Benefit sanctions leaving pupils hungry, Michael Gove’s former right-hand man warns

Cuts to school support and benefit sanctions are damaging the education of Britain’s children and leaving teachers to buy food for pupils out of their own money, Michael Gove’s former right-hand man has warned.

Sam Freedman, who was senior policy advisor to Mr Gove during his tenure as Education Secretary, said politicians of all parties had “abandoned” disadvantaged communities when it came to schools.

He warned that support was being “cut away” from children and that teachers were having to buy food parcels for their classes out of their own pocket to stop them from going hungry.

The warning comes after Theresa May’s manifesto pledged to scrap universal free school meals for infants, which were introduced on Mr Gove’s watch on the initiative of the Liberal Democrats.

The Conservative manifesto pledges to replace the universal school lunches with universal breakfasts, but a £60 million costing of the policy produced by the party would only provide 7p for per breakfast, according to an analysis by trade publication Schools Week.

Mr Freedman, who is now executive director at the education social enterprise TeachFirst, posted the criticism on social media after visiting a disadvantaged school in the North East of England.

“So I’m angry. I’ve just been to a school in one of the most disadvantaged communities in the country and all their support is being cut away,” he said.

“[There are] huge safeguarding [and] parenting issues but the budget for parenting support has been slashed and social care services can’t cope. Staff are being asked to do more and more pastoral support, on top of their very demanding job, and without training.

“Benefit sanctions mean staff are having to buy food parcels, with their own money, for the kids. And these kids are lovely. They want to do well and be successful but they’ve got no support at home.

“Politicians of all parties have totally abandoned these communities. No wonder they vote Leave; Ukip, whatever. If only ever voters spent a day where I’ve; been we wouldn’t spend an election campaign getting worked up about pensioner benefits.”

Mr Freedman added the school he had visited was an "extreme" example of a national problem but not "not an isolated one".

DWP figures previously reported by The Independent show that 40,000 lone parents with pre-school aged children were sanctioned in 2015. The charity Gingerbread has used official figures to estimate that around one-in-seven single parents looking for work have been hit by DWP benefit sanctions, though the DWP says the figure is lower.

Foodbank charity the Trussell Trust has estimated that of 10 million meals given out by foodbanks a year, four million are for children.

The Conservative manifesto pledges to build at least 100 new free schools a year and lift the ban on selective education while Labour says it will pour £19.4 billion into schools funding paid for by reversing the Tories' cuts to corporation tax.