Norfolk teacher says generation of children could be "lost" without urgent action
Around 320,000 pupils in the East are facing barriers to their education because of issues outside of school
A primary school teacher in Norfolk is telling us that a generation of children could be "lost" if urgent action isn't taken.
It's as research from Action for Children shows that over 300,000 pupils across the East are now lagging behind due to a lack of support for problems they face outside school.
"We need a proper 20 year plan"
Scott Lyons also works for the National Education Union in Norwich: "The big concern at the moment is the year 10 to 11 cohort.
"We know that they never transitioned or started secondary school in the proper manner, due to the pandemic. They seem very detached, into instant gratification and vaping.
"If we're not careful we're going to have generation that will be lost. That's a moral, economic and social loss.
"Pupils could be leaving school without the social skills, ambition or motivation to forge a life for themselves.
"We need a proper 20 year plan, outside the hands of politicians, that has a consensus and financial funding to match, which details how we're going to get children through school to university and beyond.
"It should also detail how we can not only get the right education, but the right social support for pupils as well."
What else did the report find?
• The survey of teachers across the East of England reveals 31% of the region’s pupils – around 320,000 – are facing barriers to their education because of issues outside of school.
• Teachers in the East of England reported the most common barriers to education include living in an unstable family environment (62%), behavioural or emotional issues (61%), mental health challenges (56%) and poor attendance (43%).
• Just 2% of the region’s teachers polled believe pupils facing challenges will reach their expected grades by the end of this academic year.
• As the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers widens, Action for Children calls for greater central government funding for early help services and a legal requirement for councils to provide them.
What's the Government said on this?
The government says it's trying to help by increasing pupil premium funding and spending a billion pounds on a National Tutoring Programme.