A survey of members of the National Education Union (NEU) has revealed that two-thirds of around 750 teachers who responded say they have seen an increase in visible child poverty in their classrooms since 2015.
This includes an increase in:
More than a third of respondents told the researchers that they have bought food for pupils who cannot afford it, while almost two-thirds have bought school equipment such as stationery and a fifth have both items of school uniform.
Anecdotally, teachers reported children coming to school hungry and thirsty – often worse immediately after the weekend – as well as students begging their peers for food.
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