Poverty Proofing the School Day

The programme “Poverty Proofing the School Day” is run by the organisation Children North East. It supports schools through an audit which aims to identify and overcome the barriers to learning faced by children and young people from low-income families. Team members speak with all students in the school and interview staff, parents and governors about the effects of poverty on their daily lives in school. An action plan is then tailored for each school to address any unintended stigmatising policies or practices and to celebrate and share excellent practices. Poverty Proofing has reached over 30,000 children and young people in the North East and across the country. An independent evaluation by Newcastle University found that “poverty proofing” has helped improve the most disadvantaged pupils’ attendance and attainment, as well as their take-up of free school meals, trips and music tuition.