News

A national survey today by school support staff union Unison of nearly 3,000 members, including school caterers, has revealed the impact of poverty in schools in London, with 79% believing children are coming to school hungry.

Other key results include:

* 72% believing that children at their school are living in poverty and it is on the rise
* 55% reporting an increase on the number of children who rely on school breakfast clubs
* 51% seeing children in their school in poor physical health

LACA chair Anne Bull has responded: “The alarming results of Unison’s national survey are yet another reminder of the importance of school food for the wellbeing of children, not only in London but the across the UK.

“The fact that 75% of school support staff, including school meal workers, believe that poverty is causing hunger and having a direct negative impact on children's education is further evidence that school meals, including breakfasts, should be high on the public health and education agendas.

“LACA has long campaigned that healthy school meals are of vital importance to help all children achieve their full potential and we support the efforts of schools to introduce breakfast clubs, ensuring that children are well-fed and ready to learn at the start of each school day.”

Across London, 72% of those surveyed believe that children at their school are living in poverty and it is on the rise, with 55% reporting an increase over the past year in the number of children who rely on school breakfast clubs.

This is due to rising costs, particularly for food, fares and fuel.
Tough times are forcing many parents across London into working long hours or in multiple jobs. These breakfast clubs provide essential support to them and their children.

Three-quarters local school staff believe that poverty has a negative impact on children's education, while almost 81% say it is having a significant effect on their wellbeing.

Many staff judged that poverty was directly affecting pupils' health, with 51% seeing children in their school in poor physical health and 46% believing that some are suffering mental health issues as a result of rising poverty levels.

Linda Perks, Unison regional secretary said: "The impact of poverty blights the life chances of children even before they walk through the school gates.

“Education is a vital route out of poverty, but our survey exposes the very real fears of school staff across London for the physical and mental wellbeing of the children they see every day in class.

"It is shocking that so many school staff are reporting children coming into class hungry. How can any child be expected to concentrate on their lessons when they have not had enough to eat?

“Not standing out is important for many children and so not having a proper uniform or wearing old and worn out clothes can be very stressful and lead to bullying.

"It is a sad fact that many of the children living in poverty in London have parents who are working.

"Poverty affects all areas of a child's life, their health, the results they achieve in school and their future employment prospects.  We live in the seventh richest country on the planet and yet this survey shows a divided nation with the poorest suffering from the effect of welfare cuts and the blight of unemployment."