A new survey has revealed that UK schools are diverting funds from education to provide basic household necessities such as cookers, bedding, and clothing for pupils affected by rising child poverty.
The findings, released at the National Education Union (NEU) conference in Harrogate, highlight the extent to which schools are supporting families amid the cost-of-living crisis.
More than a third of school staff reported witnessing signs of physical underdevelopment in children due to poverty, while over half of teachers in deprived areas said the situation is worsening. With 4.5 million children—31% of all UK children—now living in poverty according to government data for 2023-24, education leaders warn that school resources are being increasingly stretched.
Teachers Say Schools Are Covering for Failing Welfare System
Chris Dutton, a deputy headteacher in south-west England and chair of the NEU’s national leadership council, said schools nationwide are being forced to buy essential appliances and furniture for families in crisis. “We’re using school budgets on things you wouldn’t normally associate with education—microwaves, bedding, clothes. It’s heartbreaking and unsustainable,” he said.
Teachers also reported having to support children with no beds to sleep on or tables to eat at, with many families needing guidance just to navigate the benefits system.
Poverty Impacting Student Wellbeing and School Attendance
Michael Allen, a primary teacher in Wiltshire, described how teachers must plan ahead to provide heating allowances for freezing children or help younger pupils still learning to use toilets independently. “We’re stuck trying to deal with issues that should have been resolved long before children reach our classrooms,” Allen said.
In Birmingham, special needs school headteacher Kari Anson shared concerns about children with complex medical needs living in damp housing, which has resulted in severe illnesses and increased school absences. “We’re talking about children being hospitalised from mould-induced asthma—this is the reality we face,” she warned.
Concern Grows Over Disability Benefit Cuts
Anson also expressed alarm over potential cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which she said would disproportionately impact children with special educational needs (SEN). “That really worries me—things can only get worse if support is stripped further.”
NEU Calls on Government to Act on Child Poverty Crisis
Daniel Kebede, the NEU’s general secretary, criticised the government for placing the burden of child poverty on schools. “A government demanding high educational standards cannot ignore the reality of high child poverty,” he said.
The Department for Education responded by citing efforts to break the “link between background and opportunity,” including a child poverty taskforce, expanded free breakfast clubs, and increased pupil premium funding exceeding £3 billion.
