The rising cost of living is causing high levels of stress and concern for millions of households. For educators, poverty is tangible in the growing numbers of hungry, cold and tired pupils arriving at schools across the UK. In a recent survey, 38 per cent of teachers reported that a third or more of their class were living in families struggling financially (Montacute, 2022).
Growing up in poverty takes a significant emotional toll on a child and is hugely detrimental to their wellbeing and learning outcomes. Emerging evidence shows that through and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, child and adolescent mental health needs have increased dramatically, with no signs of abating in the short term (NHS Digital, 2023). We also know that children and young people in distress often seek help from trusted adults in school. Worryingly, vital services such as school counselling, therapy and mental health programmes are under increasing threat due to ever tighter budgets. Funding cuts, staff shortages and teacher burnout have all contributed to what one secondary school teacher describes as ‘a glaring gap’ in mental health provision for many pupils (Guardian, 2022).
Measuring the costs facing schools, the Institute for Fiscal Studies predicts that by 2024−25, school spending per pupil will still be three per cent lower than in 2010 (Sibieta, 2022). Indeed, providing timely and appropriate mental wellbeing support for pupils is a huge challenge for educators, and this is now aggravated by additional financial constraints. Addressing these widespread concerns was at the heart of our latest SIG conference: Education on the breadline: Mental wellbeing and the cost-of-living crisis. Expert voices from the frontline – teaching staff, practitioners, researchers and students – came together to share some of the latest research evidence on low-cost, preventative interventions and to discuss creative, solution-focused approaches for supporting learning communities in crisis.
