their pupils for six weeks. For illustrative purposes only, this is how the funding could be broken down to support up to 20 pupils (each session approximately £200 fully funded).
- Tier 1: 10 students at 25% funded.
- Tier 2: 5 students at 50% funded.
- Tier 3: 3 students at 75% funded.
- Tier 4: 2 students at 100% funded.
The remaining costs associated with the delivery can be covered by the school or child's parents/carers. The school will have discretion in which children are placed in which tier above. It is expected that those from low income households are funded at a higher tier. The funding must be used by 31st December 2024.
The costs associated with the school delivering the after school club, such as heating, electricity, caretaker and other staff costs will not be covered by this project or funding. These costs must be covered by the school.
Benefits
At Digital Kent, we're passionate about inspiring children to explore career options at an early stage (especially those in STEM!). We are creating an opportunity for children to learn digital skills as an engaging and fun-filled experience. Here's why your school should apply:
- Interactive and fun filled learning: We believe in hands-on learning through games, projects, and activities that spark creativity and innovation – this is the opportunity you were waiting for! Apply now to be assessed to receive funding to engage an organisation of your choice to deliver digital skills training in your digital after school club!
- Future-ready skills: Equip your pupils with skills such as coding, robotics, digital design, and more, preparing them for the digital age.
- Social interaction and more: Nurture teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills through collaborative projects. Thanks to expert advice and access to technology, create cross-curricular links for art, maths, science, geography and blend education with entertainment to keep young minds engaged and excited about learning.
- Specialised curriculum: The curriculum aligns with national educational standards, ensuring a seamless integration into the school's program.
- Convenient after-school timing: With sessions scheduled conveniently after school hours, participation is a breeze for both students and parents/carers.
- Utilise your school's funding: This is a golden opportunity for your school to make the most of allocated funds for external digital skills providers. Don't miss out!
- Increasing participation: This will provide families with an opportunity to participate and engage with this type of activity, which they may not afford to do so otherwise.
Evaluation and Feedback
Schools have signed an agreement and commit to providing regular feedback in the form of surveys, case studies, evaluation forms, and catch up meetings with our team.
Potential Suppliers & Delivery Organisations
Below is a list of organisations who could support you, as a school, to deliver digital after school clubs (this is not exhaustive). If you are awarded funding from our initiative you are expected, as a school, to source your own third party provider, ensuring it aligns with the requirements of the funding. We do not imply endorsement or approval of the linked websites, it's operator or it's content, nor are we responsible for the content of any website or webpage outside this website.
All 4 Kids UK provides an array of organisations who may be able to support your planned digital after school clubs. Explore their options and see if something fits your needs.
The mission at Coco is to help get kids ready for a successful future. Today, 67% of new jobs in STEM are in computing, and the importance of technology in industry is only going to increase.
Their award-winning coding curriculum helps to get children future-ready by not only teaching them how to code, but also developing core skills such as creativity, communication and collaboration.
Code Kids is an organisation with a Kent base who offer a number of digital focused workshops to young people. This includes after school clubs, holiday clubs as well as online training.
Jam Coding is one of the largest providers of Computing Education in the UK. We aim to change the attitude around digital subjects by showing young people how fun, creative and varied they can be.
“Since 2015, the number of children taking GCSE computing has dropped by 40%. This is because young people have become disengaged with the subject. We are on a mission to change that!” Roger Grogan, CEO and Founder
We work with primary schools to inspire and educate young people. It’s at this key age we can instill lifelong habits, passion and skills for an inclusive digital future.
Kent Play Clubs are an established Kent-based charity that works in partnership with schools and local communities to deliver Ofsted-registered after school clubs and holiday schemes. We recognise that schools want to provide out-of-school childcare in line with Extended Schools targets. However, schools often simply do not have the time, resources or expertise to meet this need.
Kent Play Clubs (KPC) supports schools through a community partnership where a voluntary management group (comprising KPC staff member, head teacher, governors and/or community representatives) retains steerage and strategic management of the after school club. The voluntary management group then has a service level agreement with Kent Play Clubs outsourcing the day-to-day operational management of the club to them. This is a model that has proven to be highly successful and as each after school club is financially and constitutionally independent, any profits from the club are directly re-invested in it.
