Does poverty within schools need highlighting?

[mids2019]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr7e09471lyo

I have his t read this on the BBC and the statistics are really shocking!

Given that my children went to school is a relatively affluent area I wonder when we comment on education generally whether I am in a bit of a middle class bubble and simply don't see a side to primary school education which must be really hard on the teachers.

To my mind it looks like the staff simply can't give a blind eye to the effects of deprivation with their pupils and it seems will personally financially help (which on a primary school teachers wage is admirable).

Absolutely fantastic job by the school when they effectively seem to have to be a branch of social services as well as provide a good wducation.

I live in a nicish area of a really poor town. I had a lot of interaction with my son's teachers and the school as a whole at primary. I know teachers and TA's who bought coats, shoes, food and even collected and dropped off children to school.

I also mix in a lot of sen groups as my youngest has complex needs and various disabilities. Teachers and TA's are now everything, social workers, food bank, psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, family councillors, taxi drivers, you name it as well as educators. It's shocking and I'm guessing I haven't heard of 99% of what goes on.

Services are cut tother brink of failing and quite often the only 'professionals' who see the children and families on a regular basis are school staff and they're left to pick up the pieces. When referals are made for services often here they bounce back with not known to service or needs can be met by universal provision (school).

It must be incredibly hard to see childrenday in day out and not try to help them.

There are so.e amazing teachers, TA's etc (as well asa few not so amazing).

I’m a parent and a governor at a primary school in a very mixed part of inner London. This is absolutely front of mind for the schools leadership and community as a whole, they do incredible work and are essentially a branch of social services and all the things that the PP mentions. Everyone wants the best for the children at the school and we all know that children can’t learn well on an empty stomach or when they’re worrying about concerns at home, so supporting the children’s education requires that you look at all of those things as well and support our children and families in the round, not just when they’re in the school building. And of course schools can notice signs of bigger problems too as they are often trusted adults for children with complex home lives. I am so impressed by the level of care and support being given to all of the families at our school who need it. And this is on budgets cut down so far but still being done anyway.

It doesnt seem mainly poverty in the article. Tranient families and too much migration. So many EAL. So many earning less than like 7k to get FSM.
Also as a side issue they had kid who have TB at school - surely that is mis written. As here in a city they arent vaccinating against TB.
I dont think our school deal with any of this (they do have high sen levels most of which they are failing...)

Absolutely this.

Then start listening to the government (any party, they all do it) when they describe what they are going to do to move on from the latest problem or crisis and their answer is always education.

Knife crime, childhood obesity, period poverty, mental health, safeguarding, PPE during covid, feeding children during the holiday, teenage pregnancy… we are told education, ie schools, will solve them all.

I was amazed at how many teachers but essentials for pupils! I work in the NH S and certainly staff do not buy essentials routinely for patients.

I think articles like this are set opening as we live in a fairly affluent area where you simply don't see this. I therefore maybe have had closed eyes to this.

we have the mantra of equal opportunity through schooling but do we get anywhere near to that when children have to have so much additional assitiance.