Commenting on the latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions which show that 4.3 million children were living in poverty in the UK in 2022/23, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"It should not be the case that the fifth richest country in the world has such alarming figures on child poverty figures. The new high of 4.3 million children – around 9 in a class of 30 – is completely unacceptable and adds to the appalling record of the Conservatives on this issue.
"This is an increase of 700,000 since 2010-11. We also learn that 3 million children living in poor families have fallen deeper into poverty, with nearly 7 in 10 growing up in households with at least one working parent or carer.
"Poverty limits children’s futures. It holds them back in school and cuts off their potential at the very start of their lives. Furthermore, Government’s refusal to tackle the causes of poverty is sowing deeper inequity throughout society. 47% of children in Asian and British Asian families and 51% of children in Black/ African/ Caribbean and Black British families are in poverty, with 44% of children in lone parent families also growing up poor.
"In a General Election year, any future government must act swiftly to ensure that no child is left behind. We urgently need a child poverty strategy setting out clear policy objectives to tackle the prevalence of child poverty. They could start with the removal of the punitive 2-child limit and the expansion of Free School Meals to all children attending primary schools nationwide, so that families can benefit from the support they need to help their children grow, learn and thrive."