Literacy news
Eight out of 10 teachers have students living in poverty, ATL finds
15 Apr 2011
Nearly 80% of education staff say they have students who are living in poverty, a survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) has found.
The survey of more than 600 teachers showed that 80% said students living in poverty come to school tired, another 73% said children arrive hungry and 71% said children living in poverty lack confidence.
Eight in 10 education staff said they believe poverty has a negative impact on the educational attainment of students within their school or college, the main effects being under-achievement and lack of pupil motivation or aspiration. Staff believed other significant impacts of poverty on educational attainment were lack of a quiet place to study at home, pupils not doing their homework, pupils unable to concentrate and higher absence levels.
ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said:
It is appalling that in 2011 so many children in the UK are severely disadvantaged by their circumstances and fail to achieve their potential.
The government should forget empty rhetoric about social mobility and concentrate on tackling the causes of deprivation and barriers to attainment that lock so many young people into a cycle of poverty.
Poor literacy and language have been highlighted in the recent review of child poverty and early years. Research has shown that poor literacy skills are part of a vicious cycle of factors that lead to disadvantage and poverty of opportunity. A National Literacy Trust conference, Breaking the cycle: aspirations, literacy and the home, will address this crucial issue, with Frank Field MP delivering the keynote speech, reviewing government progress on child poverty and social mobility.
Read the article on the ATL study on the Children and Young People Now website
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