BBC – Sean Coughlan
“Head teachers are warning that schools are having to act like “mini-welfare states” in having to provide food, spare uniform and even to wash clothes and provide showers for some pupils. The National Association of Head Teachers says such welfare support is costing £43.5m from school budgets. Heads’ leader Russell Hobby said it was a “hidden national scandal”. A Conservative spokesman said “the number of children living in poverty has fallen by 300,000″. The warning from members of the NAHT, as they gather for their annual conference in Liverpool, is that schools are having to step in with welfare support for pupils, either because of poverty or dysfunctional families.”(more)