The Education Anti-Poverty Coalition survey of 1,023 professionals working in schools in England, organised by the Child Poverty Action Group, reveals:
- 79 per cent of school staff have to divert time from their allocated roles to combat child poverty, for example dealing with dinner money debt, sourcing food bank vouchers, hardship grants and home equipment like washing machines in families.
- Over half (53 per cent) of teachers report an increase in the number of pupils struggling to concentrate on learning due to hunger and fatigue, compared to two years ago.
- 68 per cent say more pupils don’t have money for enough food at lunchtime.
- 74 per cent say there’s evidence that children growing up in poverty have fallen further behind their peers with their learning.
- 70 per cent of headteachers say more parents are asking for help with essentials like food and clothing.
A primary teaching assistant in Yorkshire and the Humber said, ‘Children can’t do homework online as they don’t have devices at home. Often they don’t even have pencils, coloured pencils or other resources to do homework at home.’
Another primary teaching assistant in the South-East commented, ‘Children [are] coming to school hungry not having [had] breakfast and we have to feed them which takes us away from our normal routine… also children coming to school in the wrong/too small clothes. [We’re] having to find clothes.’
Asked which policies would have the biggest effect on reducing child poverty in their school:
- 80 per cent of school staff said providing universal free school meals to all school children.
- Nearly two in three (63 per cent) said increasing the amount of financial support low-income and middle-income families with children receive.
- 68 per per cent said more Government help for families with school costs such as uniform and school trips.
'Staff want to focus on children's development but get sidetracked by dinner money debt.'
Head of education policy at Child Poverty Action Group Kate Anstey said, ‘Child poverty is ripping through our schools, warping the way they work and jeopardising children’s learning and life chances.
Staff want to focus on children’s development but get sidetracked by dinner money debt. They want the Government to act and get more help to families.
'As urgent first steps, ministers must widen eligibility for free school meals, boost help with school-related costs and increase child benefit. That’s the minimum needed to give staff their time back and prevent millions of children from falling even further behind.’
