More children will come to school hungry, warns poverty report
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More children will come to school hungry, warns poverty report
The number of children attending school hungry is likely to rise, according to a major report on poverty in the UK.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) report, published today, warns that challenges faced by families in the cost-of-living crisis are likely to affect students’ learning and attainment.
The charity says that as families cut back on essentials, “the number of children attending school hungry is likely to rise, affecting their ability to take part and attain in school”.
The report points to research showing that 73 per cent of staff in primary schools across Britain say supporting pupils who cannot afford the essentials is a challenge in their school, and that one-third of primary schools are providing a food bank.
One third of children living in poverty
The JRF describes the poverty outlook across the UK as “shameful” and reveals that some 4.3 million children - one third of children in the UK - are currently living in poverty.
The JRF’s annual “poverty report” also highlights how the gap in educational attainment for young people based parental income continues throughout a child’s education.
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The report uses data for 2022-23 to measure the disadvantage-related attainment gap in the UK nations.
It notes that in England 44 per cent of disadvantaged pupils at key stage 2 reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with 66 per cent of pupils who are not known to be disadvantaged - a gap of 22 percentage points.
At GCSE, it says, 25 per cent of disadvantaged students achieved a grade 5 or better in English and maths, compared with 52 per cent of students not known to be disadvantaged - a gap of 27 percentage points.
Paul Kissack, chief executive of the JRF, said: “We can’t expect children to be ready for school or able to learn if they’re going without the basics. Child poverty will only be driven down through focused, deliberate and determined policy action. Even very strong economic growth won’t automatically change the picture.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, agreed that the “devastating impact of poverty” harms children’s learning and life chances.
“Pupils are not ready to learn if they are hungry or do not have stable living arrangements,” he said.
“Funding cuts under previous governments mean it is harder for councils to support families struggling to make ends meet, and schools have increasingly ended up trying to fill this gap, offering food parcels and even showers and use of laundry facilities. However, this type of emergency school-based response cannot be seen as a long-term solution.”
He called for real action to implement the recommendations of the government’s child poverty taskforce, which are due next year, and “more investment in vital community support so children and families get the help they need.”
A government spokesperson said that its ministerial taskforce is exploring all levers available to give children across the UK the best start in life, while its Plan for Change will raise living standards across the country.
The spokesperson said the government was increasing the living wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families with children by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions.
Last week Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, called on the government to use “the big levers of state” to tackle child poverty.
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