Offering support and a listening ear

Growing up in poverty can bring problems and worries for children. As a teacher, you cannot solve poverty. However, you can support these children by teaching well and ensuring a safe and stimulating environment in the classroom. Many children appreciate being able to talk to an adult outside the family about their worries. You can offer them a listening ear. Together, you can try to find solutions to everyday problems at school that result from poverty. For example, by providing lunch at school.

Recognising poverty

Financial worries cause stress for parents and children. Long-term stress has unpleasant consequences for children's well-being, health and academic performance. That is why it is important to recognise poverty at an early stage. But poverty is not always visible. Families often try to hide their situation from the outside world. Therefore, be alert to signs of poverty in your contacts with parents and pupils. At the back of the Guide to dealing with poverty in schools, you can find information on how to recognise poverty in a child, young person or parent.

Signs in children and young people

  • Poorly fitting clothing, such as shoes that are too small, or no winter coat or PE clothing.
  • Behavioural and developmental problems, such as difficulty concentrating.
  • A quiet or withdrawn attitude, or conversely, a short temper.

Signs in parents

  • Not paying for a school trip or other activities.
  • Not taking part in activities at school.
  • Health complaints or mental health problems.

Bear in mind that certain behaviour may also have causes other than poverty. Therefore, always talk to pupils or parents to find out what is going on. On the page Recognising poverty and making it a topic of discussion, you can read more about recognising signs and how to talk about them.

Referring people to support

The way support for families living in poverty is organised varies from one municipality to another. Parents with financial worries can usually turn to a neighbourhood team or a special municipal help desk for support. Ask the municipality for an overview of the available support, so that you know where to refer parents. Make sure that parents you refer end up in the right place and know what to expect there.

Pointing out the available support is not always enough. Many parents do not dare to call a support organisation's number just like that. It may help to offer to call on their behalf or to call together. Perhaps the bridge coordinator, internal support coordinator or school social worker at your school can also take this on.

Making plans with the whole school

It is important for a school to have an approach for recognising poverty and financial stress and making them topics of discussion. For example, the school can provide school meals or organise free activities. This is a task for the school management, the school board and the school's partner organisations. You can read more about this on the page How do you develop a poverty policy at school?

Helping pupils living in poverty

As a teacher, you can ensure in the following ways that pupils growing up in poverty can still participate at school:

  • Do not organise activities for which parents are asked to make a financial contribution. As a team, consciously consider the costs parents incur for a school trip or for celebrating the teacher's birthday in the classroom.
  • Give parents tips for making inexpensive treats, or celebrate something in the classroom without treats. The GGD and JOGG in the municipality of Stichtse Vecht are calling on schools in their Those who have a birthday celebrate campaign to stop asking children to bring treats and instead put the birthday child in the spotlight. Stichting Jarige Job helps children from vulnerable families celebrate a birthday at home and at school with a birthday box.
  • Prevent children from bringing you expensive gifts at the end of the school year. Tell parents that teachers are also happy with, for example, drawings or a song. And say that it is not a problem if they are unable to give a gift. At Scholengroep OPRON in Midden-Groningen, pupils may bring a flower instead of a gift from a shop, their garden or the school's picking garden.
  • Organise an afternoon at school to make crafts for the traditional Saint Nicholas gift exchange using materials from the school.
  • Set up a giveaway cupboard at school for anonymously exchanging items. At De Regenboog primary school in Zoetermeer, they do this with clothing, personal care products, toys and PE equipment. Parents and children can bring items here and take items away.