School leaders have written to all England’s MPs today calling on them to take urgent action to end child poverty.
The letter from the NAHT headteachers’ union and Child Poverty Action Group warns that 4 million children are growing up in poverty with 70 per cent of these having parents who are in work.
MPs have been told that schools are being forced to run food banks, and that the very youngest pupils are so aware of their families’ financial problems that they are struggling to learn and enjoy school.
NAHT: Children are too ashamed to learn
Desperate measures: Schools are creating food banks
Analysis: We must eradicate child hunger
The letter sent today includes examples of headteachers’ experiences of pupil poverty.
A school leader in Bolton said: “More children are arriving at school hungry and in inappropriate clothing. We now provide a free breakfast club to address this. Fewer of our children are eligible for free school meals.
“We have parents coming in in tears for food bank vouchers or for a lift to the one-stop shop for emergency gas or electric tokens. We do have parents asking us to lend them money.”
Another in Manchester added: “Children are too tired and hungry to concentrate. Social problems when having multiple house moves. Increased absence as can’t afford transport costs.”
Three-quarters of school leaders report an increase in the number of parents asking schools for financial support in the past five years.
Judy Shaw, the NAHT’s new president, said: “Across the country, schools are supporting children who are hungry, inadequately clothed, cold, tired because they are sharing a bed and living in cramped and crowded homes with little space and few amenities.”
At its annual conference at the weekend, the NAHT revealed what it described as a heartbreaking picture of the impact of austerity on children’s lives.
Headteachers say they have seen parents weeping because they can’t afford uniforms or dinner bills, children in inadequate clothing and pupils eating mouldy bread for their lunch.
In the letter, Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, raises concern that free school meals are not being accessed by all pupils who need them.
He said: “Free school meals at least guarantee that children get one nutritious meal a day during term time. We must do all that we can to extend that entitlement to every child that is going hungry, and we must fix the problems in society that cause families to fall into the poverty trap.
“Currently one in 10 eligible children miss out on their free school meals entitlement. NAHT has long called for children to be automatically enrolled to receive free school meals, using the information councils already hold about their family situation. This would take away the barrier of stigma for parents.”
