Study of 50,000 pupils aged 7-11 also finds most struggle to sleep, and fewer than half eat fruit or vegetables every day

Most older primary school pupils have problems sleeping while a third suffer emotional difficulties, a major study has revealed.

Half of the children aged seven to 11 who took part in the research said they had been bullied at school and fewer than half ate fruit or vegetables every day.

68% of children reported having problems sleeping sometimes or always. 15% reported a bedtime of 10pm or later.

About 30% reported “elevated or clinically significant emotional difficulties”. More girls than boys and learners from low-affluence families reported this.

51% reported having been bullied at school in the past couple of months. A slightly higher proportion of girls than

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