Teachers back action on child poverty – poll shows opportunity cost for pupils

With government’s child poverty strategy expected soon, new evidence shows most teachers want more action on child poverty.  

A poll of English primary and secondary teachers, conducted by the NEU, found six in seven teachers (86%) say child poverty is limiting opportunity for their pupils to some extent. Two in five say it is limiting pupil opportunity greatly.

Teachers report signs of poverty in their classes including hunger and malnourishment; lack of equipment or clean uniform; pupils feeling shame in front of peers; unable to afford trips and lacking access to outdoor spaces, books, space and technology for homework, and even beds.

Almost two thirds (62%) of teachers say they take steps beyond their educating role to support pupils in poverty on at least a monthly basis. Three in seven (43%) do so on at least a weekly basis. Support commonly includes seeking food, clothes, learning resources, providing housing support, sourcing items for homes such as washing machines and making referrals to specialist services.

In the most deprived areas, a majority of teachers (57%) step in to support pupils in poverty at least weekly. This includes a quarter (25%) who do so every day, compared to just one in twenty (5%) in schools with the least deprivation. 

In the run-up to publication of the child poverty strategy, the vast majority of teachers (86%) say this government could be doing more to help lower-income families and children. Just one in seventeen teachers (6%) say the government is currently doing enough.

Teachers report:

'Children attending without having breakfast, not able to go on trips, especially residential. Children not bringing money for charity days. Children not being able to relate text to places they've been such as the seaside because they don't go on outings, not able to swim or go to outside clubs or after school clubs that aren't free.'

'Coming in hungry, lack of sleep because of poor housing meaning sleeping on sofas, not having stationery to complete homework, lack of books at home, walking longer distance to school that generally acceptable by themselves as parent unable and no car to bring them in. Poor or no coat.'

'Children coming in without basic items of clothing they need to keep dry and warm as well as basic equipment. I have bought all my learners a pencil case equipped with all they need for learning.'

'Lack of food and home comforts to feel safe affecting ability to learn, children not eating enough so interrupting the school day for fruit not coming to school in coats during these colder weeks, lack of attendance or being picked up late due to work commitments.'

'Missing basics like water bottles and suitable shoes. Lack of out of school experiences like holidays or excursions.'

Head of education policy at Child Poverty Action Group Kate Anstey said:

The government’s child poverty strategy can’t come soon enough for millions of children who cannot learn or thrive because of poverty. They are carrying a problem not of their making. Government wants to reduce record child poverty so the first action point in its forthcoming child poverty strategy must be full abolition of the two-child limit, the key driver of the increase in child poverty.'

Daniel Kebede, General Secretary, National Education Union said:

'Teachers up and down the country are plugging the gaps left by the state. Nearly all teachers are now seeing their pupils held back by poverty and a majority are going above and beyond their day jobs to support their communities where government support has failed.

'The government must hear the voices of educators in chorus with families and young people, when they say it must step up. The upcoming Budget and Child Poverty Strategy must see an end to the two-child limit and benefit cap, and a restoration of adequacy to welfare support. Only then can we start mending our social safety net to make sure that no child is left behind.'

Notes to editors:

The National Education Union conducted a poll of its members between 13-14 November 2025. It received 2,149 responses. These were reweighted in line with national figures from the School Workforce Census to control for gender, region, phase, age and level of deprivation in schools as measured by the IDACI index.

There are 4.5 million UK children in poverty, a record high.

The two-child limit prevents families from receiving support through universal credit towards the cost of a third or additional child born since 6 April 2017. Affected families lose out on up to £293 per month. Fifty nine percent of affected families work and the majority have three children. Scrapping the policy - the most cost-effective way of bringing child poverty down – would instantly lift 350,000 children from poverty and reduce the depth of poverty for another 700,000.

CPAG press office: 07816 909302

NEU press office: 07879 480061