Worsening child poverty harms learning, say teachers

Tuesday 16th April 2019 16:19 EDT
 

Poverty is harming children's capacity to learn and it's getting worse, suggests a survey of teachers. Pupils who go to school hungry from cramped, noisy homes where they can't sleep properly, struggle to learn says the National Education Union (NEU).

"I try to teach my phonics group as I am giving others cereal to eat," one teacher told NEU researchers.

Ministers say employment is at a record high, wages outstrip inflation and fewer people are in "absolute" poverty. But the NEU says anecdotal evidence from its members suggests more families are falling into poverty.

More than 8,600 NEU members from across the UK responded to an online survey between March 20 and April 3. Of these, an overwhelming 91% said poverty was a factor in limiting children's capacity to learn, with almost half (49%) deeming it a major factor. Among state school teachers, the figures rose to 97% and 52%.

Overall, half the teachers who responded said pupil poverty was worse than in 2016.


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