Responding to a new report from the National Foundation for
Education Research (NFER) which found that nearly one-third of
primary school teachers have reported more pupils showing up to
school hungry, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school
leaders' union NAHT, said:
“Schools are increasingly having to step in to support children
and parents struggling with the impact of the cost of living.
“We've heard from school leaders who are setting up foodbanks and
warm hubs, providing crisis vouchers for supermarkets, offering
use of showers and washing machines, and even giving parents cash
for energy meters.
“This is on top of dealing with the cost pressures their schools
are continuing to face due to sustained high inflation, with many
having to raise income from sources like charity grants and
fundraising to cover basic costs including classroom materials
and staffing. In our funding survey last
month, just 1% of school leaders told us they received enough
money to fully meet the needs of all their pupils, while more
than four fifths (83%) said they lacked the funding needed to
maintain their school buildings.
“Urgent government action is needed to relieve the pressure on
both families and schools. This should include direct financial
support to alleviate pressures on parents, for example, by
extending free school meals, more money to ensure services like
social care, which have suffered huge cuts, are better equipped
to help families, and sustained investment in schools still
struggling after a decade in which funding has failed to keep
pace with inflation.”
