Number of children growing up in poverty soars to 3.5 million

The number of children growing up in poverty is much higher than 40 years ago – 3.5 million now compared with 2 million in 1973 – according to a study into disadvantaged childhoods.

The National Children’s Bureau found that a child from a less privileged background is still far less likely to achieve a good level of development at age 4, to achieve well at school age 11, or get good GSE results.

It also found that boys in deprived areas are three times more likely to be obese, and girls twice as likely. Accidents are also much more likely to happen to children in poorer areas.