Responding to a new survey of school staff by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) which found that 79% reported having to divert time from their roles to help combat child poverty, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Our members have raised concerns with us over the damaging impact of cost-of-living pressures and poverty, with children who may be living in cold, cramped conditions arriving at school hungry. This clearly harms their wellbeing and their ability to learn.

“As well as trying to focus on teaching and learning, school leaders and their staff are increasingly spending time on initiatives like school foodbanks and warm hubs, providing crisis vouchers for supermarkets, offering use of showers and washing machines, and even giving parents cash for energy meters.

“Urgent government investment is needed - not only in direct financial support to alleviate pressures on families, for example, by extending free school meals - but also to ensure services like social care, which have suffered huge funding cuts, are better equipped to offer help when people are struggling. This would provide welcome relief for parents and carers and also help both children and school staff to concentrate on learning.”