Every child deserves the warmth and comfort of a winter coat
The Readiness to Learn Argument
Physical comfort is a prerequisite for learning. A child who arrives at school cold, inadequately dressed, or self-conscious about their clothing cannot settle, concentrate, or participate in the way their teachers need them to. This is not contested. Teachers know it, headteachers report it, and the research supports it.
The scale of the problem is significant. Over 4.2 million children in England are living in poverty (JRF, 2024) — 1 in 3 primary school pupils. Schools are not waiting for a policy solution: 94% of primary schools are already providing informal clothing support, and 79% of teachers are spending their own money to do so (NFER, 2024). This is a system absorbing a problem that has not been formally addressed.
Coats4Kids formalises one part of that response. Our model is school-led, safeguarding-safe, and operates at national scale. We do not make claims beyond our evidence: we say that a warm coat removes one visible, addressable barrier to learning. Schools tell us, consistently, that this matters.
Key Evidence
| Source | Finding |
|---|---|
| JRF (2024) | 4.2 million primary school children in England are living in poverty |
| JRF (2024) | Over 1 million in ‘severe poverty’ — unable to meet basic needs including warm clothing |
| NFER (2024) | 94% of primary schools provide some form of clothing support to pupils |
| NFER (2024) | 79% of primary school teachers spend their own money on pupil needs |
| Coats4Kids School Feedback Programme | 68 schools have provided structured feedback; 71% cite improved readiness to learn, 99% cite improved physical comfort and confidence on arrival |
Parliamentary Engagement
- We are actively briefing MPs across all parties on the Coats4Kids programme and the impact it is having in schools within their constituencies
- Our briefing materials set out the scale of clothing poverty in primary schools, the evidence base for its impact on readiness to learn, and the case for national policy attention
- We welcome contact from MPs and parliamentary researchers who would like to understand the programme or arrange a constituency visit
Contact for Policy Enquiries
For parliamentary and policy enquiries: parliamentary@coats4kids.org.uk
For media and press enquiries: media@coats4kids.org.uk
