Today, in a class of 30, 9 children are living in poverty across the UK. A total of 4.1 million children. Poverty has a negative impact on children’s education, families lack money for a clean school uniform or shoes, and we know children that experience poverty sleep on a mattress shared with parents and siblings. The reality for many children is that poverty impedes their school attendance, engagement in learning and behaviour.

School-Home Support works with families facing severe disadvantage to ensure children have the support they need to be in school, ready to learn. In times of desperate need, our Practitioners apply to the SHS Welfare Fund to purchase essentials on behalf of struggling families. Whether their attendance improves because they finally have a clean uniform, or are able to engage in class because they’ve had a good sleep in their own bed, the items have a direct impact on children’s education.