Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of a child not having their own bed to sleep in on educational achievement in primary school.

The department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of a child not having their own bed to sleep in on their educational achievement in primary school, but we have evaluated the impact of poverty on educational outcomes.​

Evidence shows that disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs are more likely to fall behind and need extra support to reach their full potential. That is why there is a range of support in place to support pupils, families, and schools.

Overall, core schools funding (including funding for both mainstream schools and high needs) is increasing by £4 billion in 2022/23 compared to the previous year. In 2022/23, the department will be allocating approximately £2,000 per pupil, for all pupils who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years through the national funding formula, the pupil premium and the 2022-23 school supplementary grant together. The Pupil Premium enables schools to provide extra support for disadvantaged pupils to help improve their academic and personal achievements.

The department is also investing in 55 Education Investment Areas (EIAs) where outcomes in literacy and numeracy are the poorest, where a package of measures will be implemented to drive school improvement and improve pupil outcomes.

Providing support for vulnerable children and young people is a priority for this government. The department recognises the strain that families are under and will continue to work collaboratively with local areas to ensure children, young people and families have access to the support they need to recover from any negative effects of the pandemic and respond to cost of living pressures.

The government spends over £1 billion annually delivering free meals to pupils in schools as we know that the provision of nutritious food ensures pupils are well nourished, develop healthy eating habits and can concentrate and learn. In addition, the department recently announced a further investment in the National School Breakfast Programme, extending the programme for another year until July 2024. Overall, we are investing up to £30 million in the programme, covering the period from July 2021 to July 2024. This funding will support up to 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas meaning that thousands of children from low-income families will be offered free nutritious breakfasts to better support their attainment, wellbeing, and readiness to learn.

The department is also investing over £200 million a year in the holiday activities and food programme providing healthy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their heath, wellbeing and learning through the provision of healthy free meals, nutritional education, and physical activities on a daily basis.