More than half of all teachers in England have worked with pupils experiencing homelessness in the past year, a stark new study has revealed. The research, conducted by the housing charity Shelter in partnership with the NASUWT teachers' union, exposes how the national housing emergency is severely disrupting children's education and wellbeing.
The Human Cost: A Mother's Story
Ayeasha, a 47-year-old from London, knows the impact firsthand. She and her son spent twelve years moving between five different temporary accommodation properties. Many were in severe disrepair, with one having a collapsed ceiling. The instability was profoundly disruptive. "We were moved so far away from my son's school that he couldn't live with me during the school week," Ayeasha explained. The distance prevented him from participating in football and social activities, cutting him off from his support network.
Her son, now 14, is preparing for his GCSEs but struggles to focus. "Years without a stable home have made it hard for him to focus on school and have taken a toll on his emotional wellbeing," she said. Their story is not unique. A record 175,025 children across the UK are currently living in temporary accommodation.
Teachers Witness Educational Fallout
The survey of over 7,000 state school teachers in England paints a grim picture of the consequences. An overwhelming 91% reported that children experiencing homelessness arrive at school tired, while 76% said it leads to poor performance in assessments and exams.
Sarah Elliott, chief executive of Shelter, stated: "The housing emergency is infiltrating our classrooms and robbing children of their most basic need of a safe and secure home." Teachers describe children exhausted from long commutes from distant B&Bs, struggling to concentrate while dreading another night in cramped, unsuitable conditions with no space to study.
Government Strategy and Calls for Action
Earlier this month, Housing Secretary Steve Reed launched the government's national homelessness strategy, backed by £3.5 billion in funding. The plan aims to increase prevention, halve rough sleeping, and end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families. The government also passed the Renters' Rights Bill in October and has reiterated its pledge to build 1.5 million homes this parliament.
However, Shelter and NASUWT argue these measures do not go far enough. They are calling on the government to significantly ramp up its social housebuilding programme to deliver 90,000 social homes a year for the next decade to meet overwhelming demand.
NASUWT General Secretary Matt Wrack warned of long-term damage: "These children's future life chances are being put at risk... If their education suffers now, that is likely to have repercussions which could potentially last a lifetime."
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson responded: "No child should be trying to learn without the security of a settled home. That's why we've made changes to ensure schools can now support pupils experiencing homelessness at the earliest possible opportunity."
