A scheme to give free laptops to pupils from poor backgrounds is being rolled out to 2,70,000 families in England. The 300 million pounds Home Access scheme, first announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2008, has been piloted in two local areas. <br/><br/>It will allow some of the most in need children, those in care and from the poorest homes, to apply for a grant for a free laptop and broadband connection. It aims to help bridge the achievement gap between rich and poor pupils. Children's Secretary Ed Balls said families who are most in need cannot be left behind in the digital revolution seen in education. He said computers were no longer a luxury for the few, but are as essential a part of education as books, pens and paper.