Ep 6 - Understanding the impact of poverty on learning, with Sean Harris

In this episode I'm joined by Sean Harris. Sean is a national voice on education and poverty. His work explores how disadvantage shapes the lives of children and young people, and what schools can do to respond with empathy, evidence and impact. He’s also the co-author of Tackling Poverty and Disadvantage in Schools, a book that has become an important guide for educators who want to better understand these issues and make a real difference. In this episode, we explore what poverty really looks like in our classrooms and communities, what this means for the children and families we serve, and most importantly, what practical steps we can take to make learning as accessible as possible. We discussed the following questions: Tell us a little about your background and what led you to focus your work on poverty in education? What are some of the biggest misconceptions teachers and leaders may have about poverty and the families experiencing it? How does poverty affect children’s readiness to learn, their engagement in school life, and their longer-term outcomes. What does it actually look like in the classroom? Are there any examples or lived experiences that particularly bring this to life? What is the single most important thing that classroom teachers can do tomorrow to make learning more accessible for children experiencing poverty? What are some of the bigger-picture considerations (such as policies, culture, or systems) that school/college leaders can do that can help support disadvantaged families more effectively? You’ve recently been involved in the Child of the North report on poverty. Could you outline its purpose, and highlight the key findings or recommendations that every school or college (regardless of phase) should pay attention to? Finally, what gives you hope that schools can play a meaningful role in addressing the challenges of poverty?