The fourth emergency service: How teachers became the last line of defence

Exclusive: Schools are increasingly compensating for rising levels of poverty experienced by children at home, according to stark new findings shared with The Lead.

62 per cent of teachers have heard children talking about skipping meals. Pic: Unsplash

Schools are becoming the UK’s “fourth emergency service” – providing food, warmth and crisis support to children as poverty deepens.

A study of more than 100 teachers across the UK – shared exclusively with The Lead – found educators are providing warm spaces, food, cl…