Tackling poverty in school is not an easy or straightforward process, but it is crucial for ensuring a just and equitable experience of the school day for all pupils.
Poverty affects every aspect of a child’s life. In school, it can lock children out of opportunities to participate, learn and thrive.
A whole-school approach to poverty ensures that all school activities and planning do not exclude, treat differently or make assumptions about those children whose household income or resources are lower than others.
Explore every part of the school day through the eyes of a child growing up in poverty. You could start by considering who else in your school plays a part in a child’s school day, and work through the following checklist:
Leadership
- How do you ensure equity of experience and opportunity for all pupils at your school?
- What opportunities are there for pupils to talk about their experience of the school day?
- What are children growing up in poverty at risk of missing out on at your school?
Staff
- How do you know which families are finding things difficult financially?
- How does poverty impact on the lives of children and families in your school?
- How do you ensure that differences in family finances aren’t highlighted in the classroom?
Families
- Who should families speak to at school if they are struggling with school-related costs?
- How do families know what help and support might be available?
- How much notice do families get about events and activities in school that require resources or money?
Governors
- What support does your school offer to families struggling financially?
- What monitoring do you undertake on the extent of equality of experience in your school?
- How does pupil voice inform policy and practice at your school?
