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	Children are going to school hungry and not enough is being done about it, according to the vast majority of schoolteachers.</p>
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	Some 70% of teachers said hunger in the classroom is not being tackled effectively and called for more breakfast clubs to help solve the problem.</p>
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	Of the 408 teachers surveyed by Behaviour &amp; Attitudes&rsquo; online panel Acumen, 41% said the number of children going to school hungry has increased since this time last year.</p>
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	The problem seems to be more pronounced in schools which receive funding from the Department of Education as part of their policy to address educational disadvantage.</p>
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	More than half of teachers in these Deis schools have recently seen a rise in the amount of children attending school without having had something to eat.</p>
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	Currently, there are more than 500 breakfast clubs operating in schools and other community settings, providing breakfast for children before the school day starts.</p>
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	&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been very supportive of that programme and called for it to be implemented in schools. So now we&rsquo;d like to see it expand into all disadvantaged schools, so that children are assured of a meal in the mornings and they&rsquo;re not going to school hungry,&rdquo; said Peter Mullan from the Irish National Teachers&rsquo; Organisation.</p>
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	&ldquo;The benefits of this initiative are substantial. Teachers have reported a range of benefits from making sure the kids have eaten before school.</p>
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	&ldquo;It has resulted in the children having improved concentration in school and also improves their behaviour and general wellbeing. The knock-on effects are quite long reaching.&rdquo;</p>
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	Last year, a report into breakfast clubs revealed children&rsquo;s attendance, punctuality, energy levels and participation greatly improved with the introduction of the programme.</p>
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	It also discovered the clubs became important social outlets for participating children &mdash; pupils were more likely to discuss personal issues over breakfast than during class, providing an opportunity for teachers to identify those in need of additional support.</p>
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	Yesterday, Tan&aacute;iste Joan Burton launched the Kellogg&rsquo;s Breakfast Club Awards which gives schools and community groups the chance to win &euro;1,500 for their club.</p>
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	&ldquo;If more schools could provide this service it means that children come to the classroom better equipped to succeed,&rdquo; she said.</p>
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	&ldquo;This is something that is a priority for my department. Officials are currently processing applications for this academic year and funding is being prioritised for breakfast clubs.&rdquo;</p>
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	Award categories are Breakfast Club of the Year, Best New Breakfast Club and Breakfast Club Hero. Entries should be sent to breakfastclubawards@murrayconsultants.ie before October 15.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/more-children-going-to-school-hungry-352517.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/more-children-going-to-school-hungry-352517.html</a></p>
