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<p>Spreading opportunity and ensuring every child can reach their potential no matter
their background or where they live remains a key priority for the department. The
department has a range of support in place for pupils, families and schools.</p><p>
</p><p>Low-income families and children experiencing other forms of disadvantage can
qualify for 15 hours free early education for 2 year olds, a year before all children
become eligible for 15 hours at ages 3 and 4. These entitlements support children’s
development and helps prepare them for school.</p><p> </p><p>Within schools, the department
has consistently taken steps to help economically disadvantaged pupils, including
improving the quality of teaching and curriculum resources, strengthening the school
system and providing targeted support where needed. Underpinning this is pupil premium,
worth over £2.9 billion this year. In 2024/25, the department has targeted a greater
proportion of schools National Funding Formula towards disadvantaged pupils than ever
before; 10.2% (over £4.4 billion) of the formula has been allocated according to deprivation
in 2024/25.</p><p> </p><p>To offer children from low-income families a free nutritious
breakfast, the department is investing up to £35 million in the National School Breakfast
Programme until the end of July 2025. This funding is reaching up to 2,700 primary
and secondary schools in disadvantaged areas to better support attainment, wellbeing
and readiness to learn.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2021, the department has also provided
more than £200 million of funding every year to local authorities across England for
holiday provision for school-aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who
receive benefits-related free school meals and other families that most need it. The
department has also published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform to
ensure uniform is affordable for all families.</p><p> </p><p>Family hubs are a one
stop shop for families to get the help they need. They provide services for children
of all ages, or between 0 to 19 or 0 to 25 for families with children who have special
educational needs and disabilities, with a great Start for Life offer at their core.</p><p>To
support families with the cost of living in recent years, the government has provided
one of the most generous support packages in Europe. The total support over 2022 to
2025 to help households and individuals with higher bills amounts to £108 billion,
which is on average £3,800 per UK household.</p><p> </p>
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