Commenting on the publication of the Government report, Tackling Child Poverty: Steps to co-develop the strategy, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said;
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to reverse the trend of increasing child poverty. Poverty makes it so much harder for children to realise their potential, and thrive, in school and beyond. The NEU has been calling for a child poverty strategy for some time, so we are pleased this Government is prioritising such an important step.
‘It is encouraging to see the commitment to increasing families’ incomes and to Make Work Pay. Given that 70 per cent of children in poverty live in a working household, the Government’s approach must prioritise getting more money into families’ pockets.
‘The importance of local government in designing and delivering this strategy cannot be overstated. Blanket approaches from Westminster cannot solve all the issues people face, which are relevant to their local context. Solutions must be community focussed, and local leaders are best placed to identify support needed. This is particularly true for provision for early years and disabled people.
‘While this strategy is vital, it will take time. The Government must not wait to scrap the cruel and ineffective two-child limit, which will lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty overnight”.