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<p>Tackling poverty will always be a priority for the government. We have lifted 400,000
people out of absolute poverty since 2010 and income inequality has fallen.</p><p>While
schools alone cannot solve the challenges faced by many disadvantaged families at
home, they can address barriers to learning when a child is at school. We support
the provision of nutritious food in schools. This ensures pupils are well nourished,
develop healthy eating habits and can concentrate and learn. The department provides
free school meals support to 1.1 million of the most disadvantaged pupils. This saves
families hundreds of pounds each year.</p><p>The pupil premium has provided school
leaders with more than £15.6 billion since 2011 to focus on support for disadvantaged
pupils. We expect to spend another £2.4 billion this year. School leaders are free
to use this additional grant in any way they choose to benefit their pupils. We know
that schools sometimes use the funding to help put their disadvantaged pupils in a
receptive state of mind to learn by providing breakfast, items of school uniform,
equipment, emotional support, and homework clubs. This enables every child to realise
their potential.</p>
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