Schools in Andover are set to get more money from the Government to provide additional support to children from less well off families.

From January 2012 the Pupil Premium scheme is being extended, meaning any child who has been signed up for free school meals will now receive extra funding.

In Andover this means about 1,000 youngsters will become eligible for extra cash which will be paid to the school.  That equates to an extra £600,000.

The Liberal Democrat idea is supposed to give children from less-advantaged backgrounds a better chance, as Len Gates, Deputy Chair of the local party, explains: "It's important that we give all children the same opportunities.

"For them to maximise their own ability they've got to have a basic grounding in subjects like English and Mathematics.

"In all of the things in which other children achieve well, some of the less advantaged children are struggling.

"The idea of the pupil premium is to give the schools that little bit of extra money to try and help these children."

To hear the full interview with Len and get more information press play.