MORE than half of teachers in England have worked at a school in the past year where at least one child was homeless, according to a new survey.

Nearly a third of 7,127 state school teachers said that children they personally taught or interacted with had experienced homelessness in the past year. 

A further 20 per cent said they were aware of at least one child at their school who was homeless, though they did not teach that pupil directly.

The survey, commissioned by housing charity Shelter, found teachers in London were the most likely to report working with homeless children. 

Nearly half of respondents in the capital said they had personally taught a child who was homeless, while a further 28 per cent said they were aware of at least one homeless child at their school.

Shelter chief executive Sarah Elliott said: “The housing emergency is infiltrating our classrooms and robbing children of their most basic need of a safe and secure home. 

“Children shouldn’t have to try and balance their studies with the horrific experience of homelessness.

“Teachers are witnessing the same devastating effects of growing up in temporary accommodation on children that our services see every day.”

More than 175,000 children in England were living in temporary accommodation as of this year, figures show.

Ms Elliott added that children were arriving at school exhausted after long journeys from accommodation far from their schools, while others struggled to concentrate after spending nights in cramped bed and breakfast rooms with no space to study.

Ayeasha, who was homeless with her son for 12 years, said the last property they were moved to was so far from her son’s school that he could not live with her during the week. 

“It was very disruptive for him,” she said.

A separate poll commissioned by Shelter and carried out by teaching union NASUWT, found that 76 per cent of teachers who had worked with homeless children said homelessness had led to poorer exam results.

Three-quarters said it had  a significant impact on children’s mental health, while nearly all said children arrived at school tired.

NASUWT chief executive Matt Wrack said: “Homelessness is taking an enormous physical and emotional toll on children … which is adversely affecting their education and ability to learn.”

Shelter is calling on the government to speed up the delivery of social rent homes by setting a national target.