Oxfordshire schools could see as many as one in three children facing problems outside of school
A new survey by Action for children has found that many teachers were finding themselves the ‘first port of call’ for parents who don’t know where else to go to get help
Last updated 25th Apr 2024
A new survey of teachers across the region reveals 31% of the region’s pupils which is around 320,000 are facing barriers to their education because of issues outside of school.
The research also shows teachers stepping in for overburdened health and social care system
Teachers reported the most common barriers to education include living in an unstable family environment, behavioural or emotional issues and mental health challenges.
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 has called for greater central government funding for early help services and a legal requirement for councils to provide them.
The teachers also revealed the emotional toll providing this extra support is having on them, on top of their already heavy workload which is a commonly cited reason for quitting the profession.
One secondary school teacher said: "When you're not with them you’re worrying about them thinking, even though I feel like I'm at capacity, if I did this extra thing that could really make a difference."
Action for Children is calling on the central government to make it a legal requirement for local councils to provide early help services that include multi-disciplinary family help teams, backed by significant funding.
They also want to promote the use and best practice of family liaison officers in schools and commit to a timetable for making education a fourth legal safeguarding partner in England.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education says they're supporting pupils in many ways including via their £10 million Behaviour Hubs programme. They also add that since the pandemic they've invested £1bn in supporting pupils via the National Tutoring Programme, and they are increasing pupil premium funding to £2.9 billion in 2024-25.
The Department for Education also say they're supporting pupils in many ways including £9.5 million for up to 7,800 schools and colleges to train a senior mental health lead.