The cost-of-living crisis has been making headlines for months, with rising prices and many families struggling to make their incomes stretch. But how is the crisis impacting children's educations?
Recent research by the Sutton Trust has uncovered the shocking impacts being seen in schools, with growing numbers of hungry, cold and tired pupils.
In state schools, 74 per cent of teachers have seen an increase in pupils unable to concentrate or tired in class, 67 per cent have more students with behaviour issues, and 54 per cent have seen an increase in those coming into school without adequate winter clothing, like a coat. Thirty-eight per cent of teachers reported an increase in children coming into school hungry.
These issues were the most common in state schools with the most deprived intakes. For example, 56 per cent of teachers reported an increase in hungry pupils in the most deprived schools, compared with 22 per cent in schools with better-off intakes.
And while free school meals provide a vital lifeline for many children, our research shows they aren’t reaching all the children who need them. Over half (52 per cent) of senior leaders in state schools said the number of children ineligible for free school meals unable to afford lunch had increased this autumn, with 11 per cent saying there had been a large increase.
Children cannot learn effectively when living in poverty, an issue echoed by teachers. In state schools, 38 per cent of teachers said a third or more of their class were living in families facing considerable financial pressures – which they felt are impacting the children's ability to succeed in school.
Keeping all our country's children warm and fed should be an absolute minimum. While it is welcome the Government has announced benefits will increase with inflation, the change is not due to come into force until April. Many families clearly need greater support now.
And it is also clear free school meals’ eligibility is not currently set at the right level. Access to free school meals should be expanded to fully capture all those in need by making them available to all families on Universal Credit.
We live in a rich country. We should not have any children going hungry, or not having a warm coat in the winter – let alone it being widespread in the way these figures suggest. If we don't act, we risk damaging these children's educations, with the long-term economic impact which comes with that.
