Survey highlights shocking impact of poverty on school pupils

The BBC reports that more than three-quarters of 627 primary,secondary and college teachers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who responded to a survey believed they taught pupils living in poverty. And about 40% said the problem had increased since the recession. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/education-13081777

The survey was conducted by teachers union ATL who 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. What message does this government think it is sending young people when it is cutting funding for Sure Start centres, cutting the EMA [Education Maintenance Allowance grant for low-income students], raising tuition fees and making it harder for local authorities to provide health and social services?"

See also http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/2011/02/tackling-child-poverty-what-kind-of.html
http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/2011/02/cuts-exacerbate-rising-child-poverty-in.html
http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-women-are-feeling-pinch-of-cuts.html