Over half of South West teachers report working with homeless children
The findings reveal 56% of teachers in the region were aware of homelessness amongst their pupils
More than half of teachers in the South West say they've worked at schools in the past year where at least one child was homeless, according to a new survey commissioned by the charity Shelter.
The findings reveal that 56% of teachers in the region were aware of homelessness amongst their pupils or other children at their schools.
Of these, 35% said a child or children they personally taught or interacted with had experienced homelessness, while a further 21% said they knew of homelessness affecting other pupils.
Nationally, nearly a third of state school teachers reported working with homeless children over the past year, with London teachers the most affected – 45% said they had personally taught or interacted with a homeless child.
The impact on learning and wellbeing
Shelter’s chief executive, Sarah Elliott, has warned of the toll homelessness takes on children, describing it as a “housing emergency infiltrating our classrooms.”
“Feeling cut off and isolated, children are showing up to school exhausted after long commutes from accommodation that is many miles away,” Elliott said.
She stressed that children in temporary accommodation often struggle to focus on studies due to poor living conditions.
A separate survey carried out by Shelter with NASUWT, the teachers’ union, found three in four teachers who had worked with homeless children said it negatively impacted their exam performance and mental health. Nearly all teachers (92%) observed homeless children arriving at school tired, while eight in 10 said such kids had missed days of school due to their housing situation.
Calls for action
Shelter is urging the Government to accelerate the delivery of social rent homes, calling for a national housing target to tackle homelessness.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said they are committed to addressing the issue through changes to support schools and pupils experiencing homelessness early on, alongside a detailed homelessness strategy backed by record funding.
South West teachers, like those across the country, continue to witness the damaging effects of homelessness on children and their education, with the report underlining the need for urgent solutions.