Majority of schools see rise in inequality among kids amid cost of living crisis
Nearly seven in 10 (69%) schools have reported seeing a surge in inequality amongst pupils due to the cost of living crisis, a survey shows.
Teachers in 67% of schools polled warned that children’s learning had been impacted as kids arrived in class tired, hungry and unable to concentrate. Some are living in unsuitable, temporary, or overcrowded housing, while others struggle to afford basic school supplies, according to research for Magic Breakfast and Save the Children in 411 schools.
Around 4.2milion children were living in poverty between April 2021- April 2022, according to the latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The number is expected to rise following the Government's decision to slash the £20-a-week uplift to Universal Credit.
Lindsey MacDonald, Chief Executive at Magic Breakfast, which provides free breakfasts in schools, said: “It is a catastrophe for children, their education today and life chances tomorrow, that they continue to be the victims of a crisis, over which they have no control.”
She urged the Government to expand its National School Breakfast Programme to reach all the 10,200 schools in England with high levels of disadvantage. The scheme, which began in 2021, currently reaches 2,700 of the poorest schools. Labour has promised to give every primary school child in England a free breakfast if elected.
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Becca Lyon, Head of Child Poverty at Save the Children UK, said: “School is a pivotal moment in a child’s life which should inspire and open a world of opportunity. But when children are too hungry to concentrate, that irreplaceable time in their lives is taken from them.
“Families are still very much in the thick of the cost-of-living crisis and food inflation, while easing, remains high. That’s why the UK Government must pledge to increase benefits at least in line with inflation and should introduce a child poverty strategy to make sure children’s needs are at the heart of government.”
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Litsa Anderson, Deputy Head of Penwortham Primary in Streatham, south London, said: “Breakfast at school means our children are less hungry, happier, more engaged; they arrive on time, and start their day in a more social and collaborative way. "The parents feel better supported, meaning there's more flex in their lives - to get to work on time, care for younger children or just a little more in their budgets for other bills and essentials.
"As a teacher, my job is now better. I see the children prepared and ready to learn, they feel supported, and part of the wider school family. From something quite simple, comes so much. I think we'd all benefit so much more if every school in the country was able to do this.”
The Mirror is campaigning to end child hunger by expanding free school meals to all primary school children.
A Government spokesperson said: “Our National School Breakfast Programme currently reaches over 35,000 pupils per week and is providing over 1.75 million breakfasts every week. We are providing over a third of pupils in England with free school meals in education settings - compared with one in six in 2010. We provide healthy food to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century.”
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