A survey conducted at the National Education Union’s conference revealed that one-third of school staff in England have observed “physical underdevelopment” in students due to poverty, with over half in deprived areas reporting similar concerns. Teachers are increasingly using school budgets to purchase essential household items for students, highlighting the severe impact of poverty on education, including poor living conditions and increased burdens on educators. With child poverty affecting 4.5 million children, educators argue that government support is critical to address these escalating issues.