The problems are becoming so severe that a majority of school staff report being diverted from their core duties as they deal with the consequences of child poverty.
Indeed, 70% of headteachers say that more and more parents are asking schools for help with essential such as food and clothing.
The harrowing survey findings have been published this week by the Education Anti-Poverty Coalition, which is convened by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).
Official figures tell us that 4.2 million children are now living in relative poverty (household income below 60% of the median after housing costs). This is 29% of all UK children. Of these, 2.7 million are living in “deep poverty” – families below 50% of the median income (DWP, 2023).
The CPAG study involved 1,023 professionals working mainly in primary and secondary schools in England. Findings include:
- Time is being diverted from allocated roles to combat the consequences of child poverty (79%).
- Children in poverty have fallen further behind their peers in learning (74%).
- Child poverty in school has increased in the last two academic years (89%, rising to 97% of the senior leaders who responded).
- More families who were previously managing financially are now struggling to cope (88%).
Tasks that are diverting school staff from their main roles include dealing with dinner money debt and referrals to specialist services as well as sourcing support including food bank vouchers, hardship grants, children’s clothes, and even things like washing machines.
Half of the respondents added that this work was being made even harder due to staffing cuts because of the school funding crisis.
Clothing, food, and fatigue are three of the most pressing issues: 53% of teachers in the survey reported an increase in the number of pupils struggling to concentrate on learning due to hunger and fatigue – this compared to two years ago. And 68% of the respondents say there are more pupils who don’t have money for enough food at lunch.
Meanwhile, more families are struggling with uniform and PE kit requirements (78%) and more children are coming to school in ill-fitting or worn-out clothes (72%). And 76% of the secondary staff responding said that increasing numbers of pupils don’t have all the equipment they need for lessons.
Comments from respondents to the study included:
- “Two pupils were caught stealing food from other pupils’ ”(Primary school in the South West).
- “More children are expressing feeling worried about their family finances. Some children tell me they avoid asking their parents for essential equipment, or telling them about clubs and trips, as they do not want to add to their financial stress.”(Secondary school in the West Midlands).
- “Children are tired and lethargic, extremely hungry.”(Primary school in the South West).
- “Worn clothing and footwear, learners complaining of being hungry and seeking more food during the day or seconds at lunch time, inability to concentrate, admitting they can't get xyz (items for school) until their parents receive their pay (living paycheck to paycheck).”(Secondary school in the North East).
The findings come at a time when food insecurity is rising, with 21% of children who live in relative poverty now also living in food insecure households (DWP, 2023).
The Institute of Fiscal Studies has reported, meanwhile, that despite 30% of families on Universal Credit being considered “food insecure”, 69% of families on Universal Credit are not eligible for free school meals (FSMs) – this equates to 1.7 million children. To be eligible, families must have an after-tax income of less than £7,400 a year (Cribb et al, 2023).
It comes after the Joseph Rowntree Foundation cost of living tracker warned in January that 6 in 10 of the poorest families either cut down on or skipped meals for adults in the home because there was not enough money for food.
Head of education policy at CPAG Kate Anstey said: “Child poverty is ripping through our schools, warping the way they work and jeopardising children’s learning and life chances. 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.”
Commenting on the findings, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “Our members have raised concerns with us over the damaging impact of cost-of-living pressures and poverty, with children who may be living in cold, cramped conditions arriving at school hungry. This clearly harms their wellbeing and their ability to learn.
“School leaders and their staff are increasingly spending time on initiatives like school foodbanks and warm hubs, providing crisis vouchers for supermarkets, offering use of showers and washing machines, and even giving parents cash for energy meters.
“Urgent government investment is needed – not only in direct financial support to alleviate pressures on families, for example, by extending FSMs – but also to ensure services like social care, which have suffered huge funding cuts, are better equipped to offer help when people are struggling. This would provide welcome relief for parents and carers and also help both children and school staff to concentrate on learning.”
- CPAG: There is only so much we can do: School staff in England on the impact of poverty on children and school life, 2023: https://tinyurl.com/mtbvukkv
- Cribb et al: The policy menu for school lunches: options and trade-offs in expanding free school meals in England, Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2023: https://tinyurl.com/mtuemwkn
- DWP: National statistics: Households Below Average Income: An analysis of the UK income distribution, 2023: https://tinyurl.com/5ezubsyc