September 3rd 2023.
As school resumes this month, teachers have suggested that more children are likely to arrive in the classroom with unclean clothes and unbrushed teeth. This is because of what is known as 'hygiene poverty'.
According to a survey of 500 school staff across the UK, nearly three-quarters of them believe there has been an increase in hygiene poverty in their school in the last year. These staff reported seeing the most common signs of hygiene poverty as dirty uniforms and PE kits, unwashed hair, and unclean teeth.
The survey, conducted by The Hygiene Bank and cleaning brand Smol, defines hygiene poverty as those who are 'caught between being able to heat their home, pay their bills, buy food, or keep clean'.
Not only are these hygiene poverty issues affecting the children academically, but the school staff reported that it has an effect on the child's self-esteem. In addition, 53% of the school staff said these pupils were isolated or 'left out' by other pupils in class, and 50% said they had seen a negative impact on their mental health.
The school staff reported that they had done what they could to help the children affected by hygiene poverty. Some teachers said they had washed uniforms and PE kits at home, and others had handed out laundry detergent for families in need.
Sarah Smith, executive headteacher of St Cuthbert’s Catholic Academy, a primary school in Blackpool, said: ‘We have seen an increase in students coming to school with unwashed uniforms and we know that this has an effect on their mental health and overall wellbeing, which in turn will have a negative impact on their education.’
In response to this growing issue, Smol has partnered with The Hygiene Bank to launch the Suds in Schools initiative, which provides mini laundrettes to schools, so more families in need are provided with clean clothes. The initiative is hoping to raise £25,000 to establish an additional 25 laundrettes in UK schools.
Lucy Wishart of Smol said: ‘We believe that everyone should have access to clean clothes, in order to live their life to the fullest and our research shows just how much this can impact young people at a crucial stage in their academic and social lives.’
Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, commented on the issue saying: ‘Many schools routinely help out by discreetly washing clothes and providing items of uniform. This has long been the case but has become more of an issue following the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis as more families struggle financially. The level of child poverty in the UK is utterly unacceptable and the Government must do more to tackle the problem.’
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