Responding to a report from the National Foundation for
Educational Research (NFER), revealing that the majority of
schools are providing clothing and food to some pupils in
response to cost-of-living pressures, Geoff Barton, General
Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“This report lays bare the effect of poverty and the
cost-of-living crisis on young people and the impact this is
having on their education. In the vast majority of schools, it is
becoming increasingly necessary to provide welfare support for
pupils. School staff provide this support out of a duty of care
and because they need to ensure pupils are fit to learn, but this
is not a long-term solution. It is completely unacceptable that
so many young people are going without their basic needs being
met. The government has to do more to help families struggling
with the cost-of-living crisis and provide the sustained
investment necessary to tackle child poverty.
“We agree with the recommendations made in this report and in
particular the urgent need to extend the free school meals
scheme. Even before the cost-of-living crisis, there were
children living in poverty who were not eligible for free school
meals. An extension of the scheme to all families in receipt of
universal credit is long overdue. Introducing a system of
auto-enrolment would also be hugely beneficial as 11% of pupils
who are eligible are not currently taking advantage of the
scheme.”
