Laptop computers complete with a broadband internet connection are set to be handed out to over a quarter of a million low-income households in Britain.

The announcement was originally made in 2008 by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who hopes the move to provide free internet access to 270,000 homes will help improve children’s exam results and job prospects.

Two areas, Suffolk and Oldham, have gone through pilot schemes and a national rollout will now follow. The main aim is to help bridge the gap between poor and wealthy families and put all pupils on a level playing field.

The project is expected to cost £300million and will connect families across the country to their child’s school, allowing them to check on things such as attainment and behaviour. Households will get to keep the laptop, although the broadband connection will only be funded for one year.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Brown said: “We want every family to become a broadband family, and we want every home linked to a school. It will mean all families can come together, learn together and reap the rewards together.

“From 2010 all secondary schools – and from 2012 all primary schools – will guarantee reporting online to parents. So the mother who’s worried about her son struggling with his reading can find out more about how she can help, or the dad who works long hours and can’t make a parents’ evening can keep in touch with his daughter’s progress, at whatever time of the day or night that he’s free.”