Pupils missing school over food and uniform costs - survey
Children from low income families are missing school because they can’t afford the things they need to attend, according to a new survey from a children’s charity. The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) polled 1701 state school students aged 11-18 living in the UK between April and May this year.
The survey found that 16 per cent of respondents said they had missed school at least once because they didn’t have something they needed to attend. This rose to 26 per cent for children who qualify for means-tested free school meals (FSM). Almost half (47 per cent) of young people who missed school because they didn’t have what they needed said they did not have the correct uniform or kit. Across all secondary school pupils, those in receipt of FSM were more than three times as likely to give this reason for missing school than their peers. Meanwhile, children in receipt of FSM were twice as likely to be sent home from school for not having the right uniform or kit as those not eligible (8 per cent compared to 3 per cent of all pupils). One in 10 FSM-eligible pupils also said they had been taken out of class or prevented from taking part in activities such as school trips because they lacked the correct clothing.
Other reasons cited by those who had missed school included not having the money to pay for school meals (23 per cent) or a packed lunch (20 per cent). Over a quarter of young people (26 per cent) who missed school because they didn’t have what they needed said they couldn’t afford transport to get to school. Children in receipt of FSM were more likely to say it was difficult to afford getting to and from school compared to their peers (15 per cent compared to 9 per cent). Those is receipt of FSM were also more likely to have missed school because of mental health challenges (e.g. feeling anxious or depressed) than their peers – 21 per cent to 17 per cent.
Commenting on the research, Kate Anstey, head of education at CPAG, said: ‘Children in poverty aren’t getting the real deal at school because they don’t have money to participate – or even get to the school gates. From not being able to afford meals or uniform to poor mental health, lack of money at home means young people are missing school – effectively priced out of the system. Government must do more to support living standards for families so kids aren’t locked out of learning – including scrapping the two-child [benefits] limit and expanding eligibility for free school meals.’
A government spokesperson said: ‘We are determined to reduce child poverty through wide-ranging action as part of our Child Poverty Taskforce, breaking the unfair link between background and opportunity. Through our Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are also changing the law to limit the number of branded items schools can require, which alongside free breakfast clubs could put £500 a year back into working parents’ pockets.’
CPAG’s research comes after reports that the government’s flagship child poverty strategy may be delayed until the autumn. The strategy, which is being led jointly by work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall and education secretary Bridget Phillipson, is expected to include a recommendation to scrap the two child benefits cap. Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio said: ‘The government should show a sense of urgency over this critical issue rather than kicking the can down the road. Child poverty has a devastating impact on both welfare and education and the longer that action is delayed the worse these problems will become.’ He added that he felt attainment gaps are ‘very unlikely’ to be closed ‘while we continue to have very high rates of child poverty’. A spokesperson said the government will ‘publish an ambitious child poverty strategy later this year’, which will ‘ensure we deliver fully funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country’.
Full report: https://tinyurl.com/4hm4nyjz