Millions of UK primary school kids are 'arriving for classes hungry'

04 June 2024 , 23:01

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Children are turning up to school hungry (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

Almost one in three primary school teachers say a growing number of pupils are showing up to class hungry.

And around 4 in 10 reported more youngsters were coming into school without proper uniforms or a winter coat. The shocking National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) report revealed 79% of primary school and 62% of secondary school teachers were spending their own money on their pupils or school.

At least 31% of primary teachers warned the number of children regularly coming into classrooms hungry has increased this year. Nearly one in five primary teachers were providing food or clothes. The Mirror is calling on the Government to provide free school meals for every primary school pupil in England.

The NFER is also calling for eligibility for free school meals to be extended to ensure more pupils can benefit. Their report found one in four staff paid at least £100 of their own money on their pupils or school this academic year.

It questioned 884 teachers and 398 senior leaders in mainstream state primary and secondary schools in England in March. Many primary schools are cutting spending on targeted learning support and resources to plug holes in budgets, it found.

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Jude Hillary, the NFER’s co-head of UK policy, said: “This report clearly highlights the high level of need. Teachers are going above and beyond to meet pupils’ pastoral needs using their personal funds.”

Pepe Di’Iasio, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “It’s deeply troubling that significant numbers of young children are arriving at school without the basic necessities anybody would require to be in a fit state to learn.”

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, added: “This daily struggle against hunger and worries about family finances seriously affects children’s ability to concentrate and learn during the school day.”

The Conservative Party said: “Free school meals have been extended to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century –doubling the number receiving free school meals since 2010 from one-sixth to one-third.”

Jeremy Armstrong