Schools seeking 10,000 beds for exhausted pupils

Mark Tilling is calling for more support for families impacted by bed poverty

Teachers are working with a charity to find enough beds for thousands of sleep deprived children.

Mark Tilling, headteacher of Hartlepool's High Tunstall College of Science, took action after learning of an increasing number of families struggling to afford beds for their children.

He said bed poverty was rising and pupils were arriving at their desks too exhausted to learn.

He has joined a project aiming to deliver10,000 beds to youngsters across the Tees Valley over the next three years.

About one million children in the UK sleep on the floor or share a bed, according to estimates from charity Barnardo's in a 2023 report.

When Mr Tilling learned of this, he took action to help families in the Tees Valley by raising more than £70,000 and partnering with Zarach, a Leeds-based charity working to "lift children out of bed poverty".

"If for any reason a child doesn't have a bed, we want to provide it," he said.

"If their bed's broken and they need a replacement, but don't have the finances, or if they've fled domestic violence or moved somewhere without furniture, we want to help because good sleep leads to good learning."

Headteacher Dave Turner has worked at Rift House Primary for more than 20 years

Sleep deprivation is affecting the concentration, attendance, behaviour and ability of a growing number of children, he believes.

"It's a multitude of factors and it all affects their outcomes at the end of schooling," he said.

"It's sad that we're in the 21st century and having to help people by getting these beds out, but I'd rather be doing something than not.

"It's a national issue and we need to give families the support they need for every young person to reach their potential."

The project is being supported by schools across the Tees Valley area, who can refer families for help.

'Wonderful initiative'

Hartlepool's Rift House Primary School already provides children with food, equipment and a place to sleep if they need it.

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the coronavirus pandemic has left families facing "difficult" economic situations, headteacher Dave Turner said.

"Almost accidentally, a lot of schools have become an important hub in the community," he added.

"For a lot of our families, we're the first point of contact in any crisis and we'll do whatever we can."

Mr Turner called the bed poverty project a "wonderful initiative" that will enable the school to provide further help to pupils whose "circumstances change overnight".

"Children do come in very tired and if they need to sleep, we allow that to happen," he said.

"We need to make sure our children are in the best place possible when they're sitting at their desks and a good night's sleep is really important."

Zarach's National Development Manager Jess Sandy said more than half of Hartlepool's schools are now signed up to the initiative.

She said those who are referred by the schools for support will receive a new bed with mattress, bedding and a set of pyjamas.