MSPs focus on issue of poverty-stricken-pupils

Education report highlights ‘appalling’ situation of hungry children stealing food and equipment

Children in Scottish schools are turning up to class “visibly unwell” and pale from hunger, a shocking report has found.

The Scottish Parliament’s education and skills committee said it was “appalled” at the findings, which showed pupils so hungry they had to steal food and equipment from their classmates.

Schools have been urged to “poverty proof” uniforms and ban items of clothing deemed unnecessary or too costly, amid reports of “unexplained absences” due to families being unable to provide uniforms fit to be worn every day.

MPs hailed work by some councils, highlighting Glasgow’s provision of free meals up to P4, and North Lanarkshire’s bid to tackle “holiday hunger”.

But they also voiced concern about the cost of some uniform items and warned that moving to online payments for school dinners or trips could disadvantage families with no computer access.

Committee convener James Dornan was clear MSPs had heard “aspects of UK social security policy are the single biggest reason for the increase in child poverty”.

He added: “We heard time and again that teachers are increasingly seeing children who are affected by poverty, including children coming to school hungry.

“That this is an increasing problem in Scotland is utterly appalling, but we know this is something schools cannot tackle alone.”

Nicola Sturgeon has made closing the attainment gap between high and low income pupils her top priority and Mr Do rn an said action was needed to“ensure our schools do not have costs which impact on young people’s time at school, including their opportunity to learn.

“This is not always about big changes, but rather a recognition that even the smallest policy can sometimes have a serious impact on families experiencing poverty.”

During the inquiry, MSPs heard some families cannot afford the resources to help youngsters do homework, whether craft materials in primary or access to IT and the internet for older pupils.

The committee also heard, “some families cannot afford basic amenities such as hot water for showers or beds, which can impact on young people’s attendance at school and readiness to learn when they are there”.

The EIS, Scotland’s largest teaching union, told MSPs pupils were sometimes unable to go on trips and were turning up at school without the required PE kit.

“Some kids come into school and tell teachers they are hungry,” the EIS said.

“Some steal food or items of equipment from one another at times, and some appear visibly unwell – pale and complaining of headaches – or have unexplained absences from school.”

Mr Dornan said: “Clearly the Scottish Government, education authorities and schools are working hard to address these issues, but there is still more to do.”

We heard time and again that teachers are increasingly seeing children who are affected by poverty.

JAMES DORNAN MSP

The report by Holyrood’s education committee found the main driver for rising poverty among pupils was UK Government social security policy.