Projects aimed at giving London's disadvantaged children a better chance of leaving school with good grades have been given a £2.3m funding boost.

London Councils will fund eight schemes in the capital designed to boost educational achievement, cut truancy and reduce exclusions.

Among the projects to receive funding is Ebony Education Community Interest Company, which will get £251,268 to give children extra help with maths, English and science and provide a special programme to help parents improve their children's performance at school.

The Kingston and Merton Education Business Partnership will receive £460,969 to help boost the self esteem and attainment of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Volunteer Reading Help will receive £137,899 to provide trained volunteers to help disadvantaged children improve their reading skills, which will help boost confidence and improve exam results.

The chairman of London Councils grants committee, Councillor Paul McCannah, said: "It is important that we give all our children and young people the ability to make the best possible start in life.

"Children from disadvantaged families can find themselves in a vicious circle as their parents often have few, if any, qualifications. This means that they are unable to give their children the support they need to achieve good grades at school and develop the skills they need to find work.

"I believe these grants we have provided will help break that cycle and improve their future quality of life."