Government publishes child poverty strategy

The government has published it Child Poverty Strategy, promising to lift around 550,000 children out of poverty.

After the announcement of removing the two-child child benefit limit, the new strategy will tackle the root causes of poverty, by cutting the cost of essentials, boosting family incomes, and improving local services so every child has the best start in life.

Research has found that children growing up in poverty do less well in school, are more likely to be unemployed when older and earn less throughout their lifetimes.

Plans in the strategy include more accessible childcare for working parents on Universal Credit. From next year, the rules will change to make it easier for new parents who receive Universal Credit to get back to work by extending eligibility for upfront childcare costs to those returning from parental leave.

The strategy will also end the unlawful placement of families in Bed and Breakfasts beyond the six-week limit. In order to achieve this, the government will invest £8 million in Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots in 20 local authorities that have the highest use of Bed and Breakfasts for homeless families.

There will also be £950 million through the fourth and largest round of the Local Authority Housing Fund from April 2026 to deliver up to 5,000 high-quality homes for better temporary accommodation by 2030.

A new legal duty will be introduced for councils to notify schools, health visitors, and GPs when a child is placed in temporary accommodation. The Government will also work with the NHS to end the practice of mothers with newborns being discharged to B&Bs or other forms of unsuitable housing.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said: "Every child deserves the best possible start in life, with their future no longer determined by the circumstances of their birth. Yet too many children are growing up in poverty, held back from getting on in life, and too many families are struggling without the basics: a secure home, warm meals, and the support they need to make ends meet.

"I will not stand by and watch that happen, because the cost of doing nothing is too high for children, for families, and for Britain.

"This is a moral mission for me. It’s about fairness, opportunity, and unlocking potential. Our strategy isn’t just about reversing the failures of the past, it sets a new course for national renewal, with children’s life chances at its heart."

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "Child poverty is a stain on our country. I’ve seen the damage poverty does first hand, and bearing down on it sits at the very core of this government’s mission.

"This strategy, lifting over half a million children out of poverty, represents an historic moment for generations of families now and into the future.

"And whether it’s expanding free school meals, rolling out free breakfast clubs, or revitalising family services, we are determined to give every child the very best start in life."