Fears Kent children turning up for school hungry
A new report found teachers are spending £100pa on food for pupils
Nearly one in three primary school teachers say more pupils are showing up to class hungry, a survey suggests.
Around 40% of primary school teachers said the number of pupils coming into school without adequate clothing, such as proper uniform or a winter coat, had increased, according to a National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) report.
Neil Charlick is the founder Gillingham Street Angels. They run foodbanks, soup kitchens and charity shops across Medway and he says more and more families are using the service.
He said: "The soup kitchens which were primarily homeless when they were set up are now becoming family orientated because there are more people struggling and more people willing to go to these type of things.
"They aren't embarrassed anymore, they are desperate, they are willing to do anything to make sure kids have got food on the table.
"As for school uniforms, I have people asking our charity shops for uniforms each day. It's expensive now, with the embroidered badges, so people can't afford it, it's a basic essential."
The report found that 79% of primary school teachers and 62% of secondary school teachers reported spending their own money buying items for their pupils or school.
Nearly one in five (19%) primary school teachers and 17% of secondary school teachers said they were spending their money on meeting pupils' pastoral needs, such as providing food or clothes.
Around one in four teachers have already spent at least £100 of their own money on their pupils or school this academic year, according to the report.
The online survey, of 884 teachers and 398 senior leaders in mainstream state primary and secondary schools in England in March, suggests 31% of primary school teachers said the proportion of children regularly coming into school hungry has increased this year.
The report also suggests that many primary schools are cutting spending on targeted learning support and resources to plug holes in budgets.