The research has found that in 68 per cent of primary schools and 63 per cent of secondary schools at least half of those receiving this additional support were children who do not qualify for the pupil premium, which is for pupils entitled to free school meals or with experience of care.
Two in five special school leaders say at least half of those receiving cost-of-living support are not eligible for the pupil premium.
-
Analysis: Tackling the rising cost of caring
-
Analysis: Make the most of pupil premium funding to tackle disadvantage
The findings also reveal that almost nine in 10 schools are having to provide uniforms and clothing to pupils due to the impact of inflation on families. A similar proportion are subsiding extracurricular activities for pupils and 70 per cent are providing food to pupils, through food parcels vouchers, subsidised breakfasts and via food banks.
In addition, 84 per cent say the cost-of-living crisis has increased the number of pupils in their school needing additional support.
The government is being called on by researchers to extend the eligibility for free school meals to take into account the increase in families struggling financially.
The research has been carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) involving the views of more than 2,500 mainstream school and 100 special school leaders. This is the first of three pieces of research looking at the impact of cost-of-living pressures on schools.
Today, NFER and ASK Research have published the first of three reports looking at the impact of #costofliving pressures in schools, with this first report assessing the impact on pupils and families.
— National Foundation for Educational Research (@TheNFER) September 7, 2023
NFER's @JuliusJenna summarises the research in the short video below. 👇 pic.twitter.com/MadVvIH2vC
Short term financial support is also needed to help families, said NFER
It wants to see ministers boost the “capacity and responsiveness” of mental health support in schools. Half of teachers in primary schools, 54 per cent in secondary schools and two in five in special schools say they are less satisfied with mental health and emotional wellbeing support available for pupils compared to last year.
“The cost-of-living crisis is having a profound impact on pupils and families," said NFER research director Jenna Julius, who co-authored the research.
“Schools are providing unprecedented levels of urgent support. Pupils whose most basic needs are not being met – whether it is going to school hungry or being unable to afford uniform or transport costs – are less likely to attend school and successfully engage with learning.
“Without urgent action now, there is a risk that the crisis will have far reaching and long-lasting impacts on pupils.”
The cost-of-living crisis is also leading to an increase in concerns around safeguarding, behaviour and absenteeism, school leaders warn. Four in five say that the impact of inflation on households has increased the number of concerns in their school.
Ruth Maisey, programme head at the Nuffield Foundation, which funded the research, added: “The difficulty schools have in accessing support from external agencies is a longstanding issue that must be addressed.
“Teachers are experts in education and should be spending their time educating children rather than stepping into the breach as the front line of children’s services.”
Earlier this year, the Food Foundation called for an expansion of free school meals after it found the number of families with children living in food insecurity had doubled.
