Teachers are seeing the impact of hunger every day 

Teachers spend more time with children than almost anyone else. They see the realities of pupils’ lives every day, often long before those experiences show up in official statistics. 

That’s why the findings from our latest survey of teachers in Scotland matter. 

Nearly three quarters (74%) of teachers told us they have seen an increase in children experiencing poverty-related challenges over the last decade. More than four in ten (43%) said that increase has been significant. 

Behind those figures are children arriving at school carrying worries about things no child should have to worry about. For some, that includes not having enough to eat. And when hunger is part of the school day, concentrating, taking part in lessons and feeling settled at school all become that bit harder. 

The survey also shows strong support for school breakfast provision. 

More than eight in ten teachers (82%) support the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide breakfast clubs in all primary and special schools by August 2027. Even more (87%) believe secondary school pupils would benefit from access to school breakfast provision too. 

That reflects what teachers see every day. A good breakfast can make a real difference to how children start the day. 

And school breakfasts are about more than food. They can give children a calm and positive start to the morning, help them feel part of the school community and ease some of the pressure families are facing. 

Teachers are also concerned about the bigger picture. Only a third (34%) believe Scotland is on track to meet its child poverty targets, while 84% say schools need more funding to fully support pupils. 

Statistics help us understand the scale of the challenge. Teacher voices help us understand what that challenge actually looks like in children’s lives. 

Teachers see the impact when children come to school hungry. They also see the difference that support can make. 

That’s why their voices matter. When so many teachers are telling us that children need more support to start the day ready to learn, it’s something we should pay attention to.