The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, has called on the Labour Party to help poverty proof the school day and ensure that no child is denied access to education opportunities on the basis of their parents’ ability to pay.

Speaking at an NASUWT fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates highlighted NASUWT research showing that parents are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the rising costs of sending their children to school.

The NASUWT called on the Labour Party to support its work to tackle the rising costs of education for families by working with schools and parents and pressing for the reintroduction of charging policies which were abolished by the Conservative-led Coalition Government.

Also addressing the fringe meeting were: Sharon Hodgson, Shadow Education Minister and Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group.

Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“It has always been a fundamental principle of our great public services that they are free at the point of use.

“The abolition of national guidance on school charging policies and increasing autonomy for schools has allowed schools to charge for educational activities which were previously free.

“The NASUWT has undertaken an annual survey of parents and carers on the costs of education since 2012.

“The evidence shows that the costs of attending some schools are now acting as a barrier to parents accessing their school of choice for their children.

“Educational experiences that promote opportunity and achievement should not be determined by an ability to pay.”

Shadow Education Minister Sharon Hodgson said:

“All our state schools should be for all our children. We don’t want ghettos of schools for the rich and schools for the poor and that is where we are heading at the moment I believe.”

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group, said:

“Policies to address child poverty and address issues children are experiencing in school should not be seen as a cost, but as a saving.”