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Epoch Times
3 days ago
- General
- Epoch Times
1 in 6 Pupils Miss School Because They Lack Money, Survey Suggests
One in six of all secondary school pupils have said they have missed class because they lacked money for food, transport, or trips, or otherwise did not have something they needed to attend, a survey by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) suggests. The CPAG's findings, Nearly one in four (23 percent) said they missed school because they did not have money to pay for meals, and 26 percent said they did not attend because they couldn't afford to pay for transport to get to school. More than a quarter (27 percent) said they lacked money to go on school trips. Almost half (47 percent) of pupils who missed school did so because they did not have the correct uniform or kit. FSM children were more than three times as likely to give this reason for missing school than their peers, the report said. Finances also influenced pupils' subject choices, with 16 percent saying concerns about cost prevented them from selecting a particular subject. Related Stories 6/7/2024 5/27/2025 The non-profit organisation commissioned polling firm Survation to undertake the study, which surveyed 1,701 state school secondary pupils living in the UK between April 17 and May 1. Its findings come amid wider concerns over the impact of poverty on children. According to the latest Recommendations First among CPAG's recommendations was abolishing the two-child benefit cap. The group also called for the expansion of free school meals to more families in England, access to free public transport for young people, and cash support to help with the cost of uniform and kit. Responding to the report, a government spokesperson said the Labour administration was committed to tackling child poverty through the Child Poverty Taskforce and broader reforms. The spokesperson said, 'This government has inherited a system with baked-in inequalities, which we're tackling head-on through our Plan for Change by rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary, providing mental health support in every school, and investing over £3 billion in Pupil Premium to support those children who need it most.' The government also plans to reduce school uniform costs through new legislation, which along with free breakfast clubs 'could put £500 a year back into working parents' pockets.' Two-Child Limit The CPAG's recommendations come amid renewed calls to abolish the two-child benefit limit, which a In August 2024, the government Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said the government was 'not going to rule anything out' in its plans to tackle child poverty, after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson—who is one of the leads on the Child Poverty Taskforce—had said that scrapping the limit was not off the table. Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks with pupils as he visits Whale Hill Primary School in Eston, England, on June 11, government's child poverty strategy was due to be published this spring, but has been pushed back to autumn so it can be aligned with the chancellor's Budget. The two-child limit was introduced seven years ago and restricts means-tested Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit to the first two children. Access to Child Benefit—which is not means tested—remains uncapped, with parents able to claim for Child Tax Credit/Universal Credit and Child Benefit at the same time. Reform Would Scrap Cap The two-child cap is unpopular with the opposition, as well as some in the Labour Party. Last year, Labour Labour's move to restrict winter fuel payments for pensioners has also proven unpopular. Its implementation saw the number of seniors eligible for help with energy bills Starmer has since Reinstating support for low-income families has emerged as a key campaign issue for Reform UK. On Tuesday, Nigel Farage MP Reform is currently in the lead in voting intention surveys, polling ahead of Labour, the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrats. PA Media contributed to this report.
Epoch Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Epoch Times
Young Children Living in Deprived Areas More Likely to Experience Tooth Decay and Obesity: UNICEF
Young children living in poverty are more likely to be obese, have severe tooth decay, and visit A&E than children living in the least deprived areas, according to analysis from the UK Committee for UNICEF. The The charity analysed data from local authorities in England and found that every one which was in the top 20 percent in terms of deprivation was in the bottom 20 percent for multiple indicators of child health and development. 'In the first five years of life, the effects of deprivation and poverty are not only clearly visible, they are already well established and likely to impact that child for the rest of their life,' UNICEF said. 24 Percent Overweight or Obese UNICEF found that nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of reception-age children in deprived areas are overweight or obese, with obesity levels more than twice that of children in the most affluent areas (12.9 percent compared to 6 percent). The report found that across the whole of England, 22 percent of five-year-olds have late-stage, untreated tooth decay. But this proportion rises to 29 percent in the most deprived areas—twice that for children in the least deprived (15 percent). Attendance at emergency rooms was 55 percent higher for babies and young children in deprived areas than those in the least deprived, with an average of 1,020 A&E visits per 1,000 young children compared to 658, respectively. Related Stories 5/30/2025 6/5/2025 School children playing during a break at a primary school in Yorkshire, England, on Nov. 27, 2019. Danny Lawson/PA Wire Philip Goodwin, CEO of UNICEF UK, said in a statement: 'The consequences of poverty can last a lifetime and are especially harmful for babies and young children. Growing up in poverty damages children's life chances and our analysis shows the scale of the problem across the country. 'It is not acceptable that children in deprived areas are more likely to be behind at school, to be overweight or obese, to experience tooth decay and pain, and more likely to attend A&E – all before their fifth birthday.' He added, 'The government must act urgently to lift the two-child limit and the benefit cap and commit to investing in the vital health and education services that support children during their crucial early years.' 2-Child Cap The two-child limit was introduced in 2017 and restricts means-tested child tax credit or universal credit to the first two children in most families. Access to child benefit—which is not means tested—remains uncapped, with parents able to claim for child tax credit/universal credit and child benefit at the same time. A number of organisations have called for the lifting of the cap, including the Child Poverty Action Group. Last month, the group published a The government recently said that it was working to tackle child poverty with schemes including free breakfast clubs in every primary school and investing over £3 billion in Pupil Premium. When pressed on the two-child cap last week during Prime Minister's Questions, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer The government has recently Winter Fuel Payments On Monday, the government also announced a reversal of its policy on winter fuel payments. The allowance to help pensioners with their energy bills had been universal, but became means tested under the new Labour government in a bid to balance what it called the '£22 billion black hole' left by the previous Conservative administration. This meant that the number of seniors receiving the payment—worth up to £300 a year—was reduced from around 11.4 million to 1.5 million in winter 2024/25. Now, the payment will be available to around 9 million pensioners this coming winter, with anyone on an income of less than £35,000 a year receiving it automatically. A an elderly woman sitting at home with her electric fire on in Liverpool, England, on Nov. 19. 2014. Peter Byrne/PA Chancellor Rachel Reeves She continued: 'It is also right that we continue to means test this payment so that it is targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest. 'But we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the winter fuel payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out. 'This will mean over three-quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter.'
