Over 5,000 children are living in poverty in South Devon, and the majority (77%)  of them are from working families. This is a truly shocking statistic and belies the image of the rural idyll in South Devon.

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We know that poverty ruins childhoods and damages children’s life chances. There is strong evidence that growing up on a low income can negatively impact a child’s early development, physical and mental health, how well they do at school, their employment prospects, and their earning potential as adults.  

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The Liberal Democrats would extend free school meals to all children in poverty, increase funding for schools and enrich extra-curricular activities to include art, music, drama, sport, coding and other activities, starting with a new free entitlement for disadvantaged children.

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Evidence shows us that: 

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• Four in 10 children on free school meals achieve five passes at GCSE (including Maths and English), compared to seven in 10 children who are not on free school meals. (1) 

• Children from low-income families are four times more likely to experience mental health problems than children from higher-income families. (2) 

• Children in cold homes are more than twice as likely to suffer from a range of respiratory problems compared to children living in warm homes (3 ) 

• By age 25, only 23% of people eligible for free school meals during their school years have an income higher than the national living wage, compared to 44% of other pupils. (4)

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The fact that so many of these children have parents who are working shows that our economy is badly out of balance. Families are coping with extortionate - and rising - rental costs, poorly insulated homes that require lots of energy to heat and a high incidence of low-paid seasonal work.

 

We need holistic policies that address all these stressors so that children can get a better start in life.  

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Read more about how the Lib Dems plan to address this tragedy and support children:

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Investing in our Children's Future - Liberal Democrats (libdems.org.uk)

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Sources

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1. https://www.djsresearch.co.uk/EducationMarketResearchInsightsAndFindings/article/Children-who-are-eligible-for-free-school-meals-do-worse-at-school-even-at-five-years-old-finds-survey-05180#:~:text=Since%202006%2C%20children%20who%20are,pupils%20on%20free%20school%20meals.

2.  https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-independent-review-policy-success-and#:~:text=Poverty%3A%20Children%20from%20low%2Dincome,factors%20(Khan%2C%202018).

3. https://www.ncb.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/files/Housing%2520and%2520the%2520Health%2520of%2520Young%2520Children.pdf

4. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/educationandchildcare/articles/whyfreeschoolmealrecipientsearnlessthantheirpeers/2022-08-04