Commenting on an analysis by the Institute for Public
Policy Research showing the number of additional children
forecasted to be in poverty by the end of 2020, Kevin
Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education
Union, said:
"It is deeply alarming that in an already parlous
situation, this report forecasts that an enormous number of
children will be thrown into poverty by Christmas. This is in
addition to the 4.2 million children living in poverty in the UK
in 2018-19, which equals nine children in every class of
30.
"Politicians from across the political spectrum have been
speaking out about the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on
children living in poverty. However, many of those same
politicians voted for and supported policies which have made
matters worse.
"Schools know only too well the impact this has on the
children and young people they teach. Members report to us about
children who are tired, hungry and badly clothed. But schools
alone cannot solve this problem. 40% of the educational
attainment gap that poor children are burdened with is created
before they even start school.
"Government must come clean about the reality, which is
that the disruption caused by Coronavirus for disadvantaged
children cannot be recovered through booster
classes. Wales and Scotland have national
plans to develop proper programmes of learning because of
Covid-19, but the Westminster Government is behind on a national
response on curriculum flexibility and blended
learning.
"At the start of this crisis the Government said it would
do whatever it takes to see the UK through the current crisis.
For the sake of the 200,000 children expected to be in poverty by
the end of the year - and the millions already in poverty before
the crisis struck - the Government needs to step up to the plate
and make ending child poverty a priority."
