25% of teachers purchase food for hungry students, poll finds
It comes as one in five teachers in England have said that the number of children who are ‘too hungry to learn’ at school has increased since the beginning of the academic year
A quarter of teachers have reported having either personally purchased food for hungry pupils this academic year, or know a colleague who has, according to a new poll commissioned by School Food Matters.
According to the charity’s findings, that figure rises to 33% of teachers in schools with higher levels of deprivation.
It comes as one in five teachers in England have said that the number of children who are “too hungry to learn” at school has increased since the beginning of the academic year.
When asked, exactly 67% of the teachers polled agree with the statement that all children should receive a free school meal, regardless of their family’s income status.
School Food Matters’ poll findings coincide with the launch of the School Food Review’s new report – The Superpowers of Free School Meals – which lays out evidence that demonstrates the benefits of expanding free school meals, starting with all children from families in receipt of Universal Credit or equivalent benefits, as a first step to universal free school meals.
The report found that free school meals improve attendance, boost better educational outcomes, and wider social benefits – including reduced inequalities.
Meanwhile, London’s universal primary free school meals offer means that no child needlessly misses out on good nutrition at school. A recent evaluation of this policy found massive benefits for children’s health and learning as well as family finances.
Terri Cheung, headteacher at Phoenix Primary School in Liverpool, said: “You can tell when children haven’t had enough good nutrition by how lethargic they become in the classroom. Hunger makes it harder to concentrate, no matter how exciting the topic. If a child’s mind wanders during a key part of the lesson, it can affect their learning the next day, which can quickly snowball.
“Many of our families can’t afford school meals, so they provide packed lunches, which are often low in nutritional value. Meanwhile, our school cook prepares delicious, nutritious hot meals every day. Our children feel it’s unfair that children in other parts of England and across the UK can access universal free school meals while they can’t.”