We'll halve poor kids' school gap

DISADVANTAGED children will have their chances in life transformed by school reforms, say ministers.

- BY ALEXANDER BROWN Assistant Political Editor

Tomorrow the government details plans to halve the skills gap between poorer pupils born under this parliament and better-off youngsters by the time they leave secondary school.

Generational changes to the special educational needs and disabilities system will also be outlined in a White Paper on England's schools.

It will change how funding is directed to disadvantaged kids, from the current free school meals benchmark. Instead, how low the family’s income is, how long that’s been the case, and where the child lives will be considered.