This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-49515117
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Food banks increasing in schools for pupils' families | Food banks increasing in schools for pupils' families |
(about 11 hours later) | |
More schools in England are setting up food banks to help feed their pupils' families, according to the biggest school governors' organisation. | More schools in England are setting up food banks to help feed their pupils' families, according to the biggest school governors' organisation. |
The National Governance Association's annual survey found 8% of governors were in schools which had food banks - up from 7% last year. | The National Governance Association's annual survey found 8% of governors were in schools which had food banks - up from 7% last year. |
The highest proportion were in the North East - where 13% of governors were in schools with a food bank. | |
Heads' leader Geoff Barton said schools faced "rising levels of poverty". | Heads' leader Geoff Barton said schools faced "rising levels of poverty". |
"It is a shameful situation in a country which is among the wealthiest in the world," said Mr Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union. | "It is a shameful situation in a country which is among the wealthiest in the world," said Mr Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union. |
Washing uniforms | Washing uniforms |
The National Governance Association (NGA) surveyed 6,000 governors about the challenges facing their schools. | |
School governors, who are often volunteers such as parents or representatives of the local community, warned that funding shortages and teacher recruitment were among the biggest problems. | School governors, who are often volunteers such as parents or representatives of the local community, warned that funding shortages and teacher recruitment were among the biggest problems. |
But the survey also showed the rising challenge of having to offer welfare services to families - such as running food banks, offering meals outside of term time and washing pupils' clothes and uniforms. | But the survey also showed the rising challenge of having to offer welfare services to families - such as running food banks, offering meals outside of term time and washing pupils' clothes and uniforms. |
Food banks, which provide emergency supplies of food, were most common in schools in the north-east of England, the West Midlands and London - and were more likely in nursery and primary schools than in secondary. | |
Among nursery school governors, 2% reported their schools were providing emergency loans to parents. | |
Welfare services | Welfare services |
"There is an increasing demand on schools to take responsibility for more areas of children's lives than simply their education," said NGA chief executive, Emma Knights. | "There is an increasing demand on schools to take responsibility for more areas of children's lives than simply their education," said NGA chief executive, Emma Knights. |
"School staff have an increased burden of providing welfare services because of chronic underfunding in other areas and particularly cuts to local authority services," she said. | |
But relying on schools for welfare services was "not a satisfactory solution". | |
Head teachers have been warning about the growing pressure on schools to provide much more than academic support. | Head teachers have been warning about the growing pressure on schools to provide much more than academic support. |
In a survey of more than 400 schools earlier this year, the Association of School and College Leaders found 43% of schools were offering families help with food. | In a survey of more than 400 schools earlier this year, the Association of School and College Leaders found 43% of schools were offering families help with food. |
These were not necessarily running regular food banks, but included schools providing food parcels on a more occasional basis. | These were not necessarily running regular food banks, but included schools providing food parcels on a more occasional basis. |
Head teachers' leader Mr Barton said schools were becoming a "fourth emergency service providing clothing, food and pastoral support to many young people in extremely difficult circumstances". | |
"These pupils would not be ready to learn without this support," he said. | "These pupils would not be ready to learn without this support," he said. |
Previous version
1
Next version