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Child poverty: History will judge this government very harshly unless it acts now

Poverty Vulnerable children Free School Meals Narrowing the Gap Government policy
The Labour government came to power on a promise to reduce child poverty – and yet it is rising fast. Pepe Di’Iasio warns ministers that history will be a very harsh judge if they don’t act
A nation's shame: Child poverty is at a record high, affecting 4.5 million children in the UK, and is projected to rise to 4.8 million over this Parliamentary term - Adobe Stock

Reducing the shocking level of child poverty in the UK is one of the most effective things we could do to improve the wellbeing and educational outcomes of millions of children.

Poverty causes many barriers to learning – arriving at school hungry or cold, living in inadequate housing, the toll on a child’s mental health. The list goes on.

And a recent report by the Child Poverty Action Group (2025) highlights how it extends to the difficulty families face in affording the costs associated with school itself.

These are things like the cost of food during the school day, the need for students to have access to technology, and subject costs such as art and design materials.

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