Teachers in England driving homeless pupils to school and washing clothes, research shows

Alicia Samuels and her son, Aeon. There are now a record 175,025 children in temporary housing in England, and many families affected are living in B&Bs, hostels and overcrowded flats. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

Schools are regularly referring homeless children to food banks, driving them to classes and washing their clothes, according to research.

A survey conducted by the housing charity Shelter and NASUWT, also known as the Teachers’ Union, asked 11,000 teachers about their experiences of working with children living in temporary accommodation.